10 Qualities of a Great Real Estate Agent

Selling or purchasing a home is a substantial endeavor, if not one of the most significant enterprises you might ever take. Selecting a realtor to work with throughout these processes isn’t simply a matter of thumbing through the virtual phone book or going with the first recommendation you’re offered. Rather, it requires a careful assessment of a real estate agent’s traits–and the more elusive (but just as palpable) chemistry you have with them. This article delves into acclaimed realtor Shannon Campbell’s take on what, exactly, makes for a great real estate agent.

The concept of mindfulness may be tossed around in our modern era, but it has extreme importance in the realm of real estate. A real estate agent who exudes a mindful nature will stand their ground in negotiations but will do so with grace and compassion, listen carefully to your desires and concerns, and bring poise to all of their transactions.

Real estate transactions are deeply involved and often profoundly complex–and frequently fill buyers and sellers with dozens of important questions. A great real estate agent will be perfectly honest with you on various topics, from whether elaborate home renovations will actually pay off to an appropriate price for your property. Search for someone who has garnered a reputation for their integrity, which can be seen not only in their professional status and sphere but also in their actions within their community.

Gone are the days when a few photographs might suffice in the sale of your home: We have now officially entered the stage where homes are marketed as meticulously and as marvelously as a new, hotly anticipated product. If you are in the market to sell your home, your realtor will peer at your property from several “marketing-smart” perspectives. What is the deeper story your home tells? What are its most magnificent features? What is its overall message? Additionally, they will gain an understanding of your target buyers, which will shape the content of your marketing materials. They will also monitor their marketing efforts, make a splash on social media, and, if suitable, reach foreign investors.

Selling and purchasing a home can be rife with exhilaration but also angst. A competent and excellent real estate agent will answer phone calls, texts, and emails promptly, do their best to mitigate whatever nervousness you may be feeling about the process, arrive at appointments on time and well-prepared, educate you energetically, and follow up with leads without question. Similarly, a solid real estate agent will convey a sense of consistency in all of their dealings–and with every person involved in their transactions.

First-rate real estate agents don’t deal exclusively with buyers and sellers: They are also well-acquainted with multiple people throughout the building and banking industries. This can be enormously helpful for both buyers and sellers, whether you need to find an experienced roofer before putting your home on the market or would like a recommendation for a loan officer, certified home inspector, or even a local restaurant. In addition, a world-class real estate agent won’t just market your home to qualified buyers: She or he will already have a list of people who might be the perfect fit for the home you’re selling.

Buyers frequently work with real estate agents to obtain the truth about a specific area or neighborhood. A sound Seattle real estate agent won’t just stick to the region’s best facets; they will know it well and be straightforward with you about its crime rates, schools (and other public services), idiosyncrasies, transportation system, and local traffic–and the overall vibe it possesses. This will help match you and your family with just the right home for reasons that extend beyond the property. More importantly, the real estate agent you elect to work with ought to have an in-depth understanding of the region’s housing market.

Negotiating is a key aspect of the real estate process. Exceptional real estate agents apply that aforementioned mindfulness to this central part of transactions, but are also focused, firm, determined, empathetic, and knowledgeable. They should always work in the best interest of all parties involved, have the skill to speak persuasively, and convey unflappable professionalism.

A consummate real estate agent tends to have a genuine love of homes–and a qualified eye for aesthetics. Their taste needn’t match yours entirely, but finding an agent who shares your sensibility can work to your benefit. They should also be able to bring their expertise to several aspects of the real estate process, including staging, showings, marketing materials, and open houses. Ideally, you should find someone who stays abreast of trends but also has an incisive knowledge of what, precisely, renders a home gorgeous, valuable, and timeless.

There are dozens of documents involved in a real estate transaction, and having a real estate agent who is impeccably organized will lead to greater efficiency in all of your dealings.

Self-assuredness in a real estate agent goes a long way. Not only can it inform your negotiations, but it can also aid in whatever education you may need to fully grasp the intricacies associated with real estate transactions. At the same time, a dynamite real estate agent will also have a warm, engaging personality — someone who is just as adept at making you feel comfortable with asking questions as answering inquiries and providing tours of your home during showings. They should be a friend, a confidant, and a resource.

Shannon Campbell has earned a reputation for possessing these qualities–and then some. With far-reaching experience throughout Puget Sound, she brings communication chops and enthusiasm to all of her client relations. Whether you’re interested in exploring homes for sale in Seattle, eyeing Ravenna or Laurelhurst condos, or selling your home in Bellevue or Issaquah, get in touch with her today to start building a long-lasting relationship.