Winning over an investor is more than style and panache. Real estate investors are less impressed with the agent’s Armani and Mercedes then they are with the agent’s ability to discuss and service real estate investment property.
To make the kind of lasing impression on real estate investors resulting in a long-term relationship, it must be evident that the agent genuinely cares about how the investor spends his or her money and therefore can be trusted to assist them in making a sound investment decision.
Here’s how to do it.
Foremost, be trustworthy. Treat your customer’s money as if it was your own. Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder and you certainly can’t impose your taste upon your customer, but don’t hard sell a property (or its potential) just to make a sale.
Next, be informed. Know what your market values are and be prepared to share that information with your customer. In your opinion, if a property is over priced, say so. The same is true when you consider a property to be a good investment. Just back it up with credible data.
Next, be honest. Tell your investor whether you deem a property as a grade A (proudly show it off) or a D (show no one and never collect the rent after dark) type of property. Discuss realistic (not hope-so) vacancy rates. Give an informative opinion of what you believe the odds of lowering those rates really are, and whether rent increases are likely. Be truthful about the property’s location, condition, profitability, and potential.
Finally, be reliable. Never attempt to sell an investor investment real estate based solely on someone else’s data. Run the numbers yourself and create your own presentations. This is easy with good real estate investment software, and too beneficial not to make the meager investment. Real estate investors will trust you more when they can rely on you to substantiate the data you present to them.
