What Makes a Successful Realtor?

Finding a real estate agent and finding a great one are two different things. Whether you're buying or selling a home, you need the services of an expert to make sure you're getting the best deal possible. But if you happen to work with someone who just wants to rip you off, you'll end up losing money or perhaps you buy a home that you actually don't want. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="900"] (photo credit: ResumeGenius.com)[/caption] A successful and reliable real estate agent has certain qualities you should be looking for. Here's a bunch of tips on what those qualities are: Let's begin with RealEstate.com.au, in the article, "8 expert qualities that make a good real estate agent."

1. They communicate As a house seller or buyer it can be stressful dealing with an agent who’s not a great communicator. The real estate market is time sensitive, so you need an agent who will let you know quickly where you stand with your current buying or selling situation so you can move on quickly to another property or potential buyer. Jean Gordon from Estate Agent Stars says that one of the biggest frustrations for people is a lack of communication from their agent. “It’s so important that agents stay in constant contact with their clients and customers. What seems like insignificant information to an agent who’s been in the business for years can be really important to clients who are new to the real estate game,” says Gordon. 2. They’re proactive Ben Hatch from Harcourts Real Estate in WA says a good agent should be proactively calling potential buyers, communicating with existing customers and constantly chasing new leads. The key element of being proactive is keeping the client well informed. “If your clients keep calling you, you’re not giving them enough information,” says Hatch. The key element of being proactive is keeping the client well informed. Looking ahead: A glimpse of the agents of the future 3. They listen Most good agents will tell you to be wary of an agent who talks too much. Hatch says that if you can’t get a word in when communicating with your agent, then you’ve got a problem. “As a client or customer, you’re the one who should be doing most of the talking and making sure that your agent understands your special requests and needs. A good agent should be asking all the questions not the other way around,” says Hatch. Want more? Just click here.

You will realize later on that it's really about finding out the personality of the realtor you plan on hiring. The way they talk to you and respond to your needs says a lot about how they're able to give you the best deals in either purchasing or selling your home. For one, a good listener is essential because you want them to listen to what you need from them and not just do all the talking. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="650"] (photo credit: News.com.au)[/caption] But aside from being proactive and a good listener, there also are some very specific attributes for you to consider one as a good realtor. Take a look at some of these qualities below, courtesy of RealEstateInsiderMag.com:

Local knowledge It is incredibly important for the person selling a home to have recent sales experience and success at selling homes in the area. Someone new in town or who has never sold a home in a particular part of town is, in many ways, a beginner. Sellers have a right to pick a winner so start things out right by making sure you’re the best man, or woman, for the job. Organized with attention to detail A real estate agent that is organized and likes to work with attention to detail is the one that is most likely to sell a home. This is especially true in a hard-to-sell market. Great agents know the tiniest changes sellers can make to improve the sale-ability of their home. They are creative with their MLS listings and they take the best photographs of each home. They return client calls promptly and make every appointment on time. Connections and representation The top agents come to a home with a prospective buyers list. They also are working with a well known realty agency. They know other realtors in the area, too, and are willing to work with others if that sells the home faster. Tenacity Sellers want an agent that is tenacious. They follow up quickly after every time the home is shown. They appear to work hard and they rarely give up. Aggressive yet polite attitude The best realtor is not afraid to speak up. He or she should be just as promotional about the seller’s home as if it was their own. By being aggressive, the realtor is working hard to put the home in the forefront of the local market. Flair and good grooming Sellers have worked hard to prepare their homes for showing. They want, and need, a realtor that puts their best foot forward. An agent with flair exudes confidence and makes prospective buyers feel at ease. This way, prospective buyers get the impression that his agent would not even list a home that was not an excellent buy. Click here to read the rest of the article.

Even if you feel like you can buy or sell a home on your own, there still is good reason for you to hire an agent. They are experts in their own industry, but don't expect everyone to be as reliable as a few of them.

What Makes a Successful Realtor? was originally written and published on Window-Treatments.net