Being good at what you do most times is not enough. To be the best requires more than just knowing the basics. For an industry like real estate, it requires lot of discipline and dedication. Real estate investment is considered one of the best ways to plan for the future. It is where real estate investors let their money do the working today while they reap the benefits in future.

The real estate industry in Nigeria is no exception as it continues to grow by the day. More people are starting to go into real estate businesses. This, on the other hand, creates healthy competition amidst industry competitors to be the best. It actually separates the successful real estate agents from the rest. For those in the industry, they understand that it is not a get-rich quick scheme and it requires a lot of efforts and sacrifices. The truth is, there are no manuals on how to become a successful real estate agent. The parallel line, however, is that there are certain habits of successful real estate agents.

On the list below are the 7 must have habits of successful real estate agents.

Have a plan

There is no better way to say it than “Have a plan”. It is as simple as that. In order to be a successful real estate agent, you must have a plan. There is a saying that: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. It is same in the real estate industry as with other businesses. It is only logical that you make proper plans before starting your journey as a real estate agent. Having a plan serves a compass that guides you on the next step to take.

It is an important attribute of a real estate agent because it helps you manage time. At every point in time, you are always aware of what is needed to be done and when to do it. This way, you are not trying to buy time or squeeze schedules into one another.

Another thing about making plans ahead is that it helps you make SMART decisions - SMART being an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Accurate, Realistic and Time-bound. It is very important because the real estate business requires lot of hard work and sacrifices. In order to make the best decisions, you need to plan ahead and not hurriedly.

Be An Excellent Communicator

It is not uncommon to find out that most of the successful real estate agents are also excellent communicators. The industry is one which requires you to either talk or listen. It is therefore important for any person who aspires to be the best in the field to master the art of communication.

As an agent, it will surely involve talking to clients or listening to them, not being able to communicate effectively is a recipe for disaster. The idea of an excellent communicator is not just one who is good at pitching ideas, he/she must also be a good listener. The reality is, people know when other people care or not. Being a real estate agent that talks and not listens would lose you more clients and if not ruin your business.

If you are asking people to invest, aside talking to convince them, you also have to be able to listen to them. Asking people to buy lands for sale in Lagos or invest in a property up for sale in Abuja is a lot. You need to be prepared to convince them.

Embrace Technology

The importance of this cannot be overemphasized. The world today as probably moved on from being a global village to a global street. Today, we live in a click and share world, where information is the new currency. There is practically no successful business today that is not online. As a real estate agent, what better way is there to get more people to know about your business? People can easily from the comfort of their home search for your property and transact business with you.

Businesses, today, have gone passed the age of talking to their customers, these days, they talk with their customers. The need to take your business to where your customers are cannot be overemphasized - internet. When you embrace technology as a real estate agent, it becomes easy to embrace the new opportunities to put your business out for all to see through platforms like your website, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter among others. When you also embrace technology, it affords you new opportunities and ways to do business.

Be Informed

Not being informed is same as asking a blind to lead another blind. As a real estate agent, being informed is another vital habit you must have. The successful real estate agents and companies are the informed ones. It is only when you are informed as a person, that you can inform your clients. It is more than just having properties in different places or cities. It is about being informed about everything and anything as it concerns real estate. It is also more than knowing the names of streets, having a broad knowledge about the location of a property, the hospitals around, the schools, restaurants, relaxation spots etc. will be a great asset to you as a real estate agent. Property Pro is one of many companies that have good knowledge of the industry and also inform their clients.

All in all, being informed about how the industry works in general is an attribute that can’t be swept under the carpet.

Be Reliable

Successful people are those you can hold for their words. For anyone who wants to be a successful real estate agent, you must be reliable. This is, however, not something you jump into. Your clients must be able to vouch for you and this only come with trust. This is why it is important to always go into a business with an honest mind. It is only when clients trust you that they can refer you to other people.

Be Patient

Obviously, the ability to be patient is very key in the industry. It is a known fact that the industry is not a get-rich quick scheme. Hence, the need for a real estate agent to be patient is very important. The truth is, the industry is not some sort of fictional story that runs smoothly; there will be times you struggle, you will also make mistakes and also fail. The most important thing is not quitting. The successful agents are those who learn from their experience and improve their skills.

Be ready to sacrifice

To beat the best in the industry, you have to know what the best are doing. It is only when you are aware of what they do, then you can strategize. One thing is however sure, you must be ready to sacrifice. You must be able to sacrifice your time and money. You might have to cancel that vacation trip and put the money into an investment.

With enough hard work, right mentality and the above habits, you should be ready to become a successful real estate agent.