The Many Faces Of A Real Estate Agent
Posted on 10/28/2022 by David M. Dion
I’ve often thought about what combination of skills are needed to be an effective real estate agent. The list is a long one.
Research analyst, Counselor, Confidant and sometimes even a convenient punching bag when things are not going well. The simple fact is a good real estate agent needs to know at least a little bit about a lot of things. And the more wide and varied the skill set the better equipped a real estate agent will be in order to address the myriad issues that arise during the course of a real estate transaction.
Here are a few more needed skills that come to mind: Interior Designer, Landscape Architect, Psychologist, Soothsayer, Magician, and occasionally even a Locksmith. After all the most important task a real estate agent needs to accomplish is to be able to unlock the door!
At times we need to be a housecleaner and even a trash collector, and especially on the day of closing when the property is not exactly in “broom clean condition”. I remember once partner Steve Robbins and I needed to remove a basement filled with coal in order to get to the closing. And another time partner Erik Reisner and I needed to move almost an entire house filled with furniture in one day, (and in the pouring rain!) because the sellers just didn’t seem to be able to get to it in time.
Among the most difficult skill sets a real estate agent needs is the ability to spot the snakes. It’s not easy, they are out there and they come in all shapes and sizes. We find them among the buyers, the sellers, the attorneys and certainly among other real estate agents. In my experience the most obvious giveaway that someone is a snake comes when you ask a difficult question. If their initial response is in the form of laughter then that’s a pretty good clue you’ve got a snake on your hands. Run away!
But perhaps the two most important skills a real estate agent needs are patience and persistence. Patience because we are participating in one of the most important financial decisions someone may be making in their lifetime. And the impact on that decision can be enormous. As a result, the stress and emotion can sometimes run very high. A good real estate agent needs to patiently shepherd the process in a way that creates the least stress possible.
But at the same time, a real estate agent needs to be persistent in keeping their client focused on the result. Sometimes the result may even be to not make the purchase after. But most of the time it’s all about getting to the closing table.
At Mad River Valley Real Estate we strive to provide the highest level of professional service in order for clients and customers to make informed real estate and financial decisions. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit. Please call on us anytime to help with your next real estate transaction. You’ll be glad you did.