So You Want to Be a Real Estate Agent?
In order to become a successful real estate agent, you’ll need more than a passion for selling homes and desire to earn a good income. You must have a strong work ethic, ability to multitask, ability to network with others and an understanding of how the real estate market works. You’ll also need the ability to work independently. The first step in becoming a real estate agent is to attend an accredited and licensed real estate school for classes that will prepare you for your state’s real estate exam. After you receive your license you’re able to work in real estate.
Because real estate is a broad career, to succeed you should specialize in a target clientele or type of real estate. If you’re interested in finding affordable homes for middle and low-income families in your city, you can specialize in locating HUD and FHA-backed homes for these families. Or if you’re more interested in selling rental properties, seek out real estate agencies that focus primarily on selling rental properties to your city’s residents. You should also research your target clients’ needs and this includes researching your city’s cost of living.
What to Expect
When you first start out in real estate, you’ll have to promote yourself heavily if you want to build a good clientele. A good way to do this is to hold open houses a few times each month and when you meet with potential buyers at your open houses, give them your business card along with a brochure of the current homes you’re selling. Another idea is to place a color ad in some local real estate guides and independent magazines because readers can contact you about your services this way. Get a professional to build your website and include your contact information and the pictures and details about the homes you’re selling.
As a real estate agent you should understand your state’s real estate laws so you want to research these laws by visiting your state’s treasury department’s website and local real estate lawyers’ websites to learn more about these laws. This is important because you want to know what the rights and responsibilities are of realtors, buyers, lenders and sellers. You also need this information because there will be legal issues that arise throughout your career. You can also read some online real estate articles concerning how to handle legal problems as an agent.
The Payoff
If you can manage your time wisely, you’ll succeed in real estate. Many real estate agents have to juggle different tasks and these include calling and meeting clients, signing paperwork, preparing the latest home listings, holding open houses and managing their e-mails. It helps to purchase an organizer where you can write down the dates and times of all of your important activities and appointments for the week. Time Management is essential for realtors because it determines whether you’ll lose or keep your clients.