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How to Become a Real Estate Agent

Arun Chitnis
A real estate agent is an authorized person who helps customers to buy, sell or rent properties. It is a very challenging and rewarding career. Here are some tips and techniques that will help you if you want to be a successful real estate agent.
Did You Know?
As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2016), the number of job openings for real estate agents and brokers were about 444,100!
Are you a people person? Do you possess good communication and social skills like empathizing, instructing, persuading or negotiating? If yes, then this job could be apt for you.
Now, when are real estate agents consulted? They are in need when a customer has decided to sell, buy or rent a particular property that could be residential, commercial, industrial or agricultural.
Customers usually prefer seeking help from real estate brokers and sales agents because of the complexity involved from legal documentation to appointing the beneficiaries with the seller's property.

Requirements

To become a successful real estate agent, you would require a combination of the right education, a state license, and significant technical skills and expertise with regards to the job.
A high school degree or a college degree with a state-accredited pre-licensing course and an additional business course in marketing, finance or law will definitely boost your chances of surviving in this industry.
Specialize and take additional courses; customers usually prefer agents who are specialists or realtors in a particular area. So, being known as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) or Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) acts as an extra armor up your sleeve.
The qualities which are essential for becoming a real estate agent are:
  • Good communication skills
  • Presence of mind, ethics and common sense
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Marketing and persuading skills
  • Ability to learn new things and work independently
Getting a mentor, and learning the tips and tricks of the trade from an experienced professional will not only give you experience in the field, but will also help you establish yourself in the market.
A real estate agent's salary can range from anything between $24,000-116,000 annually and varies as per his education, experience, skill and place of work.

Responsibilities

Like a dozen other sales jobs, this job, too, is highly dependent on the personal drive, motivation, and sales ability of the agent.
As a real estate agent, you will need to keep an extensive and up-to-date database of the available, upcoming properties and the details of banks.
Researching on property prices, cost per square feet and having a thorough knowledge of the current happenings in the real-estate business is a must.
The source of earning is in the form of commissions, which the real estate brokers and sales agents charge their clients for signing a deal. So, more the number of clients, more will be the profit.
Advertising and promoting properties for sale or rent online, taking customers to inspect and see the place, presenting the purchase offers and negotiating between the buyer and seller are the responsibilities of a real estate agent. After finalizing the deal, he has to prepare the necessary documents, contracts and agreements.
Going weeks or months without a sale is common in this industry, so make sure you have enough savings to eat and pay your bills. In such a scenario, you could utilize your time by broadening your contacts, socializing or joining the National Association of Realtors to discuss and exchange valuable information.
Set up blogs/websites and keep promoting and introducing properties online, with a virtual chat facility to communicate with your customers over the Internet.
If you can picture yourself outside the typical office job setting and prefer exploring, analyzing and showing properties, meeting new clients, and researching the real estate market, then this could be your dream job. Here's wishing you the best in your pursuit.