8 Characteristics of a Successful Real Estate Agent

Whether you are just starting out as a Realtor or have years in the books, there is always room for growth. Steps in the right direction for becoming the best of the best include looking at the type of skills you possess, and the ones you need to work on. Check out our top eight characteristics to begin building upon to become a successful real estate agent:

Attention to detail

There are many factors that go into buying and selling. You as the agent have to be up to date on all of the latest legal rules and regulations, along with the housing market climate, in order to do your job well and efficiently.

Not knowing your facts or being unprepared for meetings with your clients will put you on a fast track to unemployment. If you are just starting out, this is especially important because you want to be sure you make good sales and create great relationships so you can build those positive references for your portfolio.

Tech Savvy-ness

The world is changing in a very digital way, and staying up to date with new technology is crucial. If you are unaware of more efficient technologies and software, it immediately takes away your competitive edge, and gives other agents with that knowledge an advantage over you.

Organization

You (hopefully) will have more than one client at a time, so it is necessary to stay organized. There are many helpful ways to do this, which can include easy downloadable checklists, inputting your "to-do" items in a Google Calendar with times, sticking to an old-fashioned day planner, or hiring an assistant (if you rock and are really that busy).

Taking on a lot of work without a solid system of organization can lead to you missing important dates or deadlines and will leave you looking unprepared and unprofessional.

Honesty

Being realistic and honest in situations dealing with often hundreds of thousands of dollars is extremely important. Housing is a delicate process and has to be gone about in an extremely realistic and brutally honest way. With honesty comes a sense of trust, and home sellers/buyers ultimately want to work with someone they trust.

Even if the truth isn't necessarily what the client wants to hear at the time, if the agent is honest, the client will respect and appreciate that and thus value their input and expert opinion.

Good listener

Although open communication is extremely important, the last thing you want to be is too talkative. Remember that you are ultimately trying to please your client, so ask them questions and let them fully elaborate without interruption to get a good sense of what they are looking for.

The client relationship should be cohesive, but you want them to have the assurance that you are passionate about helping them find exactly what they are looking for and foster that professional yet warm relationship.

Expert-negotiating skills

Buying or selling, no client wants to fall in love with their dream home only to have it snatched by someone else due to poor negotiation on your part. Offers often go back and forth numerous times, and without that strong skill of negotiation, deals may slip through the cracks.

A good agent will have numerous references from past clients affirming that they are successful negotiators and the process has been smooth in the past.

Knowledgeable

Know your industry. Know your area. Know your clients. Know your competition. If you don't know something, learn. Whether you have clients that are buying or selling, they are going to want to work with someone who knows the ins and outs of their industry. Your clients should be able to have confidence in you and your knowledge of what's going on in your area so you can both be up to date on any changes or opportunities that arise.

A knowledgeable real estate agent is also experienced, and knows how to act in different types of real estate environments (economic decline or stability). Experience in all of these economic climates can save investments and lead to better returns.

All of these characteristics will give you a solid foundation of the type of agent you should be, and with focus and practice you will be able to foster solid client relationships with ease.

To view the original article, visit the MoveEasy blog.