7 Skills The 2015 Real Estate Must Have

In any industry you can expect one thing to be certain, the way business is conducted will continually change. This is especially present than in the real estate industry. Not only will the market adapt, but so will the clientele. The truth is, the real estate agent of today must use the resources available to obtain and sharpen many skills that are needed for success.

While an agent’s skill set must be vast, these seven skills are definitely a necessity to achieve success for clients and your business:

Be Able to Speak Their Language

As a person that deals with clients directly, agents must recognize an individual’s personality and motive to develop a trusting relationship. New home buyers want to know they can trust you. In many cases they do not fully understand the process and need guidance. Veteran clients have normally dealt with certain agents that weren’t necessarily team players. Being able to identify their personality will not only help them, but make your job easier as they are more willing to listen to your suggestions.

Efficient Follow-Up Process

It can be easy to let certain leads fall through the cracks. But it is absolutely important to consistently follow-up with all leads. With the industry being extremely competitive, it is crucial to remain at the top of a prospective client’s mind. If you are not going to do it, someone else will. Developing a system to follow-up with all leads will help develop relationships and grow your business.

Setting Appropriate Expectations

This might be a difficult task with certain clientele. As the market is changing, so are what clients expect. Most prospects, especially younger, have been misguided on the home buying process thus far. On the other hand, a seller might not understand the pricing of their to be competitive in their market. Being able to effectively communicate and set appropriate expectations will help your clients and build your reputation.

Self-Motivating

Your success is in your hands. While a flexible schedule is a nice part of the job, a driven agent will set themselves apart from the rest. Falling into a level of content can be very easy in this business. But most do not understand why they might hit the proverbial ceiling and their business stalls. Being able to drive yourself to be efficient with clients, learn innovative lead strategies and develop professionally can result in breaking through and obstacles in your way.

Digital Marketing

I don’t think I am surprising anyone when I say if you do not have a presence online you are hurting your business. This is one of the main ways consumers find what they want. In real estate, buyers and sellers are finding their information online. Whether it is trying to find the home of their dreams or reading agent reviews from other consumers, they are starting the process online. Being able to market yourself online is crucial for growing your business. Also, being able to market a single home online can help your client be successful in their efforts to sell their home. Having the skills to market online will only make yourself more marketable to clients.

Social Media Interaction

So I am sure you used to get your news updates by watching the actual news on TV, right? Well I hate to tell you, but that is a little old-fashioned in today’s society. Individuals of all ages are interacting on all social media platforms. They get their news and updates immediately from friends and other sources. This is even true in the real estate game. As an agent, you have a resource to consistently engage with prospects and provide quality content to be visual to a large audience.

Networking

Strategically developing a network can help launch your business in the right direction. I was always told growing up that we are guilty by association. Well, this also rings true in business. Cultivating a quality network can help grow your business and build trust within your market. Build relationships with others who have your mindset and want the same things. It will help keep you accountable and help build your relationship with your clients.

2015 can be a successful year for you as a real estate agent. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or just getting started, sharpening these skills can only help build your business and achieve (or stay) successful in this business.