How to be a top agent

This Episode's Free Online Resource for Rental Property Owners

Free Rental Property Expenses Worksheet (xls Spreadsheet)

Enjoy!

What Makes a Great Real Estate Agent?

I asked Joe what makes a top real estate. He thought it was an interesting question, and here is where he landed. Add your ideas in the comments section.

Being a top real estate agent takes more than just knowing the market or signing on the dotted line. It’s a dynamic, client-driven job that requires a combination of specific skills, a polished approach, and a willingness to adapt. And knowing how to host a great open house. 

You need listening ears and flexible schedules. Here’s what goes into making a truly excellent real estate professional, as discussed in the first episode of our podcast.

Joe shares his perspective on what it takes to Prairie Village, Kansas. He goes into detail about the process and timelines for selling one's home as well other topics related including communication with him or other agents involved during this time period.

 

A Funny Video Joe and I Made "10 Essential Skills for Real Estate Agents"

  Listening is Where It All Starts

A great real estate agent knows that their client isn’t just a person—they’re the boss. If it’s helping a seller put their home on the market or guiding a buyer to their dream house, then listening is key. It’s about understanding what the client needs, their goals, and even their quirks.

For buyers, this means asking the right questions during consultations

• How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?
• What's your budget?
• What's something unique or specific you’re looking for in a home?

The best agents pay attention to all these details. And they ask one more question Joe swears by when working with clients: “What haven’t we talked about yet?” (write that one down).

For sellers, listening means understanding your timeline and the unique details of the home. Only by truly understanding the client’s needs can an agent successfully help them achieve their goals.

 

Flexibility Is a Must

A real estate agent’s clock has no fixed hours. Buyers and sellers often need assistance outside the traditional 9-to-5 window, particularly on evenings and weekends. A top agent embraces this unpredictability, ensuring they’re available when their clients need them most.

For Joe, this wide-open schedule comes with territory that sprawls. Covering the greater Kansas City metro area, or even crisscrossing from Kansas to Missouri, means adapting to wherever a client’s needs may take him.

 

Communication is Everything

Another hallmark of an exceptional real estate agent is effective communication. And that means staying on top of every detail.

Clients don