While every real estate professional has his or her unique qualities and habits, there are some common habits and tendencies that many successful upper-tier real estate professionals share. In fact, it is possessing these habits that contribute to their success. However, formulating a new habit into your daily life is not a “one and done” task. As James Clear says in his best-selling book Atomic Habits, “Habits are not a finish line to be crossed, they are a lifestyle to be lived.” Thus, in order to achieve success time and time again, one has to make these habits part of your lifestyle, not just a check on one’s to-do list.

6 common habits of high-end real estate agents

1. Balance work and personal life

Since upper-tier real estate professionals are constantly on-call for their affluent clients, it can be hard to separate one’s personal and work lives, potentially resulting in burnout. Although it can be difficult, it is possible to provide exceptional service to your clients while still making time for family and friends. Here are some tips for trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance:

• Make each outing with friends or family special. Whether it is going out to dinner at a nice restaurant, going 18 holes at the local golf club, or shopping a local art fair, these types of activities will be more memorable experience than sitting on the couch and watching Netflix. It is also a chance for you to see and be seen by the local community.
• Take a spa day. If you struggle with self-care, schedule a visit to the spa or signup to take a class at your gym. Not only will it be more rejuvenating than staying at home, but you will be more likely to stick to something if you have to pay in advance.
• Invest in an assistant. If you find that you are spending a lot of time on menial work, outsource that work to an assistant. You can even hire a virtual assistant to help out.

2. Network constantly

High-end real estate professionals usually find success in the fact that they don’t ever turn off their networking radar. Because real estate is social by nature, there are opportunities at every corner to make connections. Whether it be going to lunch with potential clients, attending seminars, connecting with people via Linkedin or simply reaching out to local business owners to gain their trust, there are a lot of different ways to network.

3. Practice people skills

Just as any learned skill, people skills can be thought of as a muscle. Simple gestures like a strong handshake, eye contact and a sense of humor can go a long way in real estate, as clients appreciate an agent who can make them feel at ease. Being able to engage in small talk is one thing, but high-end real estate professionals often have excellent people skills which make others feel both important and valued. In general, people like to talk about themselves, so remembering facts about a potential client or work associate can be really impactful.

4. Stay tech-savvy

Real estate professionals who stay current with tech trends often do well with modern buyers and sellers. Their willingness to try new things gives them the ability to exist on platforms that their competitors might not be using. Trying new apps for organization and scheduling can be a great way to grow both personally and professionally.

5. Keep in touch

As most real estate professionals would probably attest, staying connected to people you meet both personally and professionally is essential. High-end real estate professionals not only keep a running list of contacts complete with phone numbers and email addresses but they also usually go above and beyond to show former clients that they care. Follow up calls, handwritten letters and small gifts are all ways you can show your appreciation as a real estate professional.

6. Invest in learning

As with any profession, those who are willing to invest in continuing education often go on to greater levels of success. As the real estate industry constantly evolves, upper-tier real estate professionals have to be intentional about improving their know-how and skills. Taking a class or going to a live training session is a great way to get exclusive insights from industry leaders while networking with other real estate professionals at the same time.

For those real estate professionals who really want to succeed at the highest levels, getting a certification is a great way to distinguish yourself from the competition and promote yourself as an industry leader.