Social Skills Today's Real Estate Agents Need

LA REALTORS® • April 18, 2022

21 Social Skills Today's Real Estate Agents Need by Christy Murdock

If you’re new to real estate, here’s a quick how-to on getting up to speed socially with other agents. From client expectations to putting yourself out there, here’s what you should know.


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One of the interesting things about real estate is that it draws people from all sorts of backgrounds, from career-switchers with years of professional experience behind them to brand-new agents fresh out of high school or college. It truly is a democratic industry where people can bring their talents to the table and achieve success.


If you’re just getting into the industry, you may be a little nervous about what to expect and how to conduct yourself. If you’ve been in a different line of work, you may be wondering about the differences. If you’ve never really been part of a professional environment, you may be concerned about how to present yourself to both clients and colleagues.


If you’re younger, you may not have grown up with some of the strict etiquette do’s and don’ts that older agents and clients take for granted and fully expect. If, like everyone else, you’ve just spent a couple of years in sweatpants and have forgotten some of the niceties you used to do automatically, it may be time for a refresher.


While being yourself is job one, you want to make sure that you feel comfortable with others and that they feel comfortable with you. The good news is that etiquette and social skills aren’t just for tea parties and polo matches — they’re for everyday situations. Here are some guidelines to help you put your best foot forward.




  • Relationship-building

    It can be difficult to make connections with others, especially if you’re coming into an environment where you’re not immediately comfortable. If you’re a new agent, you may find it hard to connect with the more experienced agents. If you’re younger, you may find it hard to talk with older agents; if you’re a career-switcher, you may not feel at ease with your fellow newbies who may be several years younger than you.


    Building professional relationships comes down to being open-minded enough to have those early conversations and hope for the best. Maybe you’ll make some awkward small talk, but maybe you’ll find that you have a lot in common with that agent who, superficially, seems so different from you.


    It also means getting out of your head and putting yourself out there, despite your insecurities or butterflies. Coming into a new situation and hanging back because you feel awkward or afraid won’t do you any favors. Take the risk of being authentic. Show your enthusiasm, interest and eagerness. You’ll feel better and others will find it refreshing.


  • Professionalism

    You’ll find plenty of back-and-forth among real estate agents about how to present yourself. Some are big believers in flashy, upscale clothing and the coolest car on the block. Others believe in dressing similarly to your clients, or maybe just a notch above. 


    There are real estate agents who specialize in farm and land and spend most of their working life in jeans and boots. Others are luxury agents in upscale markets where only the finest designer fashion will do. Suit your dress and presentation to those you want to work with. If in doubt, talk to your broker or a trusted mentor about what constitutes professional dress in your market.


    Whether you’re meeting a client for the first time or coming into a new brokerage, the way you present yourself is about more than clothing labels. Follow these guidelines to make a great first impression:


    • Be friendly and courteous with those you meet. Real estate agents generally have a reputation for being outgoing and extroverted; it’s not a requirement for the job, but it helps. If you’re a little quieter, make the effort to smile a lot and brush up on your small talk.


    • Many younger people are not used to making eye contact, having grown up communicating more through screens than face-to-face. When you’re talking to someone new, make an effort to make eye contact and to look at the person you’re speaking to.


    • Whatever your style of dress, make it neat, clean and well-tailored. Don’t wear sloppy or ill-fitting clothes, and purchase a steamer (if you don’t already have one) to get out wrinkles.


    • Keep your car in good repair; wash it and clean out the interior on a regular basis. You never know when you may be called upon to drive a client to a showing or to take a colleague to lunch. You don’t have to have a fancy car when you’re starting out, but you can keep your current car looking nice.


    • Consider upgrading your backpack for a nicer purse, briefcase or workbag. It will help you look pulled together and a bit more professional. You don’t have to pay a lot for a good quality workbag and you don’t need to carry an uber-expensive purse. Just find something that is tailored and looks grown-up.


  • Be mindful of professional behavior with clients and colleagues

    Different brokerages have different customs. Real estate, as an industry, is known for its outgoing, gregarious agents and sometimes party-hard lifestyle. While you may want to join in at happy hour or social occasions, keep it cute and classy and don’t overindulge. 

    Mind what you say and don’t let yourself get carried away by a feeling of friendship or kinship with clients or colleagues. Don’t gossip, tell secrets or let your mouth “write a check that you can’t afford to cash.” Remember, you’re at work – even when it feels social, even when it feels like everybody’s kumbaya. 


  • Mind your manners

    Keep in mind some of those basic manners you learned back in kindergarten:


    • Say please and thank you.

    • You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.

    • Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share.

    • If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

    • Listen twice as much as you speak.

    • Use your good table manners.

    • When someone does something nice for you, write a thank you note the next day.


  • Communication

    Communication is not just about how you communicate, but when. One of the most common complaints you’ll hear about real estate agents – from both other agents and from clients – is that they don’t communicate enough. The first rule of thumb? Prioritize communication: Return calls, text messages and emails promptly or bring on support staff to help you do so.

    Here’s how to keep both clients and colleagues happy with the quality of your communication:


    Client communication


    • Create a schedule for client communication and follow-up – and let your clients know when they can expect to hear from you. Even if you don’t have anything new to communicate, touch base to say hello and answer any questions they may have.


    • Maintain a written record of verbal communication, both to cover yourself and to ensure that everyone’s on the same page. If you discuss something with your clients on the phone or in person, follow up with an email recapping your conversation.


    • Talk to clients about their preferred method of communication and strive to honor their preference for most of your interactions. 


    • However, be aware that some information is more easily communicated through other channels. For example, while a client may prefer texting, a complex or upsetting conversation might be better over the phone.


    Colleague communication


    • Be cordial when reaching out to colleagues, even if they’re on the other side of a negotiation. Remember, while you may only work with the client once, you’ll spend decades working with that local agent.


    • Don’t take a heated negotiation personally or hold a grudge over an offer that didn’t go your way. You’ll need to work with other agents in your area again and again, so stay calm, carry on and endeavor to maintain a good relationship with everyone in your market and beyond.


    • Be someone other agents want to work with. Be competent and communicative. Submit offers that are neat and provide a cover letter email that outlines the main points. Provide helpful feedback when requested. Follow up with a thank-you after you work with an agent. You never know when your good manners will come back to help you down the road.




  • Master nonverbal communication

    There are some people who can keep their views to themselves and others who show every fleeting thought on their faces. As a real estate professional, you will be privy to all kinds of facts about clients, colleagues and properties.

    You may walk into a house and hate the paint color; don’t let it show on your face. You may be listening to a client talk about their desire for a feature you loathe; don’t roll your eyes. You may be in a negotiation where the other agent just gave away a valuable piece of information; don’t let your eyes light up or raise your eyebrows.


    Remember the old saying: You want to be a swan — serene and still on the surface but paddling like mad underneath. 

2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 9 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • May 8, 2026
Week 9 brought several major Louisiana REALTORS® priorities into posture as the Legislature moved deeper into the final stretch of the session. Two of our top priority bills, HB 468 and HB 1027 both by Representative Troy Hebert , cleared the Legislative Bureau and advanced to the Senate floor calendar for third reading and final passage. HB 468, our residential wholesaling regulation bill, remains one of the most important consumer protection measures of the session. The bill brings transparency, accountability, and clear rules of the road to residential real estate wholesaling in Louisiana. HB 468 previously passed the House by a vote of 96–0 and is now positioned for final Senate consideration. HB 1027, which clarifies that licensed real estate appraisers are not liable for a seller’s failure to comply with carbon monoxide detector requirements, also advanced to the Senate floor calendar after previously passing the House by a vote of 90–0. Both bills remain in strong posture, and Louisiana REALTORS® will continue working for final passage as they move through the Senate. Another major development this week was the House passage of HB 1166 by Representative Kim Carver , which passed unanimously on May 5, 103–0. HB 1166 creates a practical disclosure framework for vacant residential property transactions and is designed to help buyers, sellers and real estate professionals avoid late-stage surprises involving access, utilities, drainage, flood risk, prior use and other material property conditions. This bill has been a key part of Louisiana REALTORS®’ consumer protection and transactional clarity agenda. HB 1166 was received in the Senate on May 7 and now moves into the Senate side of the process, where Louisiana REALTORS® will continue working closely with the author and stakeholders as the bill advances. Tort reform and civil justice issues also moved forward this week. HB 437 by Representative Michael Melerine , which addresses the award of expert witness fees in civil litigation, passed the House by a vote of 75–18 and was received in the Senate on May 7. HB 1089 by Representative Dennis Bamburg Jr. , which creates structured CARE Accounts for certain categories of tort damages, passed the House by a vote of 67–29 and was also received in the Senate. Louisiana REALTORS® continue to support meaningful tort reform as part of the broader effort to improve Louisiana’s legal environment, reduce litigation-driven costs, and help stabilize the property insurance market. A more predictable civil justice system directly supports property owners, consumers, businesses and the long-term health of Louisiana’s real estate market. Property insurance remains one of the most important issues facing homeowners and property owners across the state. HB 1187 by Representative Paul Sawyer , dealing with Citizens Property Insurance emergency assessments, has been received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Insurance Committee after previously passing the House by a vote of 87–9. Several additional insurance-related measures remain active, including bills addressing fortified roof endorsements, stated-value homeowner policies, insurance notice requirements, nonrenewal restrictions, and pre-suit claim review. HB 408 , which addresses insurance nonrenewal prohibitions, and HB 1210 , which addresses mandatory pre-suit claim review, remain pending in the House Insurance Committee. Louisiana REALTORS® will continue to closely monitor these measures because insurance affordability, availability and market stability remain central to housing affordability and private property ownership in Louisiana. Several Senate bills also continued moving through the House processes this week. SB 241 by Senator Valarie Hodges , which requires insurance adjusters and appraisers to include their license numbers in written communications, cleared the Legislative Bureau on May 6 and returned to the House floor calendar. This measure remains relevant to transparency, accountability, and consumer confidence in the insurance claims process. SB 180 by Senator Franklin Foil , which allows surviving spouses of deceased disabled veterans to transfer their expanded property tax exemption, was scheduled for House floor debate this week and remains a positive homeowner protection and property tax fairness measure. Louisiana REALTORS® also continues to monitor legislation dealing with blight, redevelopment and rent stabilization. HB 284 by Representative John Wyble , which would authorize certain parishes and municipalities to expropriate blighted property by declaration of taking, remained on the House calendar this week as a notice-given, subject-to-call bill. The bill previously failed on the House floor by a narrow vote of 48–47 and remains under active reconsideration. Blight policy is important, but redevelopment tools must be balanced with private property rights, due process, and protections for property owners. HB 472 by Representative Alonzo Knox , which would authorize municipalities to implement rent stabilization programs, remains involuntarily deferred in committee. Louisiana REALTORS® continues to oppose rent control and rent stabilization proposals in any form because these policies reduce housing supply, discourage investment, and ultimately worsen affordability challenges over time. As we move into Week 10, Louisiana REALTORS® will remain focused on securing final Senate passage of HB 468 and HB 1027, advancing HB 1166 through the Senate, and continuing to engage on the tort reform and insurance measures that directly affect property owners, housing affordability and the real estate profession. With REALTOR® Day at the Capitol taking place during this critical stretch of the session, member engagement will be especially important as legislators continue to make decisions on real estate, insurance, liability, redevelopment and private property rights issues. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.

2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 8 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • May 1, 2026
Week 8 was one of the most consequential weeks of the session so far for Louisiana REALTORS® and the real estate industry. Two of the association’s flagship bills moved to the brink of final Senate action, rent stabilization was stopped again in committee, major insurance legislation continued to advance, and several bills affecting property rights, tort reform and transaction practice saw meaningful movement. The biggest developments of the week came on HB 468 and HB 1027 , both by Rep. Troy Hebert . HB 468 , the residential wholesaling bill, cleared the Senate Commerce Committee on April 28, had its amendments adopted on April 29, and was referred to the Legislative Bureau putting it one step away from the Senate floor. HB 1027 , the appraiser liability bill, followed the same path after its overwhelming House passage earlier this month and is also now pending Legislative Bureau review before final Senate consideration. Louisiana REALTORS® strongly supports both measures, which are designed to strengthen consumer protection, improve market clarity and reinforce confidence in the real estate transaction process. On the rent-control front, HB 472 by Rep. Alonzo Knox was brought back before the House Municipal, Local and Parochial Affairs Committee this week. Louisiana REALTORS® testified in opposition, and the committee voted 8-5 to defer the bill involuntarily. That is a meaningful win for property owners, housing providers, and the long-term health of Louisiana’s housing market. Louisiana REALTORS® remains firmly opposed to rent stabilization proposals, which may sound politically attractive, but have consistently been tied to reduced housing supply, deterioration in rental stock and long-term affordability problems in markets where they are adopted. Insurance remained one of the session’s most active and important policy areas. HB 1187, Rep. Paul Sawyer , dealing with Louisiana Citizens for emergency assessments, passed the full House 87-9 on April 29, and now heads to the Senate. Because Citizens' assessments can ultimately affect policyholders across the state, this bill has clear relevance for affordability and homeownership costs. HB 408, Rep. Edmond Jordan was heard in House Insurance Committee this week and remains pending. This bill would prohibit insurers from non-renewing residential policies when homeowners have taken documented steps to reduce risk, an issue with direct implications for insurability and failed closings in vulnerable markets. In addition, SB 241 by Sen. Valarie Hodges , which requires insurance adjusters and appraisers to include their license numbers in written communications, cleared House Insurance unanimously and is now headed to the House floor. Taken together, these measures reflect the legislature’s continued focus on insurance stability, transparency and accountability, all of which remain central to real estate activity in Louisiana. Week 8 also brought movement on broader tort reform and property-rights-related legislation. HB 437 , addressing expert witness fees, and HB 1089 , creating structured CARE Accounts for tort damages, both cleared House Civil Law and are now set for House floor debate next week. Meanwhile, SB 180 by Sen. Franklin Foil , allowing surviving spouses of disabled veterans to transfer a property tax exemption, is nearing final House passage after advancing to third reading. While not all of these bills directly regulate licensees, they reflect the broader civil liability and property tax environment that affects the cost and accessibility of owning property in Louisiana. Another key bill for the industry, HB 1166 by Rep. Kim Carver , remains very much alive and is now positioned for House floor debate on Tuesday, May 5 . The bill would require disclosures for vacant residential property, and it would close an existing gap in Louisiana law that currently exempts many vacant homes from standard seller disclosure rules. After being called and returned to the calendar earlier in the week, the bill is now finally set for debate. Louisiana REALTORS® also intends to use the bill as a vehicle for a structural amendment to the Louisiana Real Estate Commission that would move toward a more geographically balanced appointment process, with one member appointed from each congressional district and the remaining members appointed at large. That change would better ensure regional representation across Louisiana’s diverse real estate markets and help modernize the commission’s structure. Taken together, week 8 was a strong and consequential week for Louisiana REALTORS®. The association’s two flagship bills are now within reach of Senate floor passage, rent stabilization was turned back in committee, important insurance legislation continued moving, and HB 1166 remains positioned as both a major disclosure bill and a possible vehicle for meaningful LREC reform. Louisiana REALTORS® remains fully engaged at every stage of the process to protect private property rights, support practical regulation and advance policies that strengthen Louisiana’s real estate market. Lastly, this week, Louisiana REALTORS® wants to extend sincere thanks to Rep. Delisha Boyd — a real estate broker herself — for her tireless work shepherding HB 292 through the legislative process. The security deposit fairness bill, which allows landlords and tenants to mutually agree in writing to extend the timeline for returning a security deposit when damage is found, has passed to third reading and final passage in the Senate and is nearly on its way to the Governor's desk. This has been a meaningful win for both property owners and renters across Louisiana. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
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By Louisiana REALTORS® • April 24, 2026
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