Key Influencer Article - Sam Hunter: 8 Qualities All Great Agents Possess

8 Qualities All Great Agents Possess

Think back to the best deals you’ve put together over your career. What were they like? What made them so great? What did they have in common?

Odds are, their "X factor" was an embodiment of key agency traits — ones that inspired, motivated, and empowered everyone around them. It's these common traits that transform mediocre agents into world class ones.

While it feels like some people are naturally fantastic agents from day one, the good news is anyone can learn, develop, and strengthen the skills needed to be a world class agent with an open mind and a bit of practice.

We’ve done our best over the last three years to take notes when we met a truly exceptional agent. Here’s the qualities we see most often.

What makes a great estate agent?

1. Communication
Great agents are expert communicators. They spend nearly all of their time asking great questions (more on that below) and listening. And when they speak, they’re not just clear, they are sincere and consistent in their language and tone.

2. Integrity
Outstanding agents know that integrity is a conscious choice. In other words, their actions match their words and their values. This inspires confidence in their clients and teams.

3. Values
The best agents have core values. They share them unabashedly and will do whatever it takes to hold true to them. Their values set the tone for all their relationships and the success of their business too.

4. Vision
Great agents know where they’re headed and why. They’ve always got one eye on the future and while doing the daily activities to get there in the present. They view their life as manifesting their vision for their future.

5. Passion
We’ve heard this before. “I am passionate about people and property”. Well, the reality is, it’s true. Passion fuels great agents. It is a never-ending source of energy that separates the doers from the dreamers. Passion plays a big part in attracting new clients in the first place.

6. Resilience
Resilience is necessary for staying the course when times get tough. Great agents have an abundance of resilience and know if they stick to their vision and values, they’ll make it through anything.

7. Curiosity
In order to have the opportunity to listen, the best agents ask lots (and we mean lots) of questions of their teams, their clients and themselves. Their curiosity is insatiable. They constantly learn and hone their skills almost daily and they are open about what they don’t know because their confidence lets them learn, absorb, and apply what they’ve learned.

8. Competence
Lastly and certainly not least, the best agents really know their market. They know their product and they know their clients. They are the best at what they do, always setting, managing and exceeding expectations. They accept what they’re not good at and are self-secure enough that they surround themselves with people whose strengths complement their own. As a result, they attract team members who are continually inspired.

Bringing it all together, these are just eight common qualities that we’ve consistently seen in the best agents we work with every single day. There’s likely more to add in time, but if you can nail these eight, you’re going to be in great company.