Experiencing feelings of isolation and wanting to get a fresh start can be some of the reasons why there are still some people who continue to look for new homes despite the ongoing pandemic. It may seem like an odd time to find a new place, but real estate agents could take advantage of this customer behavior. Customers need to find real estate agents whom they can trust with their resources during this time.
Despite the global health crisis, real estate agents should continue honing their skills in getting new clients. Boosting your client base will increase your chances of getting good word-of-mouth marketing, which you can benefit from. Customers these days look for reliable real estate agents, and you should work on communicating a trustworthy persona towards your potential client base.
Potential clients these days would want a property that is safe and secure, especially during this pandemic. You should be ready to give them choices whenever they ask what their current options are given their resources. You can present them with lots for sale in the market depending on their budget and timetable.
Real Estate Agents Misconceptions
In every profession, some misconceptions need to be debunked by its practitioners. The real estate field is not an exception to these misconceptions. To be an effective real estate agent, you have to be familiar with what misinformation your clients might have so that you can work on informing them properly about the truth of your profession and your own professional practice. Here are some misconceptions about real estate agents.
Real estate agents are, in fact, not always late for appointments with clients. These real estate agents are not exempted from the professional requirement of being on time. For clients who have constantly encountered tardy real estate agents, it would be wise to find a new one, as this should not be the norm in the industry. This bad habit only paints professional real estate agents in a bad light.
Some clients assume that an agent’s home inspector will work in favor of the agent. This is something that should be clarified throughout your relationship with your client. As an agent, you want what’s best for your client as you work with a home inspector. You wouldn’t want to be sued by your client and have it permanently on your professional record.
One tricky concern is how agents are expected to provide information about a certain neighborhood, such as its crime rates and ethnic mixes. While these are valid concerns from clients, this information is not something that agents are supposed to provide due to laws that prevent agents from discriminating against certain classes. An agent, however, can provide sources on where the client can get their desired information, but they cannot directly provide the information itself.
These are some misconceptions that you may encounter from your client base. Make sure to work on debunking these misconceptions to have a better reputation with your clients.
Skills and Qualities of Agents
As a real estate agent, you will be encountering a wide range of clients from various backgrounds. Some may be first-time buyers who need great assistance from you, while some may be more data-driven when making purchase decisions. While you may encounter these various clients, customers have core values that they deem important in real estate agents. Here are some values that you need to work on as a real estate agent to gain trust from your client base.
In any context, people value honesty and integrity. This is especially true when it comes to homebuyers. Clients will be dispensing a big amount of money, so they want someone they can trust with their hard-earned resources. Always provide accurate information to your clients so that you can gain their trust.
As a real estate agent, you have to know the purchase process and the real estate market. Any client will be more at ease with an agent who knows what they are doing. You will provide more useful insights on the industry and the market if you are more aware of current events in the field that may affect the client’s decisions.
You also have to have good communication skills as an agent. Any client will want to have an agent they could clearly talk to about their plans and vision. This will enable clients to achieve what they are after, and having good communication skills will only result in satisfied customers. This goes well with being a responsive agent as well. You have to always be responsive to your clients so that you can promptly address their concerns.
Work on these values and skills to retain a good client base that can refer you to their own contacts. Your own professional work ethic is the best marketing strategy in this context.
During this pandemic, real estate agents can take advantage of the customer behavior in which they continue to look for and purchase properties despite the current situation. As an agent, continue working on your skills and qualities that will help you develop better relationships with clients to expand your client base in the long run.
