What makes a good real estate agent? Is it the 80s stereotype of a loud talking extrovert with a big smile and even bigger hair? Or is it someone who’s good at listing to the client’s wants and needs to provide the client with a great experience?
Ask anyone who’s recently bought or sold a house, and they’ll tell you it’s definitely the latter. A great real estate agent is someone who can listen to their clients and make careful – even methodical – decisions on the best way to find or sell a home in the current market. A great real estate agent goes through the right steps every time; crosses every “t” and dots every “i” so their clients have a complete, successful real estate experience. So can an introvert be a great real estate agent? Absolutely.
The Real Difference Between Introverts and Extroverts
Most people have the wrong impression about what defines an introvert vs an extrovert. We tend to think that Extrovert means “good with people” and an introvert as the opposite. In reality, introverts can be great with people. They can have magnetic personalities, be energetic at work, and build immediate rapport with clients. The real difference between an “introvert” and an “extrovert” is where you draw your energy.
Extroverts Recharge with Group Activity
Extroverts are energized by crowds and the attention of others. An extrovert is seen as gregarious because they get excited when people are looking at them. They thrive on being in groups and being liked by others. When an extrovert needs to recharge, they go out with friends, dance at the club, or join an activity group to spend time with other people.
Introverts Recharge with Quiet Time
An introvert is energized by time alone – or in small groups of trusted friends. Introverts draw their energy from reflecting on their thoughts. They get energized by working alone on an engrossing project, or by sharing a quiet, introspective conversation with a friend. When an introvert needs to recharge, they spend an evening at home or take a walk through the quiet neighborhood.
The Qualities of a Great Real Estate Agent
Now let’s take introversion and extroversion into the real estate career. Most people on the outside don’t realize how balanced real estate work is between social time and alone time. It’s all about where you draw your energy vs where you spend it.
A stereotypical extrovert real estate agent draws their energy from phone calls, meetings, and client outreach. Then they expend that energy during the long hours of meticulous research and planning necessary to find homes for buyers or coordinate a sale for sellers.
An introvert real estate agent actually builds up energy during those hours alone doing research and making plans for their clients. Then they spend some of that built-up reserve with meetings and phone calls – just as the extrovert spends their socially built-up energy on quiet research time.
Listening and Connecting with Clients as an Introvert
Let’s now do away with the common misconception that it takes extroversion to connect with clients. You don’t have to love big groups to listen, understand, and connect with each client you work with. In fact, introverts are often more inclined toward the quiet and personal style of conversation where clients can make their points clear and feel understood at the end of a conversation.
Extroverts may be energized by client interactions, but introverts have the inner quietude to listen without effort. And listening is essential to being a great real estate agent. When you have fully heard and understood a buyer’s budget, needs, and priorities, you can do a much better job of finding houses that they will fall in love with. When your sellers are fully heard, you can optimize their sale and help them meet their own needs in terms of timing, expense, and satisfying negotiation results.
The Benefits of Energizing During Office Time
What about when you’re not meeting and talking with clients? Here is where the introvert truly thrives. While an extrovert may rock at the meet-and-greet, and may even be better at building a quick client list, introverts are more likely to buckle down and do the research half of the job with deep personal satisfaction.
Finding the right houses for your buyers requires research and attention to detail. And this is where the introvert shines! When selling a house, ticking your own procedural check-boxes is essential. Introverts energize on this time alone doing research, preparing beautiful web page listings, making plans, and ensuring every step is completed to the absolute best quality. The occasional phone call to inspectors, painters, and landscapers to solidify your plans? A satisfied introvert has more than enough energy to make every phone call with a smile.
So can an introvert be a great real estate agent? Absolutely. Both introverts and extroverts have their strengths. As long as they are willing to put in the time to connect and work with their clients in a meaningful way, they will be able to thrive in this exciting industry.
Ready to kick-start your real estate career? Contact Century 21 Americana, the premier real estate school in Las Vegas,today.
Founder/Owner at Century 21 Americana
President of Century 21 Americana, Juan Martinez is a proven leader in the real estate industry.His impressive career in real estate is a direct result of his personal commitment to excellence.He ascended from a successful agent closing 4,000 transactions and earning $16 million in commissions to leading the current number one Century 21 office in the southwest region and among the top 10 Century 21 offices in the world.
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Related
FAQs
An introvert real estate agent actually builds up energy during those hours alone doing research and making plans for their clients. Then they spend some of that built-up reserve with meetings and phone calls – just as the extrovert spends their socially built-up energy on quiet research time.
Can you be a real estate agent if you're introverted? ›
Introverts can be real estate agents too!
Sure, it probably won't be easy. A fear of social interaction is one of the most difficult fears to overcome, and it will no doubt take a great deal of effort to get past yours. Don't be discouraged, though; with some time and effort, this fear can be overcome like any other.
Can I be a real estate agent if I have social anxiety? ›
Real Estate Implications
Because real estate is a relationship-oriented industry, it is important to take proper steps to mitigate social anxiety, as those who suffer from social anxiety can potentially lose clients or profitable deals.
What personality type is best for real estate agent? ›
Most real estate agents are associated with the ENTP personality. ENTP stands for extraversion, intuition, thinking, and perceiving.
Is real estate for shy people? ›
It is a myth that you have to be a people person to be successful in real estate, or that you've got to be outgoing, gregarious, and socially confident to be great sales. Some of the most successful top-producing agents and brokers in the country are self-proclaimed introverts.
How do introverts get hired? ›
Find an introvert-friendly industry
There are so many out there to choose from. “Focus on applying for jobs in industries that value independent work, such as research, programming or content creation,” Okropiridze advises. “You will find it far easier to land a role that aligns with your personality and strengths.
Are people happy being a real estate agent? ›
How enjoyable is a real estate agent's work environment? As a whole, real estate agents rated their enjoyment of their work environment 3.5/5. A solid majority of real estate agents enjoy their work environment, probably contributing to overall higher satisfaction with working as a real estate agent.
What are the best jobs for someone with social anxiety? ›
Some of the best jobs for those with a mental health condition may be writing positions, data entry, animal care, graphic design, or dog walking.
Is a realtor a high stress job? ›
The reality of the job is often much more stressful than many anticipate. The emotional toll of selling homes can take a significant toll on realtors, leading to stress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion.
What is the stress level of being a real estate agent? ›
Real estate agents often encounter high levels of stress due to the demanding nature of their work. From dealing with difficult clients to managing complex transactions, there are many sources of stress in the real estate industry.
One of the hardest things about being a real estate agent is smoothing your income so that it is consistent throughout the year. This requires discipline and rigorous budgeting. Some agents take second jobs.
How likely are you to succeed as a real estate agent? ›
Being a successful real estate agent is easier said than done. After all, there's a reason 87% of real estate agents fail. However, knowing the mistakes these realtors make, such as failing to follow up with clients or not having adequate funding, can help you prepare and grow a successful real estate business.
Are attractive real estate agents more successful? ›
Another study in Applied Financial Economics found that beauty enhances an agent's wage, as higher listings lead to higher sales prices. However, it's important to note that some studies have also found that beautiful agents may sell fewer properties and make less money because they work fewer listings.
Do real estate agents need to be attractive? ›
Being attractive, for both listing and selling agents, is associated with higher final sale price for a house, with the effect on house prices of having an attractive listing agent is about twice as large as that of an attractive selling agent.
Is real estate low stress? ›
Real estate is a rewarding but challenging career that can expose you to various sources of stress, such as market fluctuations, client demands, legal issues, and competition. If left unmanaged, stress can affect your physical and mental health, as well as your performance and productivity.
Is selling real estate stressful? ›
According to recent surveys conducted by Zillow, 36% of home sellers were so stressed throughout the selling process that they cried. Many respondents shared that the stress of selling a home was greater than the stress of planning a wedding or the thought of getting fired.
Can sales people be introverted? ›
Introverted salespeople have a natural ability to listen actively and empathize with others, which can be a huge advantage in sales. By taking the time to truly understand a potential client's needs and concerns, introverts can build deep and meaningful connections.
Can an introvert become a good salesman? ›
Introverts can perform equally as well as extroverts in a sales role – however there are industries that are more aligned with an introvert's inherent strengths.
Can generally speaking introverted people be good professional sellers? ›
Your ability to sell depends on how effective you are at connecting with others. Though introverts often recharge and get their energy through alone time, their ability to actively listen and give others their undivided attention is beneficial for building the trust needed to close the sale.
Is being a real estate agent good for ADHD? ›
Being a real estate agent is a great career choice for someone with ADHD. Hyperactivity is a common side effect of having ADHD. People will get sudden bursts of energy which can be extremely beneficial as a real estate agent. Real estate agents are expected to be full of energy especially when showcasing homes.
