There are millions of real estate agents, brokers, etc. licensed in the United States! However, only a small percentage of these individuals are responsible for the majority of all transactions, etc., however! The best professionals consistently put their clients’ best interests first, as well as consistently proceeding with the highest degree of personal and professional ethics and integrity! Although a combination of a variety of skills, behaviors, abilities, attitudes, etc., are important and necessary, this article will try to look at, specifically, 5 specific areas, in terms of the most essential characteristics, etc. With that in mind, this article will briefly attempt to consider, examine, review, and discuss these elements and why they are important.

1. Customer: First, Ethical Behavior/Approach: To serve and represent their clients, effectively, the best professionals, consistently, proceed, with the highest standards and ethical behavior (ethics), and putting the best interests of their clients first. Most states, and associated real estate boards, require compliance with their Code of Ethics, but the best agents consistently go above and beyond!

2. Prices: Markets change, times change, and so do market needs, conditions and types, so the best professionals are experts in pricing houses, according to current specific conditions and local market, etc. . It is important to realize that there is usually a significant difference between listing and asking prices, and buyers and sellers need to be aware of these differences, etc. If you are a homeowner, you need an agent who will proactively suggest prices, based on local conditions, current trends, and to a large extent using comparative market analysis, etc.

3. Marketing: Great agents must be experts, both in marketing and in selling houses. Marketing refers to the process and actions to attract potential, qualified buyers, and to take the steps and use the means to achieve it. On the other hand, to sell is to bring the deal to fruition!

4. Negotiate: Creating a meeting of minds, between a homeowner and an interested and suitable buyer, requires professional experience, when it comes to negotiating and achieving the best deal (for your clients)! When representing a seller, it means doing everything possible to create a combination of the best available/plausible price, on the best terms, in the shortest period of time, effectively and responsibly.

5. Pay attention to all the details and obstacles, from the beginning to the end: Great agents must pay close attention to all related details, from start to close! You need to be prepared for all eventualities and obstacles, handling them, positively, as challenges, to overcome, instead of feeling overwhelmed, perceiving them as problems! Often it means holding the customer’s hand throughout the entire transaction period!

You have the option of selecting the right real estate agent to represent you! Since, for most, the asset value of a home is their single greatest financial asset, doesn’t it make sense to interview carefully and choose wisely?