Successful Real Estate Brokers Wear a Variety of Hats

As a real estate broker, you are required to wear many different hats -- from applying good customer service skills to helping your clients with financial questions. As you oversee your real estate office, tend to client needs and prospect for business, you should possess some important skills.

Here are key traits of a successful real estate broker:

Confidence -- In a sales situation, especially one as significant as selling a house, you need to bring confidence to the table. Deals with fall through, people will change their minds, and other brokers will beat you to the punch -- it is important to handle these situations as objectively as possible.

Good People Skills -- Real estate is a people business -- as a broker, you will interact with different people every day. You need to be able to effectively communicate with them and have an innate understanding of their needs.

Organization -- This is an essential part of your real estate broker career! When you have multiple clients, you need the ability to stay on top of everything -- conducting open houses, showing properties, taking listings, handling offers, negotiating prices, etc.

Problem-Solving -- Your quick-thinking ability will come in handy as a real estate broker. Handling problems and coming up with quick-fix solutions are a huge part of a broker career. Real estate negotiations can be tough and requires someone that can adapt quickly and compromise.

Self-Motivated -- As a real estate broker, you are in charge -- of the real estate office, sales team and your overall broker career. It is important that you be able to take initiative, from marketing your business to building your client base.

The number of deals you have closed is not the only indicator of a successful real estate broker -- you also need confidence, effective problem solving and people skills, initiative and solid ability to handle everything on you plate. Your "get it all done" ability combined with a positive and welcoming attitude will make you stand out in your real estate broker career.

Labels: real estate broker career, real estate skills, Selling a House, Successful Real Estate Brokers

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Just the Facts: The Duties of a Real Estate Agent

As a real estate agent, you will help people buy and sell houses. You will enroll in a real estate license program to get the knowledge you need to accurately and legally perform your job. This will give you the knowledge to know how much a house is worth, and the skills to accurately represent the cities and neighborhoods in their area. You need to have practicing knowledge of the laws involved with the real estate process. You should also know where a buyer can secure financing.

If people want to buy or sell a house, they get the assistance of a licensed real estate salesperson. Your duties may vary, but you will typically perform the following tasks:

Buying a House

You will meet with the buyers to determine what kind of house they want.
You will discuss how much money they can afford to spend.
You will take them to see houses for sale.

Selling a House

You will complete the proper paperwork to list a house for sale.
You will assist the seller with selecting the sale price for their home.
You will create and place advertisements to get potential buyers into the house.
You will hold open houses.

After the Sale

You will fill out special forms to transfer ownership.
You will help the buyer secure a loan from the bank.

As a real estate agent, you will generally work in an office setting. Since much of the information about properties is available over the Internet, you can also work out of your own home. You might need a formal office, however, to meet with current and potential clients. A lot of time will be spent showing potential properties to buyers, as well as finding new business.

After you get your real estate license, you will work for a broker. When you sell a house, you will receive a commission, a percentage based on the total purchase price of the house.

Labels: After the Sale, Buying a House, Real Estate Agent, Selling a House

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Tips to Sell in a Buyer's Market

The experts say that it is no longer a seller's market. This doesn't mean that it will be hard to sell, but you might need to make the extra effort to get your house to move faster. By completing a few easy steps, you should be able to get your house sold in the optimal amount of time.

1. Pick a realistic price. Buyers are learning to be more cautious when it comes to investing their money in a new home. With prices leveling off a bit, they want to know that they are making a wise choice. Be practical and choose a price that reflects the current market, not the market six months ago.

Tip: It is recommended that you list your price at or below the competitive market price. (e.g. If your neighbors are asking $400,000, list your home at $395,000 to generate interest.)

2. Go the extra mile. You can attract more buyers by providing an incentive. Gone are the days when people are willing to pay more for less. Buyers are going to be more cautious and sensible about their purchase. You can make them feel like they are getting a good deal.

Tip: You can offer to pay the buyer's closing costs as a perk of the sale. Or you can be flexible with the length of escrow and willing to fix items in the home inspection report.

3. Spruce up the place. Spending a little money to improve the appearance of your house can work magic when it comes to attracting a buyer.

Tip: Fix that wobbly doorknob, plant a new flowerbed, or put on a fresh coat of paint to give your house a fresh and new appearance.

4. Clean, clean, clean. Make sure your house is always clean and pleasing to the buyer. Remember that they are most likely going to be looking in closets, opening the oven door and peeking in showers. You want to show your house in the best possible light.

Tip: Polish the hardwood floors, clean the tile grout, scrub walls, dust high shelves to provide your house with a sparkly appearance.

These are not foolproof methods for a quick sale, but they can give you a leg up on the competition. It's important to show that you are keeping the buyer in mind and that you want to provide a fair sale. That can go far in today's real estate market.

Labels: Real Estate Market, sellers market, Selling a House

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