10/16/2016
What are the 6 most important things that a broker is looking for in a new agent?
1. Motivation/Entrepreneurial Spirit
Being a real estate agent is essentially running your own business. New agents have to build their business from the ground up. It is not a job where someone will tell you what to do or where exactly to be. As much as brokers and managers can offer guidance and support the drive, determination, and self-discipline, must ultimately come from the agents themselves.
2. Communication Skills
Being a real estate agent one needs to be able to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing. Real estate agents have to explain complicated, nuanced material to their clients in a coherent and easy-to-understand way. Additionally, much of the correspondence in this day and age is via email. So real estate agents also must be able to communicate the same material through written word. This skill has become so important that we include a writing skills and spelling/grammar section on our interview form.
3. Personality/Likability
Real estate agents will be spending long periods of time with their clients showing properties. So their clients have to like to be around them! If an agent has a good personality and the high “likability” factor it lays the groundwork for the client. This builds trust in the agent handling their transaction. The real estate agents that are successful always have a fantastic rapport with their clients and many become life-long friends.
4. Professional Appearance
An agent should look and dress the part of a successful businessperson. Clients will quickly form first impressions about competence and professionalism, often based on appearance. You only get one chance at a first impression.
5. Organizational Skills/Time Management
Much like a juggler in a circus a busy real estate agent will be “spinning many plates”. He/she has to have the ability to be organized and highly efficient with his/her time. As a real estate agent is a commission based position the effort and work that is put in should always be focused and very deliberate. A successful agent will always be on top of their schedule and give the proper focus needed for each one of their “spinning plates”.
6. Attitude/Character/Responsibility
Attitude is a choice; choose to be positive and place service above self. Character is doing the right thing when no one is watching. Realize mistakes will be made; Take the ownership, make no excuse and learn from them.
