There’s been a lot of noise about the real estate industry lately that may be distracting you from your real estate career goals. You may have seen headlines about lawsuits, settlements, and policy changes. You probably have seen talking heads hypothesizing how these issues may affect commissions and the industry at large. But if you are interested in real estate, we encourage you to ignore all the noise and focus on getting licensed and being a confident representative for your clients.
The fact is that buyers and sellers need skilled agents to represent their best interests. They need you in their corner as they make one of the most significant financial decisions they will ever make. Here are a few ways real estate agents and REALTORS® represent their clients.
How to Represent Your Clients with Confidence
We encourage you to take a few moments to learn the facts about the NAR lawsuit and subsequent settlement. We’ve provided a few concise articles on the subject, which you can find on Colibri’s NAR Settlement Resource page. You’ll see that the results of the settlement came down to a few policy changes that do not affect an agent’s ability to make a good living.
Once you understand the proposed policy changes, focus your energy on becoming licensed and learning how to best serve your future clients. Here’s why you’re needed in the industry.
1. Real estate agents guide clients through a complicated buying or selling process.
As a trained and licensed real estate agent, you’ll understand the contracts, forms, and financial documents required for each transaction and be able to explain them to your clients. After all, most people buy only a few homes during their lifetimes, usually with quite a few years between purchases. Your help will ensure that your clients understand current laws and regulations and won’t experience delays or costly mistakes.
Show your worth by educating your clients about each crucial step of the transaction.
2. Real estate agents offer objective opinions and information to their clients.
Choosing a home (and selling one) can be a highly emotional experience for clients. Great real estate agents will understand their client’s goals and guide them through the process with an unbiased eye.
Your goal is to be a concerned but objective third party that helps your client focus on the most important issues when emotions threaten an otherwise sound transaction.
3. Real estate agents confidently represent their clients during negotiations.
Being an expert negotiator is a vital skill for real estate agents. A real estate professional will look at the transaction from their client’s perspective and help them negotiate a contract that meets their needs while protecting their interests. After all, there are many factors up for discussion in any transaction – from price to closing costs to possession dates.
Additional training in negotiation will help you better serve your clients.
4. As a real estate agent, you are responsible for ensuring that the transaction is fair and ethical.
You have a duty to your clients, but you also must protect your community by “protecting the individual right of real estate ownership and to widen the opportunity to enjoy it.” This phrase is part of the National Association of REALTORS® pledge.
Are you concerned about the recent policy changes in the real estate industry? Don’t be! Instead, focus on being a knowledgeable, skilled, and confident representative for your clients.
Relevant training and education are vital to representing your client’s best interests. Colibri Real Estate School (formerly Real Estate Express) has decades of experience offering pre-licensing courses, continuing education, and top-tier training for real estate agents throughout the U.S. We pride ourselves on providing helpful content to those seeking guidance about the industry.
Watch our latest video for advice on how to succeed in the industry post-settlement.
