QUESTION: What skills do you think are ABSOLUTELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, necessary for a GREAT Real Estate Transaction?
 

1. Negotiation Skills. If you are hiring an agent because they are willing to discount their own fees, think for a minute what they will do when the price of your home is on the line. If they are so willing to give away their own living, what do you think they are going to do when they get a savvy agent on the other end that IS a GREAT negotiator. They will probably try to get you to lower your price!

2. People Skills. When you are looking to sell your home, a lot of calls will come in that your agent has to field. This requires great organization skills of course, but also people skills. You don't want potential buyers turned off on the phone by YOUR agent!

3. Contract/Legal Paperwork Skills. Honestly, the only way most people get these skills is to do them. When Michelle first started in real estate, she put 6 homes in escrow her first 30 days. How? Michelle had a sales background as a Legal Service Broker and was very familiar with contracts and had worked closely with attorneys. Michelle also read, re-read and read the contract again. By the way....it doesn't become a contract until both buyer and seller sign. Nothing is legally binding until all parties agree. With one set of signatures, it is simply an offer.

4. A Good Memory. Some people might say a good memory is not a skill. I disagree. You must train your brain to remember. This requires a lot of effort. No one can remember everything, however, for Michelle's greatest memory feat...click here.

5. Character. Character too is a skill. It is something that you can learn and therefore in my definition it fits. It is something that is developed....good and bad.