How to Become a Better Problem Solver as a REALTOR® in 2023

Louisiana REALTORS® • January 31, 2023

Navigating and negotiating a real estate transaction can be a complex and challenging endeavor. No two deals are the same and with an endless array of variables that can influence a sale or purchase at any time, you have to be agile and ready for anything. Because of the nature of your business as a REALTOR®, the sharper your problem-solving skills are, the better you can serve your clients and find success. Here are a few ways you can enhance and improve your problem-solving skills.


Focus on Finding a Solution, Not the Problem

You feed negativity when you focus on the problem instead of finding your solution. The problem in its essence is a negative experience, and you react accordingly which makes it increasingly difficult to think of the best way to resolve it. Once you’re aware of the problem, acknowledge it, then move on to positive thinking in order to solve it. 


Keep Things Simple

It can be easy to complicate things in order to arrive at a solution, especially with the stress of an unexpected problem. When you are able to take a step back and simplify your approach, you are much more likely to arrive at an answer. Try and minimize the details and look at the big picture. The simpler you can make it, the more obvious the solution will become.


Change Your Perspective

Thinking laterally is a valuable skill. Too often it is too easy to get stuck in a rut trying to solve things the same way. When you address a problem from a different angle, it can open up new possibilities. Letting go of your instinctive, reflexive, dominant ideas opens up the opportunity to let chance show you a new way of solving an issue. When you can relax the rigidity and confinements of your everyday thinking, new concepts you may not typically come to will be easier to find.


While these are only a few ways to improve your problem-solving skills, one thing is for sure and it’s that you will have to deal with problems on a daily basis. The better you are at navigating these challenges, the better you’ll be able to serve your clients. From saving time to mitigating risks to providing the best service possible, enhanced problem-solving benefits everyone.

REALTOR® RESOURCES

Consumer Guide Update: Teen Financial Literacy

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 9, 2026
Want Your Teen to Own a Home Someday? Start Talking Money Now Teens may not be thinking about mortgage rates or down payments just yet, but the money habits they’re building now can follow them for years. And 88% of teens surveyed by Fannie Mae and Junior Achievement said they want to own a home someday. This week’s Consumer Guide: Talk to Your Teens About Money and Homeownership makes those conversations a little easier, covering everything from credit scores and budgeting to debt, renting versus owning and saving for that eventual down payment. So yes, you may have to interrupt the doomscrolling. But helping teens get smarter about money today could put them in a much better position to get the keys to a home of their own down the road. Download all of NAR’s Consumer Guides in English or Spanish at facts.realtor. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Teen Financial Literacy Fraud Red Flags Helping Family Members Become Homeowners Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season Condominium Insurance Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. The next Consumer Guide, scheduled for publication on Oct. 21, will cover winter cold and storm preparedness.

Constitutional Amendment Positions for November 3 Election

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 9, 2026
Homeownership Is on Louisiana's November Ballot

Cookbook for the REALTORS® Relief Foundation On Sale Now!

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 8, 2026
After months of gathering recipes from across our Louisiana REALTORS® family, the cookbook is ready! This 200+ page collection is filled with Louisiana flavor, REALTOR® heart and recipes contributed by our members. We launched sales of the cookbook at the Fall Governance Meetings. You can now purchase your copy for $30 directly from the printer and shipped to you! Additionally, we will have copies available at the RRF booth at NXT . After NXT, we will carry a limited stock at the LR office for you to purchase through the LR Merch Shop and pick-up from the office or at an LR event, as stock is available. Even better, $15 from every cookbook sold will be donated to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) to help provide housing-related assistance to REALTORS® and their families following disasters. Pick up a copy for yourself, grab one as a gift and enjoy a taste of Louisiana while supporting a great cause!
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