The Top 9 Real Estate Agent Skills of Successful Agents

Learning and mastering specific real estate agent skill requirements can make or break your career. From being an excellent communicator to becoming proficient in various software, honing the right skills will set you apart from other agents. Wonder what makes a good real estate agent? I’ll walk you through the top nine real estate agent skills needed to build a solid career. Let’s jump in!

1. Communication

From the first hello at your open house to the final handshake after closing a deal, an agent’s success largely depends on mastering the art of communication. We all know it: every client is unique, each with specific preferences and needs. That said, always be concise, ask thoughtful questions, and show genuine curiosity. Building your network and client relationships feels natural when you’re an expert at communicating.

To improve your communication skills as a real estate agent, practice the following:

• Write down your thoughts: Journal or simply use your Notes mobile app. This tip will allow you to organize your thoughts and say only relevant things.
• Listen actively: Always pay attention, know when to give feedback, and respond appropriately when communicating with your clients or fellow agents.
• Be aware of nonverbal cues: Make eye contact when you’re talking, smile, and use hand gestures. This connection will help clients and colleagues sense your confidence.

2. Negotiation

Negotiation is one of the most essential skill requirements for real estate agent. Buyers and sellers want the best possible deal, so agents should always prepare to negotiate. To excel in this area, agents must understand their client’s goals and needs so they can effectively communicate during negotiations.

 The best way to build your negotiation skills is through experience. If this is a weak spot in your skillset, try role-playing scenarios with a mentor or fellow agent, attend workshops, and continuously educate yourself through real estate business books. Doing all these will make you more confident as an agent, enhancing your negotiation abilities.

If you want to be an expert negotiator, take a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) course from Colibri’s Real Estate Negotiation Institute (RENI). The course covers proven persuasion approaches, techniques on how clients will choose you over other agents, lead generation and conversion strategies, handling various negotiation styles, and more. The course will improve your negotiation game whether you’re a new or seasoned agent.

3. Problem Solving

If you’ve ever been in a tight spot trying to meet a client’s special requests, don’t worry. That’s just a typical day in the life of an agent. Whether meeting a strict deadline to find a house or searching for one with a particular list of features, these challenges are part of the job. The key is to showcase your problem-solving skills while adapting to the current situation. You’ll close the deal and ensure client satisfaction by facing these obstacles head-on. Remember, it’s all about turning challenges into opportunities.

Here are some ways to build your problem-solving skills:

• Never stop learning: Attend real estate conferences or webinars that tackle the latest industry trends and solutions that can help you navigate difficult situations with clients.
• Brainstorm your strategies and solutions: Consider multiple solutions for every problem or situation. These can include an alternative financing option, negotiation technique, or marketing strategy.
• Build your network of professionals: Agents should have their trusted real estate attorneys, mortgage brokers, builders, electricians, plumbers, and other real estate professionals on speed dial in case something goes wrong. These experts can help you solve complex issues and maintain your deal with a client.

4. Local Community Knowledge

Local community knowledge is one of the most essential skills a real estate agent needs because potential clients hire local experts. To thrive in your community, you should know your area inside and out. This knowledge deep dive means knowing local establishments, town amenities, and market conditions in specific neighborhoods. 

Want some plus points? Remember these valuable tips:

• Stay up-to-date on your state and area’s local news: Watch for community events and read local news. Stay in the loop on zoning laws and other new developments.
• Volunteer at local events: The more you show up, the more people know your face and business.
• Know the best hot spots: Where do locals usually eat during a big celebration? Where’s the best burger joint? Be the guidebook of potential clients who will soon be living in the same area as you.

5. Time Management

Juggling meetings, open houses, showings, family time, and leisure can feel overwhelming. However, mastering time management is necessary for the long haul to thrive in this career. After all, no client wants to feel at the bottom of an agent’s to-do list. Plan your engagements thoughtfully to ensure your clients, colleagues, and family get the service and attention they deserve. Some helpful time management tips for agents include:

• Using Google Calendar or your trusty leather planner for scheduling tasks and events
• Using real estate software to automate repetitive tasks
• Becoming part of a team and delegating tasks
• Including professional and personal tasks in your daily schedule

Stay on top of your busy schedule with this classic leather planner. Maintain balance and productivity by mapping out your open houses, property showings, office meetings, and personal life events using the planner’s weekly and hourly schedule layout.

6. Technology

Isn’t it unbelievable how there always seems to be a new real estate app that makes agents’ lives easier? From apps that facilitate virtual staging to those that automate lead follow-ups, keeping up each day is much more seamless and efficient with the latest real estate technology. 

Technology skills for real estate agents are a must-have. Experiment with new software, sign up for free trials to see which ones help your business best, and dedicate time to read tutorials and set it up. Clients appreciate it when you’re knowledgeable about the latest tech innovations in real estate.

As an agent, you should be adept at using a customer relationship management system like Market Leader. The platform helps agents respond to clients through automated emails and SMS messages, manage contacts, send listings through automated listing alerts, track when clients have visited your websites, and more.

7. Marketing

To earn more as an agent, you should understand that marketing is one of the most critical real estate agent skills you must develop. It’s all about leveraging available resources to promote your services, whether paid or free. Marketing is more than just having your brokerage promote your name. You have to do the work, too. If you’re a new real estate agent and want to put yourself out there, here are some things you should be adept at:

• Creating Instagram reels and TikTok videos
• Designing real estate flyers and brochures
• Shooting your virtual house tours
• Sending out regular email newsletters
• Building a solid social media presence

8. Data Analysis

One of the most valuable skills in real estate is understanding and analyzing data. Analyzing data is the key to making intelligent decisions and staying ahead of the competition. Today’s modern tools and services make accessing valuable market information easier. 

If you want to know more about any aspect of your local market, you can find a real estate news site—often for free. That means agents who develop skills to analyze data will have the edge over those who don’t, using insights to predict trends, set accurate pricing, and craft strategies for every client.

9. Patience & Adaptability

Yup. You guessed it. Patience and adaptability are skills required for a real estate agent. If you think patience does not belong in the fast-paced world of real estate and should be removed from this list of skills, think again. Every skill I’ve listed above takes time and effort to master, and you’ve got to stick with it until you see results. This stick-to-itiveness applies to soft and hard skills—whether you’re perfecting cold-calling techniques or tweaking your realtor website. 

Selling homes is a long cycle, with many grounds to cover before you get that commission check. Agents who stay patient and adapt to various situations and unforeseen circumstances are the ones who ultimately come out on top. Remember, patient agents are successful agents.

How to Get a Real Estate License: An Overview

If you have the skills a real estate agent needs but are still contemplating becoming an agent, here are the basic steps to get your real estate license:

• Complete your prelicensing education: Before you can start organizing open houses and selling properties, you’ve got to take your prelicensing courses with accredited real estate schools. The number of prelicensing hours differs per state. Some states require only 40 hours, while others require more than 100. Your prelicensing courses cover real estate laws, fair housing, and more.
• Pass your state’s real estate licensing exam: The licensing exam consists of a mix of general and state-specific real estate questions. Prepping for the licensing exam involves reviewing real estate terms, practicing real estate math, and understanding housing laws. Once you feel ready for the license exam, submit your exam application and choose a test center near you.

• Apply for your real estate license: After passing the licensing exam, it’s time to apply for your real estate license. The process involves submitting your application to your state’s licensing board and your license fee. You’ll also need to complete a background check. Some states require you to have a sponsoring broker who’ll apply on your behalf. Check your state’s real estate licensing board for more information.

• Take continuing education courses: Learning doesn’t end after securing your real estate license. Once licensed, you’ll still need to complete continuing education (CE) courses to keep your license active. The number of hours and types of courses depend on your state’s requirements. Some agents take CE courses at the same school where they took their prelicensing courses. Popular CE courses include risk management, legal updates, consumer protection, and ethics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Bringing It All Together

Like other real estate careers, being an agent requires a lot of grit and effort. Now that you know the skills required to be a real estate agent, do you have what it takes to be in this career for a long time? What are other skills needed to be a realtor? Let us know in the comments!