Every good real estate agent knows that the real estate market is all about brick and mortar. Each seller or buyer is a person with hopes and plans for their new home. That does the job of an agent by helping real people take the next step in the housing scale, finding the perfect first pad, a city with a large residence or a permanent home.
Having facts, statistics and technical explanations is important, but it is not enough. The softest skills are also the qualities of a good real estate agent. Effective communication skills in real estate are also important. That includes good listening and a natural understanding of how to build good relationships with people from all walks of life.
For new agents in the field or established over the years, there are many soft skills that are important to emerge. We have explored 5 soft skills that are important for vendor engagement, list protection and winning sales. Do you have what it takes to succeed?
- Be a good listener
There is a misconception in many fields that good marketing is about talking fast.
Many people believe that marketing requires a person who speaks fast, or is able to use charisma to persuade … In marketing there is the fact that ‘we have two ears and one mouth, and we should use it equally.
Everyone wants to be heard by their contact. This is a double fact when working with people who want to sell or buy a home – it is a critical investment in which they have invested their living. Make sure you listen to your clients and make it clear to them that you understand everything they are trying to convey. If you have questions, ask them – but at the right time. If you see that they think something is a little confusing, make it clear that you understand.
Buying or selling a home can be stressful and emotional and your clients need to know what is important to them. In your opinion, you need to know their pain points and understand how they choose to communicate. The only way to get this information is by listening, plain and simple.
- Effective negotiation
Negotiations are one of the things you should have, you can’t miss out on the qualities of a good real estate agent, of course. It means knowing when and where to stop. Persuasion is as important as the confidence that comes out and when you put pressure on well-placed silences.
Although important, few of us are born with the ability to reason with our innate and unique communication skills. Soft communication skills are a continuous process – you will only recover over time, with a concerted effort to improve.
While many of your negotiation skills will focus on money and pricing, there are other areas where they will be important, too. Dates, deadlines, advising clients on appropriate types of structures, terms, conditions, and details in small, small details.
- Understanding body language
When people communicate, only 20% of what a person says, and shows is kept. On the contrary, 80% of what a person says is understandable. Numbers mean everything, body language counts a lot!
Make sure that as an agent, you make every right move to bring out the character and calm down. Keep your arms down and lose and maintain good eye contact to show that you are open and obedient. Folded arms and stretched legs do not completely disappear when communicating. While eye contact is good, too much can seem aggressive. In addition, you need to stand at the right distance from your contact person; you are very close, and you can beat me, but you are too far away, and you are not interested.
It’s not just your body language that matters. Use your knowledge to how your client responds to you. When they turn their backs on you or roll up their sleeves, they are either unhappy or depressed. If they face you, listen and smile, things may go well.
- Stay clear and concise
Details are important, so don’t dress them in fluff, be polite, but also straight to the point. Your client will appreciate it, because, while building a good relationship is important, their trust in you is very important. If your client knows you will tell them what they need to know at the right time and the way they understand it, they will enjoy that.
If you can’t easily figure out how often your clients want updates, then ask them. That way you both will know what to expect and your client will be happy – if you get in touch when you say you can. Even if there is no update, leave a message or call quickly to say so.
- A creative and flexible approach
If more than one or two of your updates say, ‘no update’, it could be a sign of trying something new – that’s where your creativity and flexibility are found.
As an ambitious agent, you are constantly building an arsenal of methods for effective additions and non-functional modifications. Draw your creativity and adaptability to adapt to situations where things go wrong.
If the sale takes too long, use your experience and industry knowledge to come up with something different – which will delight your client again. Think outside the box, combine social media, or make flyer drops, there is room for different prosperity strategies!
Real estate is about people
In the end, real estate is a people’s business. Sure, he sells a building, however, that building is a home for people. That means effective communication skills in real estate are needed to win people over, gain their trust and earn your commission.
All the important qualities of a good real estate agent will help you empathize with their painful points, joys, and goals, and get the job done quickly with unique ideas.
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