The managing director of Property Academy, Danielle Nash, has outlined the top five skills that she believes agents will need to be successful this year:

Proactivity 

With a steadier market, agent success will rely increasingly on their ability to be proactive. Whether this is prospecting for new valuations, or actively matching properties with potential buyers and tenants, a proactive approach will be crucial in securing more successful transactions.

Pricing 

As always, correct pricing is key to securing valuations and completing sales successfully.

With a strong start to the year being predicted by the major property portals, getting the price right on valuations is as important as ever not only to securing the listing but also to selling quickly without reductions.

Customer Service 

Converting valuations into listings is about more than just price.

More than ever, sellers and landlords are basing their decisions on the quality of the service being delivered to them, with personal recommendations playing a large factor in how customers choose their agents.

If the other elements of your business are as refined as possible, with correct pricing strategies in place, then the quality of your customer service could be the deciding factor in whether potential clients choose to sell or let with you.

Negotiation

Agents who want to stay ahead of their competition during the first quarter need to master the art of negotiation. Whether your business is operating in sales or lettings, negotiation is a key skill when it comes to agreeing fees and the price at which a property will be listed.

Communication 

One of the essential skills you need to be successful within the property industry is good communication. Whether the members of your team are in a customer-facing role or not, clear communication from everyone will improve the productivity of your team.

In some cases, reviewing how your team relays information may be an essential step to resolving issues which are slowing you down. For example, do you have processes in place for when messages are taken and if you need to leave a note? These small interactions are important and not having a set system for them could be holding your team back.