If you’ve been in real estate for any amount of time, you know that your job has a lot of moving parts. It can be hard to pinpoint the one thing that makes a good real estate agent, because there are so many different areas you need to cover. But regardless of what makes you good at your job, there are a few critical skills that every agent needs.
Organization Skills
When you are constantly juggling tasks, it is easy for something to get lost if you aren’t organized. While everyone has a different way of organizing things and keep track of tasks, you need to find one that not only works for you but appears professional to your peers and clients. If you don’t look like you have things together, people are less likely to trust you with their home buying or selling experience. Being organized doesn’t mean you have to everything color-coordinated, especially if that isn’t your thing. Instead focus on things that will help you be better at your job.
Research Skills
Knowing what you are talking about and what you are dealing with is one of the most important things to help a client feel confident in your skills. This means that you will spend a significant amount of time doing research. You need to know the conditions of the market, industry news, current listings, and future trends in order to best serve your clients. But more than that, you need to be an expert in the type of real estate you work with and your part in the process. There is a reason that many real estate agents only focus on one or two areas. Understanding the type of real estate you are dealing with, whether it is flipping properties, commercial real estate, residential real estate, or undeveloped land, is crucial to being successful. Each different area has their own challenges and unique situations that you need to be prepared to handle.
People Skills
Even if you are the best at negotiating deals, if you can’t get along with people or you can’t showcase your skills, you are going to struggle as a real estate agent. Good communication is the first step to connecting with people, and a huge part of that is active listening. Active listening involves not only paying attention to what your client is saying, but how they are saying it, what their body language is, and what they aren’t saying.
When you talk with a client about what they do and don’t want, your body language should show that you are actively engaged in the conversation. You should also be taking notes and asking questions to clarify things. You should also make sure that you maintain a professional attitude at all times. Never show any negative emotions to your clients. This can undermine their confidence in your skills or make them feel like you don’t like them.
Developing these skills will help you become successful in your preferred area of real estate. Remember, when it comes down to it, you aren’t just selling real estate, you are selling your services. These skills just make it easier to showcase your abilities.