The Importance of Building Trust with Real Estate Agents

A note to aspiring real estate investors.

It’s always been popular in our industry to underplay and even malign the role that real estate agents play. Don’t fall for that trap.

The reverse is true. Real estate agents are in fact your best friend, a crucial conduit to deal flow and a vital shock absorber in high stake negotiations.

If you can build a high trust relationship with talented real estate agents, they become your extended workforce. Always respect them and treat them fairly. Never look to cut them out of a deal, even if you have a legal opportunity to do so.

And don’t underestimate their ability to add to your thinking. I always like to ask an agent that’s pitching a deal to me: “Explain to me why I should buy this property. What do you think I should do with it to maximise my returns?”

Asking smart people dumb questions is a surprisingly smart thing to do.