8 qualities of a good real estate agent
Identify a good real estate agent, this is what you should look for when looking for the perfect agent:
A good communicator
As a seller or buyer of a property it is stressful to deal with an agent who is not good at communicating. The real estate market is time sensitive, so you need an agent to quickly tell you the situation where you are with your purchase or sale process, to move immediately to another property or with another potential buyer.
Undoubtedly, one of the main frustrations of people is the lack of communication with their real estate agents.
It is very important that agents stay in contact with their clients, which may seem insignificant information for an agent, who has been in business for years, can be of vital importance to those clients who are new to the game of goods estate.
It is proactive
A good agent calls the potential buyers proactively, the same does with the clients that already have, and must remain in constant search of new clients. The key element to be proactive is to keep the client well informed. If your clients do not stop calling you, you are not giving them enough information.
It’s good listening
A good agent will tell you that you must be careful with those who do not stop talking. If you do not understand a single word of what your agent says when you talk to him, you have a big problem. As a client you should generate most of the conversation and make sure you make clear your needs and requests. A good real estate agent should ask all the questions, not the other way around.
Motivate your customers
Let’s make it easy, if the client gets a good deal, the agent too. That is why it is so important to choose one that puts your interests ahead. You should always have that at the top of your priorities. Selling and buying homes can be stressful and it is vital for the agent to make sure that your client feels supported and happy.
It adapts to the needs of its customers
In the same way, it is essential for a good agent to be able to ‘read’ his clients. Some like to maintain contact by email, others prefer a quick message over the phone, while others choose calls to know the status of their sale.
It is the agent’s responsibility to determine the appropriate communication method for their clients, in such a way that they do not feel ignored by silence, nor pressured by an excess of communication
Know the time frame of your clients
The awareness of time is essential to have a good agent / client relationship. If a client needs to sell quickly, the agent must know and must adjust to work in a limited period of time. When there is no hurry to make the sale, the agent can then afford to advise the client to wait for the right moment and get a better price for their property.
Identify the sales motivation of your customers
A good real estate agent always knows why their clients are selling and the following questions will be asked:
- Is the customer selling to buy?
- Is it an investment property?
- Will they live for a while in this house and then remodel it?
They are all things you must think about. It also helps to know if there is a sentimental bond with the house. A client that is selling one of the five investment properties that he owns has different needs than the one that sells his family home. The agent must identify that difference and adapt accordingly.
Not afraid to give your clients’ data as references
The best way to find a good real estate agent is through your past clients who will serve as a reference. If you are interested in one in particular and you think it is the one you are looking for, ask for testimonials from your last 10 or 20 clients, not selected, literally from all of them. A good real estate agent will be able to give you the positive references you are looking for.