COMPETENCE IS A RARE QUALITY IN REAL ESTATE...Do You Have It???

COMPETENCE IS A RARE QUALITY IN  REAL ESTATE...Do You Have It???  (This is part 2 of a 5 part featured post on the 5 Keys to success in real estate. If you missed the featured post or found it too long to read at one sitting, here it is in separate posts)

II. COMPETENCE: Competence is a rare quality in real estate---You know very well that if awards were handed out for incompetence in real estate, chances are many agents would win it! I do not state this in a patronizing way--I state it as a fact.

There are only a handful of agents who truly excel in the business in many market places---why??? Because many people come into the real estate profession thinking that it is all about showing houses; then the truth becomes revealed, first in the class room where many agents start to see how much responsibility comes with a carrying a real estate license. It shows up in each and every part of the business, if the new agent is open to seeing it! Most miss this important clue and end up discouraged and defeated and before long they end up in the "incompetent" category simply because they lost the ability to understand what it really takes to be a great agent. They take short cuts, they don't seek information---they essentially settle into a pattern of "incompetence".

In order for an individual to truly achieve a stature of competence in the real estate profession, one must excel at the basics of the business. That means one must gain as much informational experience as possible. Notice I said informational experience; I know that years of study and action in the field is needed to become proficient in the ways a town or a city handles the zoning and building of it's residential areas. EXPERTISE is found only through those long, hard days and months of working with the tools of the trade.

However, competence can be achieved in a much shorter time period if the dedication to learning is in place.

• First, one must recognize the NEED FOR COMPETENCE.
• Next, one must seek out all the ways competence can be engendered; digging into the files of the local building and zoning departments is a good start.
• Then, find it and use it as if your life depends on it.
• Never will you have the respect you strive for if competence is not at the top of your list of qualifications in your career!

 

Competence does not drop out of the sky into your lap---it is a sought-after qualification that will take quality time to develop, to cultivate.....It will take a real drive for excellence and stature in the community. Go for the one thing that appears to be missing in most agents resume': COMPETENCE.

DO:

• Find out how to get the most information from your town building department--become a regular in town hall. Work with the zoning books; understand them and ask someone there if you don't.
• Ask questions of the real pros; ask until you make them feel like they want to ignore you. Then, explain that you are working on your competence factor, that you want to be as proficient in your knowledge as they are! (A good compliment works wonders when you need help like this!)
• Gather as much information regarding a subject property as possible--leave nothing out!
• Offer regular presentations to your clients and customers--make them as brief and informative as possible; keep them rich in content---as you do here on your ActiveRain blogs!!!
• Become Proficient at informing your client/customer base of current developments--
• Do an e-newsletter--a smart and fast way to keep them informed.
• Become a close associate to a trusted mortgage broker, or banker.
• Get to know the basics of financing real estate...just make sure it is enough so you are not stumped by a question from a buyer.
• Always express your level of competence to your contacts; this will help push your standing in their opinion and may even increase your referrals!

 

 

NOW YOU ARE READY TO FLY!  You can do it! Only when you have built a level of competence will you feel the confidence that is essential to a successful business...

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                                     **ALL INFORMATION AND CONTENT IN THIS BLOG IS ORIGINAL TO PAULA I. HATHAWAY

 

Paula I. Hathaway, Senior Vice President, Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Southamtpon Village Real Estate Specialist since 1995;  Also Specializes in North Sea, Noyac, Water Mill and Bridgehampton, New York

Diamond , Gold and Chairman's Circle Awards; Top Producer since 2005

 

Click here to see my Hampton's website to see all my listings; please email me or call me for all your real estate needs in Southampton, Bridgehampton and Watermill:

http://www.elliman.com/paulahathaway

http://www.hathawayhamptonhomes.com

http://www.realestateshows.com/576624

http://www.realestateshows.com/576620