Knowledge, training, and passing the licensure exam can make one a real estate broker, but embodying other intangibles can help make a great one
Anyone interested in property has likely recognized real estate brokering as one of the more common careers in the industry, and given the flexible schedules and significant incomes that tends to be associated with the profession, it is understandable why anyone would seriously consider it as a means to earn a living.
However, like with any career, not all who embark on being a real estate broker ends up being great, as there will always tend to be those who are average at best and those who prove to be true leaders of the pack. To be considered among the latter is to embody particular characteristics, which combined with extensive knowledge in real estate acquired by studying, training, and research makes for one top real estate broker.
Passionate
A common misconception regarding being a real estate broker is that it is a quick way to earn a significant sum of money. While selling an expensive property may mean bigger commission, not everyone who embarks on a broker career realizes that plenty of work also goes into each real estate transaction, work that usually takes weeks and even months.
From listing and marketing a property to going back and forth with a seller and buyer to reach agreeable terms, and going through the actual real estate transaction, it indeed is not instantaneous. With that said, it requires significant patience and perseverance that only those truly passionate about being a real estate broker, and is not just in it for the money, can muster.
American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist Warren Buffett, and some argue real estate mogul and current U.S. President Donald Trump, has been quoted as saying, “Without passion, you don’t have energy. Without energy, you have nothing.” Based on the business and real estate successes of either of the two, passion, indeed, goes a long way in being great at any profession.
Client-centric
In line with being passionate about serving as a real estate broker is being selfless, which in this case mostly means being client-centric and addressing their property needs before one’s own monetary goals. One way is mindfully looking for properties that fit clients’ investment criteria, and not insisting they settle on properties among your listings when none align with what they want and need.
The devil is in the details, and to get the right details is to be a good listener, and not judging clients or making an assumption as to what type of properties they are looking for. On the other hand, if the broker deals with the seller, it is understanding their motivations for placing their property on the market, because a client selling an investment property will have needs that are different from a client selling their family home.
To put it simply, a mindset of “when the client gets a good deal, the broker gets a good deal” goes a long way in helping ensure clients are satisfied with the transaction they made and the service rendered to them. This results in the ever-important repeat business or satisfied clientele referring your broker services to other serious buyers and sellers.
Adaptable
While it is said that brokers do not work within a set workweek as other office employees do, it also does not necessarily mean working on your own time. Rather, it is working at clients’ time and convenience, through a willingness to commonly meet with clients on weekends and holidays (almost always their best available time) or thoughtfully answering calls, texts, and email queries even during the oddest hours of the day.
This also means being able to “read” clients, taking into consideration such details like which ones prefer to communicate by email, text messages, or be engaged in a quick phone call. It is your responsibility as a top broker to recognize such preferences, to avoid making them feel ignored or silenced, while also ensuring they do not feel overwhelmed or pressured by your approach.
Juggling multiple clients and listings is expectedly difficult, and being adaptable, along with organized, is also paramount in helping make sure that each client receives adequate attention and each listing is amply marketed, all while helping ensure you do not lose your wits about you as you ply your trade.
Sources: Kapre, Real Estate Express
