8 Habits That Can Damage Your Real Estate Career (Number 4 Is the Most Costly)
- Stuart Chng
- Dec 20, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 23, 2025
Every experienced real estate agent knows that success in this industry doesn’t come easily. It demands consistent effort, discipline, and a strong commitment to delivering excellent service to clients.
Over the years, I’ve observed many agents thrive, many struggle, and I’ve also learned a few lessons the hard way myself.
Patterns emerge quickly, and most mistakes can be traced back to a handful of common habits.
If you want to reach your full potential as a real estate professional, recognising and eliminating these behaviours will help you grow faster and more sustainably.
Let’s get straight to it.
1. Poor Schedule Management
Freedom without structure can hurt productivity
One of the biggest perks of being a real estate agent is having flexible working hours. However, without discipline, this flexibility can quickly turn into a liability.
When you fail to control your schedule, distractions such as excessive social media use, long breaks, or low-priority tasks can quietly eat away your day.
Letting emotions or moods dictate your work routine often leads to inconsistent performance.
Successful real estate agents usually have their schedule well-planned and focus on using every minute of their day productively. Even rests are penciled in.
Set clear daily and weekly targets—such as the number of appointments you aim to complete—and review your progress regularly with a mentor or trusted peers. Save distractions like social media browsing (unless it’s for marketing purposes) until after your key tasks are completed.
Delayed gratification requires discipline, but it’s often the difference between agents who excel and those who struggle.
2. Talking Too Much, Listening Too Little
Many agents mistakenly believe that selling is about talking nonstop. While explaining a property’s features, advantages, and benefits is important, dominating the conversation can push clients away.
Failing to listen carefully—or ignoring subtle cues like body language—can make clients feel unheard and undervalued. This damages trust, which is critical in real estate transactions.
Clients want to feel that their concerns, goals, and preferences truly matter. Ask thoughtful questions, listen attentively, and respond with intention.
The most effective salespeople speak with purpose, listen deeply, and only talk when it adds value.
3. Slow Response Times
While no one expects instant replies around the clock, being slow to respond during working hours can cost you business.
Modern clients have access to endless information and alternatives.
If you delay your response, there’s a good chance they’ll simply move on to another agent.
High-performing agents aim to respond promptly when interest is highest. Taking calls as they come often saves time and increases the likelihood of meaningful conversations—rather than chasing callbacks later.
4. Neglecting Regular Follow-Ups
Consistent follow-up is one of the most critical—and most neglected—activities in sales.
Real estate careers are built on ongoing communication.
Regular check-ins show clients that you care, that you’re proactive, and that you’re dependable. If you disappear, you’re quickly forgotten.
Stay in touch not only with active clients but also with those who didn’t transact with you. Even past buyers appreciate being remembered, and referrals often come from people who feel genuinely valued.
If follow-ups don’t come naturally to you, systemise them. Block time in your calendar to reach out to clients several times a week.
Simple conversation starters include:
Asking how their property search or sale is progressing
Finding out what challenges they’re facing
Offering help with property-related questions
Sharing a brief market update from the past few months
Beyond transactions, connecting clients with useful contacts can add tremendous value. Introducing people within your network often leads to goodwill, referrals, and unexpected opportunities.
5. Pretending to Know Everything
Honesty builds credibility
No agent has all the answers—and that’s perfectly fine.
If a client asks something you’re unsure about, it’s far better to say, “That’s a great question. Let me confirm and get back to you shortly,” than to provide a vague or fabricated response.
Clients can usually sense when answers are being made up. This damages trust and can quickly harm your reputation.
New agents often fear being caught off guard, especially during presentations. Use that fear productively by preparing thoroughly and continuously expanding your knowledge.
6. Using Generic, One-Size-Fits-All Presentations
A sales presentation should clearly explain why a client should buy, sell, invest, or work with you.
Unfortunately, many agents rely on the same slides and scripts for every client.
Generic presentations fail to address individual needs, which gives clients little reason to choose you over someone else.
Before meeting a seller, research their property thoroughly—pricing trends, competition, and a SWOT analysis. For buyers, prepare data-backed insights and clear opinions about the properties you recommend.
Strong presentations typically include:
Capital appreciation potential
Risk analysis (interest rates, land cost, rental yield, rentability)
Infrastructure and future growth factors
Price comparisons with nearby properties
Clear investment or upgrading strategies
Well-prepared insights position you as a professional advisor, not just a salesperson.
Example: Property Wealth Planning Presentation Kits for NAVIS agents
7. Unprofessional Appearance
First impressions ALWAYS matter
Showing up with poor grooming, wrinkled clothing, or unpleasant habits can instantly turn clients off.
A polished, professional appearance builds credibility and signals strong work ethics. Clients often associate how you present yourself with how you handle your work.
Looking put together isn’t about vanity—it’s about respect for your clients and your profession.
8. Lack of Self-Confidence
A great real estate agent must be confident in their own capabilities—Confidence is contagious
Confidence in yourself and in the properties you represent directly affects how clients perceive value.
When an agent lacks confidence, buyers can sense uncertainty—even if they can’t pinpoint why. This can impact offers and overall interest.
Low confidence often stems from mindset issues or limiting beliefs. It can also be reinforced by poor preparation.
Consistent research, staying updated on market trends, and practising your presentations regularly will naturally boost confidence over time.
Ultimately, preparation and hard work remain the most reliable cures for self-doubt.
Final Thoughts
Avoiding these common habits can significantly improve your effectiveness and long-term success as a real estate agent. Awareness is the first step—action is what truly makes the difference.
Wishing you every success in your real estate journey!
Looking for great real estate career mentorship to shorten your learning curve?
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Stuart Chng, Executive Group District Director at Huttons, is a renowned leader and personality in the real estate industry.
He adores music and can play a few instruments decently without upsetting his neighbours. When not doing so, he enjoys pillow fighting with his son and coming up with silly puns which barely amuses his wife.
Professionally, he is a licensed real estate agent, investor, team leader, speaker and columnist for several property newsletters and blogs and is often quoted in media interviews on 938FM, Channel 8, PropertyReport, PropertyGuru and other publications.
Throughout his career, he has helped many clients grow their wealth through selecting great property investments and managing their portfolios actively. Read his clients' reviews here.
Stuart has also coached many top million dollar agents from top real estate agencies in Singapore. Read his agents' reviews here.
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- Find out more about a Property Agent's Career Path with Huttons Group.
- Passed your RES Exams? Find out what immediate steps to take next to quickly reach your goals!
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