What Makes A Great Real Estate Agent?

Question

Investors in all your dealings with real estate agents what separates an extraordinary Realtor from just the average?

What are the main attributes you believe an extraordinary Realtor must have?

Corina Eufinger · Answer

An understanding of rental investments. How value is truly calculated, how seller's numbers can be manipulated, understanding of local rental market.  Having their pulse on things like community development, employment future, etc.

But above all patience.  Understanding that for us, its not just whether we "like" the property, the numbers have to make sense.  We have to be confident that our investment will be a good choice financially.

Sean Gribbons · Answer

Thank you for the input.

The number one complaint I hear about agents is laziness! I'm not surprised!

However, Its great to see that when an agent offers fantastic value and service to their clients their clients rave of them and show them exclusivity.

Thanks again for the feedback...Anyway I can better my business and offer clients more value I'm interested.

Karl B. · Answer

A lot of realtors are lazy. I was interested in a property (my first multi-family) and my realtor at the same told me she attempted to contact the selling agent but received no response and left it at that.

When the property went off the market a month or two later I found out who owned it, eventually got in contact with the owner and bought it without us using agents (no 6% = a great bargaining chip for a lower sale price).

The agent I bought my primary residence with (totally different market - L.A.) is awesome. She has a team (a secretary as well as a showing agent - I believe she has more people working under her now) and so I was able to see properties and leave messages with the secretary. I never felt neglected. Despite the market heating up they took me as a serious buyer and after I few months we got an offer accepted.

When I told her the refrigerator was missing when I was there for the inspection my agent said, "Aw, helllll, no!" and called the selling agent to telling her to tell the seller to return the fridge or give me credit for a new one (they returned the old fridge which I still use). She was also good at adding credits for damages based on the inspection report.

Point is, this agent fought for my best interest and didn't sit back and only do things half-heartedly when I asked her to.

She still holds parties for her past clients (I need to go to the next one), has a newsletter she sends me, sends Christmas cards, etc. She treats her business seriously. If I ever buy in the L.A. market you can bet I would hire her again as my agent.