The job of an estate agent entails renting, selling, and managing a number of properties effectively. When somebody has a property to sell and somebody else wants to buy, the estate agent acts as the middleman to help make that sale run smoothly and make it work for both parties. They earn their money by charging the seller a percentage of the price their property sold for. They’ll also sometimes draw up contracts for landlords, and charge tenants for finding them a rental property to live in. A typical day as an estate agent would usually consist of meeting with sellers, giving people property tours, marketing properties, and other admin work. Read on if a job in this industry interests you:
Estate Agent Entry Requirements
An outgoing personality, specific skills, and relevant experience are important in an estate agent role - probably even more so than an actual qualification! A degree is not an essential entry requirement, however; it can give you an edge over competitors when job hunting. Consider one of the following subjects to give you a boost:
- Surveying
- Property management/development
- Estate management
- Urban and land studies
- Business studies
- Structural engineering
If you have no desire to study a degree, professional tests can be taken once you’ve secured a job and then you can start your career as a trainee. A sales administrative background can be useful as this shows that you have built up the skills required in the role. A background in customer service is also beneficial, as this shows you have the necessary communication skills to meet with buyers and sellers and effectively show them/sell them houses. The following skills and attributes can help you get off to a good start in the industry:
- Negotiation and persuasion
- An outgoing personality
- Commercial awareness
- Communication skills
- Ability to hit targets
- Determination and patience
- An understanding of marketing
- Computer skills - many estate agents can use CMS, so make sure you brush up on your computer skills or take a course to stand a chance.
If you’re sure you have what it takes to become a great estate agent, you should contact different agencies in your area to see if they will allow you to do some work experience there. Especially take time asking at the larger agencies, as they sometimes have programs specifically for graduates/trainees.
Competition For Jobs
Competition for this kind of role varies from place to place. It all totally depends on the state of the economy too, especially the property market. Finding vacancies is usually fairly easy, however, you’ll want to enquire regularly as they aren’t always advertised.
If you think you could handle the pressure of the property market and sell houses fast, then a career as an estate agent could be exactly the thing for you. It’s a great professional career filled with job opportunities, so if you think you’ve got what it takes you should go for it. We wish you all the best in finding the perfect role in this industry!
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