Great deals are done over coffee and if you're lucky donuts. I used to think my career as a paramedic wouldn't be useful in the world of real estate and entrepreneurship but skills, all skills need to be practiced to develop and master. I would say 80% or more of my job as a paramedic is to listen, listen to people yell, whisper, cry, preach, and confide.
When buying homes the ability to listen, really listen, and learn what someone is saying has been an invaluable skill. People sometimes know WHAT they want, but they rarely know WHY they want it, or HOW they're going to get it.
When buying a home, or selling one for that matter, you need to listen and be able to hear what the buyer/seller wants and needs but you also need to know why and how. Playing banana phone with multiple agents can leave you confused and frustrated with poor communication. Either get a great agent that can close, or better yet learn to do it yourself.