9 Essential Skills Every Property Agent Needs in 2026
- Stuart Chng
- Dec 17, 2025
- 5 min read
When I first entered the real estate industry in 2006 (which feels like a lifetime ago), the role of a property agent was far more straightforward. Technology played a minimal role, and the skill set required was much narrower.
Fast forward to today, and the landscape has changed dramatically. Rapid advances in technology, increasingly informed consumers, and the rise of DIY property portals have made the industry far more demanding. Many agents from earlier generations have struggled to adapt—or have exited the industry altogether.
This transformation has been especially pronounced in real estate sales, even more so than in industries such as insurance or automotive sales.
If you are considering a career switch, or you have just passed your RES exams, this article will help you assess whether you already possess—or are willing to develop—the skills needed to thrive as a property agent in 2026.
Core Skills Every Real Estate Agent Should Have In 2026
There are several foundational qualities that remain essential for any successful realtor:
1. Strong listening and communication skills
2. Patience, especially when guiding clients through the emotional process of buying or selling high-value assets
3. Genuine interest in people and the ability to build lasting relationships
4. Resilience and endurance, as rejection and failure are part of the job—even for top performers
5. Empathy, so you can understand your clients’ concerns and propose the best solutions
6. Self-discipline to stay consistent without constant supervision
7. Positive energy and enthusiasm, which naturally attract clients
8. Excellent follow-up skills, a critical yet often neglected part of the sales process
These traits are common across many sales roles, so I won’t dwell on them further. What follows are the more role-specific skills that modern property agents need to stay competitive.
Additional Skills That Set Agents Apart in 2026
1. Technology Literacy
Today’s agents must be comfortable using digital tools to manage customer databases and workflows. This includes platforms such as Google Drive, Google Sheets, Google Forms, Dropbox, Privyr, and Salesforce.
You will also need to be familiar with listing portals like PropertyGuru, 99.co, and EdgeProp to effectively market properties.
2. Photography Skills
First impressions matter. Property photos often determine whether a buyer clicks on your listing or scrolls past it.
Poor-quality images reflect badly on your professionalism. Developing a good eye for composition, lighting, and presentation is no longer optional—it is a baseline expectation.
3. Videography Skills
Video has become the preferred way many consumers view properties today.
While you can outsource this to professionals, having the ability to shoot videos yourself gives you flexibility, speed, and cost efficiency—especially when budgets are tight.
4. Video Editing Ability
Recording videos is only half the job. Editing is essential for producing polished, engaging content that holds attention and reflects your personal brand.
5. On-Camera Confidence
Being able to speak comfortably on camera significantly boosts your visibility and credibility.
When viewers repeatedly see you guiding them through properties, familiarity builds trust—even before they meet you. Over time, this can lead to referrals and inbound enquiries, provided the content is done well.
6. Writing and Content Creation Skills
Educational articles and blog posts are powerful digital assets.
Strong writing positions you as an authority, and the ease of online distribution allows your insights to reach far beyond what you could achieve through physical networking alone.
7. Social Media Marketing
“Content is king, but distribution is queen”
Creating great content is meaningless if no one sees it.
Agents must learn how to distribute their work across platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter).
Engaging with comments and feedback—both positive and critical—also increases visibility and strengthens audience connection.
8. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
SEO helps your content appear in front of people actively searching for property-related information—likely how you found this article.
While SEO takes time and effort, it can generate long-term traffic without paying for every click, making it a highly valuable digital asset.
SEM, on the other hand, includes paid advertising platforms such as Google Ads and LinkedIn Ads. These provide immediate visibility but require ongoing spending, as you pay for each click.
Both approaches have their place when used strategically.
9. Basic Design Skills
Design has become far more accessible thanks to tools like Canva.
Basic design skills allow you to create clean, professional-looking marketing materials quickly and affordably—without relying heavily on external designers.
You might be wondering: “Does this mean I shouldn’t become a property agent if I lack these skills?”
Not at all.
These abilities are complementary skills that can significantly accelerate your growth and reduce operating costs. They allow you to reach more people and build assets that work for you beyond face-to-face interactions.
Even if you possess few—or none—of these skills, you can still succeed by excelling in the core fundamentals discussed earlier.
In many cases, outsourcing is a practical solution. Delegating weaker areas allows you to focus on your strengths while still benefiting from lead-generating digital assets.
Over time, however, it is inevitable that you will slow down. Investing early in digital skills and scalable assets creates long-term value that your future self will appreciate.
Did this article help you reflect on your readiness for a real estate career in 2026?
Like, comment and share the love with your friends who are thinking of a career switch to real estate too!
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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, an avid stocks, options and real estate investor, business owner, 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 producing agents from different real estate agencies in Singapore. Read his agents' reviews here.
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