Real estate agents spend their days traveling from property to property, meeting their clients and prospects face to face and helping them find the perfect home.

Being a great real estate agent requires many different skills, but it also requires having many different things on hand in order to make your client’s experience the best it can be. You never know when you or your client might need some batteries or basic tools while looking at a property.

If you’ve ever been in a situation where you desperately need an item or product and didn’t have it, you know the pain it causes. Being stuck in the rain without an umbrella, or using your arms to measure a space is not a mistake you make twice.

From dog treats and air fresheners to tools and hygiene products, there are so many things that a realtor might need while showing houses and hosting an open house. Here’s a list of just some of the items that a realtor might end up using one of these days.

Tools and roadside assistance

As any realtor knows, there is a lot of driving involved in the job. Depending on the client, you could be driving from one end of the city to the other in the same day.

Along with the driving, there may be some tools and supplies needed when showing a property. Here are a few tools and pieces of equipment real estate agents may need to have on hand.

* Car Jumper Kit with cables
* Car charger for phones and other devices
* First Aid Kit and extra Band aids
* Measuring Tape
* Heavy Duty Flashlight
* Zip Ties
* Level
* Lighter
* Portable Light Bulbs
* Batteries
* Shovel
* Wrench to replace flat tires
* Rubber Mallet and tent spikes for hanging signs
* Staple Gun
* Basic Tool Kit with other assorted tools

Looking at any residential home on the market might mean bringing along some of these tools to make your open house events perfect for a prospective client. Clients like to know measurements so they can picture their furniture and life fitting into the home.

This is where things like measuring tape, level, and other basic tools will easily come in handy, especially if the clients didn’t bring their own. You’ll be the hero of the day for having one tucked away in your car.

Hosting and marketing

Being a good and welcoming host is one of the most important jobs for a real estate agent. You want to appeal to potential buyers during open houses and showings. Having some of these items on hand can help make your client’s experience that much better.

* Dog Treats or extra Dog Leash (especially in case the seller’s dog is at the property and needs to be contained)
* Mints
* Moisturizers
* Air Freshener
* Portable Charger or Extra Cell Phone Chargers
* Business Cards
* Extra Water Bottles and Snacks (specifically peanut-free)
* Colouring Pages with Crayons
* Disposable Face Mask
* Hygiene Products
* Extra Toilet Paper
* Box of tissues

Real estate agent preparing for an open house with hosting essentials

If a client brings along a dog or a child, having some of these hosting products will set you apart from other real estate agents.

Finding a representative who cares enough to have a dog biscuit for a four-legged friend, or some little snacks or activities for a toddler who is tagging along tells the client a lot about the agent.

Long days can get tough for both kids and adults. Having some water and snacks on hand can help hold your clients over until they can get an actual meal.

Business cards and other marketing materials are one of the most important items to have on hand as a realtor as networking and finding new clients is one of the foundational aspects of the job. Even if it’s just used for a while, having some of these items easily available with you in the car might save you one day.

Cleaning products

Whether it’s a mess in the car or a little spill at the house, having some cleaning products on hand for eliminating sticky messes will make any real estate agent’s life a whole lot easier. Here are just a few products that you might find yourself needing one day on the job:

* Lysol Wipes
* Paper Towels
* Windex and Window Cleaner
* Tide Stain Remover Pen
* Multi-Purpose Cleaner
* Collapsible Swiffer or Mop
* Carpet Cleaner
* Small broom and dustpan
* Handheld Vacuum
* Plastic trash bags

As the saying goes, there’s no use crying over spilled milk, even if that milk is on a counter in the home you just viewed your client and their child. Sometimes paper towels and some shoe covers are all you need to keep a house that’s on the market clean and tidy after showing it to some clients.

Especially during the rainy season, no one wants to come through the front door and find their house full of wet floors due to muddy shoes. This is why having some cleaning tools accessible to you can be extremely convenient.

Messes happen, so having some cleaning products easily available will help a real estate agent keep even an empty house looking sparkling.

Miscellaneous products

A real estate agent’s job can often lead to interesting and unexpected events. Some days might leave a realtor stuck in their office, and other days they may be trekking into the country to look at some property. Whatever the day might bring, it’s always smart to be prepared.

Having some proper resources and other miscellaneous products available in your car can end up saving the day right when you least expect it.

Here are just a few of the items you might consider keeping in your car next time you venture out with prospective buyers:

* Bug Spray and Wasp Spray
* Pepper Spray
* Sunscreen
* Collapsible Step Stool
* Painkillers and other over the counter medication
* Bluetooth Speaker
* Blanket
* Blank Documents ready to sign
* Permanent Marker
* Notepad and pens
* Extra Set of Clothes
* Umbrella

If you’ve ever been in a situation where you’ve needed bug spray and didn’t have it, you can easily understand why this item is on the list. There are plenty of items that you don’t think about having with you until you’re stuck without them.

Even if you’re just going to a few client meetings or appointments, it’s important for a real estate agent to be prepared for all sorts of situations.

Storing your items

While all this stuff may seem a bit over the top right now, you’ll be happy when you’re stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire or a massive headache surrounded by mosquitoes.

When it comes to storing these items in your car, you don’t want to have your car full of empty plastic bottles or have stuff rolling around as you drive to your listing appointments. This is why it’s recommended that you keep everything in some storage bins in the trunk of you car if possible.

Also, be sure to rotate your supply to go with the seasons. You might not need sunscreen in the winter or a shovel in the summer.

This not only keeps things from rolling and spilling in your car, but it keeps everything neat and organized, ready for you when you need it.

Be prepared!

Even if you don’t end up using all of these items, it’s best to be prepared for whatever the day will bring you. You’ll be thankful the next time you need a handheld vacuum to clean up a spill or an extra charger to charge your dying phone. Show your clients that you care and go the extra mile this year!