Authenticity is essential to success in any line of business, and that's doubly true for real estate, where you're helping clients with what are often some of the largest, most important financial decisions of their lives. Authenticity goes hand-in-hand with transparency in real estate, and when taken together, those two concepts make up the foundation of the great relationships you build with your clients. For new agents, here's more on why authenticity is important and how you can show authenticity to your clients.

• Why Is Authenticity So Essential?
  Authenticity and transparency aren't just important because clients are trusting you to help them make one big financial decision. In reality, you're also helping with countless small decisions along the way. In addition to providing great service, authenticity and honesty are necessities for meeting the high ethical standards required of real estate agents.
  
  Another factor in authenticity is simply how you relate to clients. How you address their concerns, answer their questions, respond to their needs, and connect with them on a human level all make a big difference in the eyes of clients. So authenticity is important in a more tangible, ethical sense, and it's also a key factor on a more personal level in building good working relationships with clients.

• How to Practice Authenticity
  When you're genuine and true to yourself, that will often shine through to clients in ways you may not even notice. The same is often true in a negative direction when acting inauthentically. It's natural to adapt based on the needs of the person you're talking to, but it's also important to remain true to yourself. This means slightly different things to different people, and that's just fine. In fact, that's what authenticity is really all about.
  
  Authenticity also requires honesty, even when it might be uncomfortable. Whether it's delivering negative news that's no fault of your own or owning up to an honest mistake you may have made, being authentic in those moments is often what clients will remember most. The same goes for answering every question or remembering every detail off the top of your head. In the long run, it's better to admit you forgot a detail and look it up to make sure rather than trying to bluff your way through a conversation.

• Transparency in Real Estate
  The topics of authenticity and transparency are very much entwined. In fact, everything we just covered about being honest and authentic when it's difficult to do so also ties back directly to transparency. In essence, transparency is full honesty. It means being open about all aspects of the transaction, including potential challenges and drawbacks. The client's trust in you to provide accurate, unbiased information throughout the process is positively essential for good working relationships.
  
  This means being upfront about any required disclosures and being honest with clients about what they can expect during each step in the process. Ultimately, a client will appreciate that you warned them of potential challenges and helped them find ways to overcome any obstacles that did arise. That sort of service is what earns clients for life, and it all starts with being transparent in how you deal with your clients.

Why Homesale Realty? We're here to help new, motivated agents develop the skills to thrive in real estate through education, resources, and experience. Contact BHHS Homesale Realty to learn more about how we can help you take the next steps in your real estate career.