Tips For Real Estate Agents: Mastering Negotiations

Have you ever struggled to close a deal? Do you feel like the final stages are where you fall a bit short? I always urge people to bone up on their negotiation skills.

Realtors often play a central role in negotiations between buyers and sellers. 

A successful realtor possesses strong negotiation skills to advocate for clients’ interests while maintaining a respectful and collaborative approach.

If you’re unsure where to start, I think there are tons of wonderful books about negotiating and numerous continuing education classes about negotiating. 

At ROOST, all of our realtors go through Brian Buffini’s 100 Days to Greatness, which contains several modules about effective negotiations and things to look out for while going through the process. 

In my experience with this program,  I think that I learned something. I’ll confidently say I’ve learned something new in every negotiation I’ve ever been involved in, whether working with an owner in property management, working with an agent we would like to recruit, working with buyers or sellers, or negotiating with my grandkids. I always learn something from the process. I recommend treating all your negotiations like a learning experience; approach it open-mindedly. 

You must be open-minded to maintain your client’s interest. 

Again, as we’ve discussed concerning taking a client-centric approach, we have to ensure we’re negotiating on behalf of what our buyers and sellers want – not on behalf of what we think might be best for them.

Final Thoughts

Negotiation skills are a hallmark of a consummate professional. After all, a big part of what we do for clients involves getting them the best deals, whether we’re working with buyers, sellers, or both sides. When you can get the perfect property for a client at the best price, that’s a huge win, and that’s going to do wonders for your reputation. 

It’s not enough just to be personable and good with clients, you also have to be savvy about navigating every element of the business (working with other realtors, sellers, brokers, etc.). When you can skillfully and confidently approach a deal, you’re immediately going to benefit. Your clients will benefit from your knowledge and expertise, allowing them to be confident that they’ve made the best decision. 

And if they love their Realtor, well… they’ll probably talk about you to their family and friends. 

You just keep winning.