How can you build and maintain trust with your real estate counterparts?

1 Understand their needs

The first step to building trust is to understand the needs and interests of your counterparts. You need to do your homework and research their background, objectives, constraints, and preferences. This will help you tailor your communication, proposals, and solutions to their specific situation and show them that you care about their success. By understanding their needs, you can also identify areas of alignment and potential trade-offs that can facilitate the negotiation process.

3 Deliver on your promises

The third step to building trust is to deliver on your promises. You need to follow through on your commitments and obligations and meet the expectations and deadlines that you agreed on. You need to avoid making unrealistic or exaggerated claims that you cannot back up with evidence or results. You need to acknowledge and correct any mistakes or problems that you caused or contributed to. By delivering on your promises, you can prove your competence, integrity, and accountability to your counterparts.

4 Show empathy and appreciation

The fourth step to building trust is to show empathy and appreciation to your counterparts. You need to recognize and respect their emotions, perspectives, and values and try to understand their challenges and concerns. You need to avoid being defensive, aggressive, or dismissive and instead be supportive, collaborative, and constructive. You need to express gratitude and recognition for their efforts, contributions, and achievements and celebrate the milestones and successes of the transaction. By showing empathy and appreciation, you can create a positive, friendly, and trusting atmosphere with your counterparts.

5 Seek feedback and improvement

The fifth step to building trust is to seek feedback and improvement from your counterparts. You need to be open to learning from their experiences, insights, and suggestions and ask for their opinions and advice. You need to be humble and admit your weaknesses and gaps and seek ways to improve your skills, knowledge, and performance. You need to be flexible and adaptable and embrace change and innovation that can enhance the transaction and the relationship. By seeking feedback and improvement, you can show your curiosity, growth mindset, and willingness to collaborate with your counterparts.

6 Resolve conflicts constructively

The sixth step to building trust is to resolve conflicts constructively with your counterparts. You need to be proactive and address any disputes, disagreements, or misunderstandings that arise during the transaction and find mutually acceptable solutions. You need to be respectful and courteous and avoid personal attacks, blame, or criticism. You need to be fair and objective and base your arguments and decisions on facts, data, and logic. You need to be creative and cooperative and look for win-win outcomes that benefit both parties. By resolving conflicts constructively, you can preserve and strengthen the trust and rapport with your counterparts.