What’s the best way to stand out in a crowded field? By updating your skillset, of course! Here are the top skills you should hone this year:
Real estate is becoming a very competitive field. You need to find
a way to list properties available for sale. Beyond listing your land and
houses for sale, buyers and sellers are expecting a lot more. To succeed as a real estate agent, you need
to have something extra.
Several skills can give you an edge and help you make more sales.
These skills will also set you apart from the competition.
Let’s read together based on my experience in the industry and what I
have found to be important. You will also note that most of these skills are
important in other industries as well. So, if you are not in real estate, you
find these useful as well. Let’s get started!
1.
Local area knowledge
Every real estate agent needs to have adequate knowledge of the
area within which they are selling land or houses. If you know your locality,
customers will learn to trust and depend on you for guidance. You will need to
understand real estate regulations in Kenya. You also need to know of upcoming
developments and other real estate agents in your area.
Real estate buyers prefer working with a real estate agent who is
knowledgeable. This is because they are about to make one of the biggest
decisions of their life. Customers are also about to commit a lot of money.
2.
High Integrity and Trust levels.
Honesty remains one of the best skills to have as a real estate
agent. Customers also expect you to show you can be trusted and honest. Thus,
real estate customers rely on referrals from friends and family. Being
dishonest, unethical and immoral can tarnish a career fast, and for good.
If you have a bad reputation, no real estate buyer will work with
you. Reputation matters a lot in real estate. You need to maintain a good
client base who can provide evidence of recent successful deals.
3.
Technological skills
Technology advances every day. Therefore, you need to leverage
technology to your advantage by being technological savvy.
As a real estate agent, you need to understand how to use social
media to sell real estate. From posting to WhatsApp groups and Facebook or
showcasing your real estate on Instagram. You can take things to the next level
by having a website.
How
to use Google Maps to sell more as a real estate Agent
If you do not have a website, then you do not need to worry.
Various listing
websites are available with some being available for free.
4.
Resilience
Real estate is a tough field. On average, most real estate agents
complete a few sales within the year. If you are not resilient, you will not
manage to stay long in the field. As an agent, following up on leads requires
constant calling and checking on your leads before they convert. Following up
on every lead is crucial in achieving success in real estate.
You will need to have a way to keep track of leads. Having a notebook is a good starting place.
Else, invest in an automated system.
Successful real estate agents do not wait for clients to call
them. They keep a check on all appointments, meetings and showings themselves.
They are also flexible and will adjust their schedule if the client requests.
5.
Passion
To succeed in anything, you need to have passion. Real estate is
no exception.
For real estate agents, passion involves enjoying speaking and
taking clients to site visits. You also need passion to help people. This is
because you will need to support clients make decisions that are best for them.
6.
Teamwork and networking
In real estate, your network is your net worth. If you work alone,
you will find customers hard to come by. Referrals remain the way most agents
find business. If you do not have a large network, then you will sell less and
be unable to find success. Teamwork involves you also providing other real
estate agents with referrals and leads.
Networking
Tips for Real Estate Agents in Kenya.
For any career, building your network and reputation is important
for success. If you’re a local agent serving a small market, getting involved
with the community can be a great way to build your brand. By engaging with the
community, you can become the ‘go-to estate agent’ in the area.
7.
Negotiation skills
Most buyers start their real estate journey online. With a lot of
information being available online, buyers have more information than before.
With a more knowledgeable client, negotiation skills are becoming important for
real estate agents.
The crucial lesson to remember about negotiating is that your goal
is not to “win,” but to get a deal done. To do that, you will have to come up
with a solution that will satisfy both the buyer and the seller.
8.
communication skills
People prefer to work with people they get along with and like.
Buying and selling properties is no different. To have a good rapport with real
estate buyers, you then need to have good communication skills.
Good communication skills help to create a good relationship with
customers. It also helps to enhance your level of professionalism. You need to
be available on most communication channels like email, Skype, WhatsApp, or
text messages. You should also be quick at replying to your client's messages.
You don’t only communicate with the buyer but also the seller
during negotiation. In some cases, you'll need to communicate with your
colleagues. Other real estate agents will give you advice or guidance as you
grow in the business.
9.
Great marketing skills.
The real estate market is becoming more competitive. More real
estate agents are joining the industry. To sell land or houses, you need to
have great marketing skills. With the
right marketing strategy, you can get more clients and referrals that will help
you grow your business.
Here
is a more detailed article on top 9 strategies to earn more as a real estate
agent.
10. Familiarity
with Rules and Regulations
A real estate agent understands how rules and regulations apply to
real estate. In Kenya, you need to understand the Estate Agents Act, The Land
Act, Rent Restriction Act and tax matters as well. You need to understand how these
affects real estate.
Process
of buying property in Kenya
As a real estate agent, you must guide your customers in navigating through all the regulations and not mislead them in any way. Most homeowners are unaware of real estate laws when they buy or sell a house. They depend on a real estate agent to guide them through this complicated process.
There
are many skills a real estate agent should have. The above skills are the core
skills that will make a successful real estate agent. The effective
implementation of these skills will help you have a great and rewarding real
estate career. These skills are important whether you’re starting out or
already a professional.
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