What it takes

Claire Goodenough, Personnel Manager at Ward & Partners, gives us her own personal insight on what it is like to be an estate agent and what you can expect each day.

• Firstly being a Ward & Partners estate agent is FUN; you are guaranteed to meet lots of different people from all walks of life and you just never know who will walk into the office next.
  
  
• It is also EXCITING from the buzz of the sale to matching people to properties and there is nothing better than being recognised for your results.
  
  
• Being a Ward & Partners estate agent is not for the faint hearted as there is lots of HARD WORK involved, plus you will need heaps of dedication to get the job done. You will also need to be prepared to work long hours, evenings and weekends.
  
  
• You will need to be a CREATIVE thinker, able to think outside of the box, in order to identify opportunities for your clients and working with the chain to ensure sales go through.
  
  
• You will need a lot of EMPATHY and understanding to help people advance their lives, whether they are in difficult situations, or moving home for happy reasons. Tact and diplomacy will be your everyday tools.
  
  
• DETERMINATION must be part of your character for the days when you have to keep working away to make progress.
  
  
• And finally, the ability to THINK ON YOUR FEET having solutions if things go wrong, as they will from time to time. To remain calm and unflappable in order to resolve situations for the best possible outcome.