Are you thinking about becoming a real estate agent? We know what it takes to become one. Below we’ve made a list of certain skills and qualifications you need. It’s not just education, there is a set of skills that you’d need to possess in order to become one.
Job requirements
Below we’ve listed the most important requirements and set of skills to become a real estate agent.
1. Get the basic education
The minimum education level for an aspiring real estate agent should be high school diploma. But if you want to go further up the ladder, going for a college degree is a safer option. Spending just 2 to 4 years in education can greatly increase your chances of landing the job as well as being eligible for higher posts.
To be in the real estate world, you should be most proficient in subjects like finance, statistics, economics, business administration and sometimes law. All of these are available as majors in most college degree programs.
2. Understand your state’s requirements
The official requirements for a real estate agent vary from state to state. So before you get into the phase of attending licensing courses and exams, you should first try to know what those specific requirements really are.
For example, having the high school diploma is optional in some states, whereas post-secondary education is mandatory in a few other states for the same job! Thus, you need to know exactly what your job qualifications should be before getting into a licensing program.
You can know all the details regarding this from the real estate regulatory body of your state. In general, you should be 18 years or older in age to be eligible for real estate licensing programs in the USA.
3. Enroll in pre-licensing course
In order to attend the salesperson exam and become an eligible candidate for real estate agents jobs, you need to enroll yourself in a pre-licensing course.
There are many institutions which offer these courses, such as local real estate schools, universities, technical schools, realty firms and nowadays, even online classrooms! So you can either attend the classes from the institution itself, do the study from home or complete the whole course online!
With such a variety of options, you can easily choose the best one for you according to your own situation and plan of life. Just make sure the institute you are enlisting yourself too is a reliable one with qualified instructors.
4. Pass the salesperson exam
The process and required payment for attending real estate salesperson exam differ according to the state. So when the timing is right according to your state’s rules, apply to take part in the salesperson exam, preferably as soon as the licensing classes end.
Common prerequisites for participating in the test include fee, fingerprints submission and passing a background check. So it can take a few weeks before you can register and get the specific date of your exam.
Passing this exam is whole another story! It takes rigorous efforts and solid preparation, which is why most people fail it the first time. Thus, give it all you have, reach the exam venue on time, build a positive attitude and answer the questions carefully.
5. Find the right broker
Once you have passed the salesperson exam, you will be a licensed real estate salesperson but cannot operate independently just yet. At this stage, you will be working under a real estate broker. It is recommended to find yourself one during the licensing process for a secure transition to the next step.
After being done with the educational qualification and licensure exams, you and the broker will need to complete some paperwork for the state. Your license will be issued when the form is accepted and then you can start practicing under that broker’s sponsorship.
6. Job experience
In many states, you might need to show real work experience of 1 to 3 years to get the real estate sales agent license. It doesn’t have to be a real estate agent’s job specifically. You can show work experience from a related job instead.
7. Grow your skills through training or practice
Once you get your license and start working officially, don’t think the journey ends there! In order to get far ahead in career, you must train yourself in some key areas during the job. Observe your senior agents and work closely with them to gather crucial on-the-job knowledge.
How to improve your skills?
Besides, some training may also help in this case – particularly from the real estate company itself. It can be a formal classroom training or a more practical approach focused on real-life scenarios. Some of the skills you must have to be a top real estate agent are:
- Knowledge
Of course, you cannot pursue a fluid career in real estate if you don’t have enough knowledge about the local housing market in the first place. It will be even more effective if you know details regarding the niche target and pricing strategies of that market. - Negotiation
Undoubtedly, the most stressful part of a real estate agent’s job is closing the deal while ensuring profits for both parties. To make this deal a fruitful one, you should possess exceptional negotiation skills which can save time and bring value to both ends. - Details-oriented
A real estate agent should be able to figure out what his clients are not vocalizing. He needs to pay attention to the details of their body language and facial expressions, along with the unique needs they have mentioned previously. - Engaging
Clients are more inclined toward listening and relying on the real estate agents who have engaging personalities. Thus, you should have a confident, pleasant, warm and enthusiastic attitude on the job. - Self-motivation
No one would like to hire a real estate agent who cannot operate or make decisions on his own. The agents should be able to assess the situation at hand and come up with a solution quickly. They also need to have organization, planning and prioritization skills to manage the workload and clients. - Strong network
Have a huge number of useful contacts within the real estate fraternity to keep up with the latest updates. This network may include other agents, buyers, brokers, sellers, home inspectors, mortgage loan officers and more!
One of the key points where the real estate agent has to prove himself is patience. Turning a potential client into an actual client may take days and weeks. You have to put in hard work every day but still wait for months to get any form of payment. So make sure you are up for this level of stress on a regular basis before taking any formal step.
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