Real estate is a fast-growing industry and is always in need of talent. It’s a very dynamic and challenging field. The professionals in this industry need to be very patient and must keep learning continuously. Today, many young talents want to make their career in this industry and start a real estate business or agency.
If you are thinking of entering the real estate profession, there are several different avenues to consider. You can be a Broker or Salesperson or run your own real estate office. The more common is to start as an agent who works for another broker/firm. Whether you go this route or decide to be independent, there are certain things that you will need to get started on the right foot. In this article, we will explain what are the things that you should have before you enter into this profession.
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You Should Be Of Legal Age To Sign A Contracts
When you enter into this profession, you will see that the city or state where you live has certain rules and regulations for agents who are entering into contracts with buyers or sellers. There are some states which allow agents to work at the age of 18 but there are many others that have raised the minimum age requirement to 21 years old. It is an admirable thing to start your career early but it would be better if you wait till you turn 21 unless your state allows otherwise.
Also, you should be of good legal standing. This means that you should not have any sort of criminal record or anything pending in court. Signing contracts is a big responsibility and your broker/firm would want to make sure that you are completely trustworthy for their clients.
You Need To Pass The Salesperson’s Exam
This is also another thing that you should have before venturing into this industry. Even if you are an experienced real estate professional, you’ll need to take this test if want to be a Broker. It does not matter if you are working for someone else or not. If the company that owns your license wants to move up, they will also need to go through this process.
Passing this exam in Washington is not an easy task and it can be a frustrating experience for new agents. This is why it is recommended that you take a few classes or find a company that offers high-quality online training. There are even Washington state real estate exam questions to be found online that can help you prepare for your test. The best thing is that you can use them to practice on your own time. It’s important to note here, however, that if you decide to take an online course, make sure it’s from a reputable source otherwise you may end up paying for nothing as many of them are scams these days.
You Should Be Computer Savvy
If you want to succeed in the real estate industry, you must be good with computers and other technology. The main responsibility of any agent today is online marketing which has become very popular among many firms who want to grow their business or agency. If you are looking for a job at an already established firm, they would ask if you know social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc. Another thing that they will look for is whether you can write press releases, make websites, and use the Internet well to advertise their properties on websites such as Google search engine and so on. Therefore learning advanced computer skills is a must-have.
You Should Have Good People Skills
This is another thing that separates new agents from experienced ones. When you are just starting, always remember that your main responsibility is to build a good rapport with your clients. New agents often fall into the trap of becoming too aggressive with their prospects which has led to thousands of complaints being filed every year against up-and-coming real estate professionals who do not know how to deal with difficult customers or sellers. Therefore building strong relationships is extremely important in this industry as time goes on even after closing deals.
It is also important to convince people about your services and negotiate on their behalf as well. However, it is also important not to push too hard, or else they may lose interest in working with you. That being said, this is a skill that can be developed over time so you shouldn’t worry too much if you are struggling at first. As long as you learn from your mistakes, negotiation skills will become part of your arsenal very quickly.
A Driving Licence Is Also An Asset
Many new agents tend to forget about this when they start their careers in real estate. However, there are times when you’ll need to use your vehicle for business (such as showing properties or delivering comps) and even if the company that you work for provides a car, it doesn’t hurt knowing how to drive. Courses like defensive driving can be very helpful in such cases and will only cost you a small fee at most American driving schools. As a bonus, having a valid US driver’s license demonstrates your serious nature and also signifies that you are capable of owning and maintaining a vehicle which is an asset for any real estate agent/staffer working alongside other professionals within his firm.
You Should Act Quickly
Finally, you must act quickly when opportunities arise because this industry changes every day. It’s very important to start by working for someone else and gradually build your reputation as a reliable agent so you can attract more leads. At the same time, keep in mind that real estate is about making money and if you can’t even find leads on your own, then there’s no point in sticking with this profession and wasting valuable resources such as time and money. Therefore it’s better that you try to get involved with other agents/firms who will provide leads for free (which is referred to as an incubator program) or pay a small amount of money for them.
When considering this profession, always remember that it is not an easy one and there are many challenges you will face daily. However, if you keep this thing in mind and take your time and learn as much as possible from those who have been in the business for a long period, you will find that real estate is one of the most rewarding careers that you could ever embark on.
