Even when there’s plenty of business to go around, the real estate market remains competitive. Whether you’re a new or seasoned real estate agent, you’ve established one essential fact about the field—you need to stand out to be successful!
What skills do real estate agents need to stay in demand and ahead of the pack even as the market cools? Read on to learn more about seven valuable real estate skills that you should work on cultivating as the year ends—and beyond!
1. Resilience
We’ve all been there—leads don’t pan out, deals fall through, and you’re left wondering where it all went wrong. However, if you can bounce back quickly after disappointment or failure, you’re positioning yourself ahead of your competition.
What if you find it hard to control your emotional responses to failure? Don’t fool yourself into thinking resilience is a trait you either have or don’t have. It’s possible to change your reactions to losses and turn them into successes!
Cultivate positivity and innovation, and tackle each setback as a problem to be solved, not the end of the road to success. It won’t happen overnight, but making resilience a skill you’d like to improve will only benefit you in an ever-changing real estate market.
2. Local knowledge
Staying in demand requires you to know your local area well! Your clients will notice if you lack market knowledge, so become well-versed in your area’s local schools, public transportation, neighborhood characteristics, and even tax laws.
This information can be just as important as property information, so getting comfortable with your market area is vital.
3. Patience
An in-demand agent cannot overlook patience as a critical component for success. Sure, we all love those houses that seem to sell as soon as they’re on the market; however, in many instances, you’ll be in a waiting game that could take longer than you’d like.
As a real estate agent, patience will always be valuable—whether you’re following up and nurturing leads or just dealing with a motivated buyer who can’t seem to settle on a property.
4. Active listening
People often forget active listening is an essential aspect of communication.
Simply put—you need to learn to really listen to your clients. Give them your undivided attention when they’re speaking with you.
Don’t jump in mid-sentence to answer their questions because you lack patience! Give them time to speak and voice their feelings, thoughts, and concerns—and don’t forget to ask follow-up questions.
Being an active listener helps to foster and build trust between you and your clients, and this trust is what can drive referrals and keep you in demand as an agent.
5. Negotiation
Negotiating contracts successfully—for both buyers and sellers—will elevate your reputation as an agent. Remember, there is no goal to “win” when working to close a deal. Your main objective is to get the deal done!
Build your negotiation skills by seeking expert advice, studying their tactics, and testing the waters with your newfound knowledge. Stand up for your clients, educate them, and work hard to secure a fair deal.
6. Use available tools
Various tools are available to streamline your real estate workflow, manage your leads, and even automate your social media posts across multiple platforms. Get familiar with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, video calls, virtual tours, and various forms of social media.
Utilize services such as professional photography to make your listings stand out and have a professional, polished feel. Embracing these different technologies, tools, and services will maximize your efficiency and position your real estate business as in-demand and on-trend!
7. Use digital marketing
Adapting quickly to the digital sphere is crucial if you want to stay in demand and grow as an agent. Mastering different digital platforms—social media, email, or a well-built website—will help you generate leads and make your presence known in ways it might have never been otherwise.
Don’t be afraid to automate marketing strategies, such as text blasts and email drips, or explore other digital marketing strategies. An in-demand real estate agent aims to work smarter, not unnecessarily harder!
How Virtuance can help you stay in demand
Virtuance offers game-changing photography services powered by HDReal® and marketing enhancements that will elevate your digital presence across all platforms on the internet. Social media packages, YouTube videos, image watermarking, and more will have your listings catch—and keep—the eyes of potential buyers.
With Virtuance, you can count on our expert solutions to keep your business relevant, in demand, and successful.
