To serve real-estate customers well, start by being clear about **who you represent**, what outcome they want, and what you can legally do. If you are helping people buy, sell, lease, or negotiate property in Mississippi for compensation, you generally need to be licensed and work under a supervising broker. Mississippi’s salesperson path includes being at least 18, completing 60 hours of approved coursework, passing the state exam, affiliating with a broker, and completing a 30-hour post-license course within a year.[1][2] ## The basic customer process 1. **Get the lead and respond fast** Ask whether they are buying, selling, renting, investing, or just researching. Capture their name, phone, email, timeline, location, budget, and main goal in a CRM. 2. **Do a discovery call** Find out what matters most: - Buyers: price range, financing/pre-approval, location, bedrooms, school/work commute, move date - Sellers: desired sale date, condition of home, expected price, reason for selling, next move - Investors: budget, cash or financing, target return, property type, area 3. **Explain your role and agreement** Tell them whether you represent them or are acting in a non-agency capacity. Put representation, services, fees, and expectations in writing through your broker’s approved forms. A REALTOR®’s primary duty is to protect and promote the client’s interests while treating all parties honestly.[3] 4. **Create a plan** - For a buyer: lender introduction, home-search criteria, property alerts, showing plan, offer strategy - For a seller: pricing analysis, prep checklist, photo/video plan, listing launch, showing and feedback process 5. **Communicate consistently** Set an expectation such as: “I’ll update you every Tuesday and Friday, and I respond to urgent questions the same day.” Customers value predictable communication more than random check-ins. 6. **Guide the transaction** Coordinate the lender, title company, inspector, appraiser, broker, and other parties. Explain each next step in plain language, track deadlines, and document important conversations.