As seen with many other careers, becoming a real estate agent is not necessarily easy for everyone. While some people are born leaders, having a degree or certification as a real estate professional definitely helps your career!
Becoming an agent comes with its own set of challenges that can be time consuming at times, but if you are willing to put in the effort then it will pay off in the long run.
There are several ways to become an agent, so which one is right for you depends on your priorities and what kind of person you are. For example, someone who enjoys socializing may want to start by working as an open listing agent before moving onto list agents or residential agents.
On the other hand, individuals who enjoy details might choose to work as a residential agent first to get more experience in property management. The choice really comes down to personal preferences and how much motivation you have to keep up with all the responsibilities that being an agent entails.
Create a website
After you have determined that real estate selling is what you want to pursue, you will need to create your own little business! And how about a good name? While “Real Estate Professional” has catchy qualities, we think “Broker” or even just “Agent” sounds better.
You can choose to be either an agent who sells direct from property websites like Zillow and Realtor.com, or you can open your own brokerage firm with a broker license. The first way is great for people who are very organized and have their own computer and internet access, but not much else. It also does not give you the opportunity to work with other agents unless they also agree to be representatives for your company.
The second option is going into it with more preparation. You will need to prove that you know the law related to doing business as a representative (broker) and learn some basic real estate concepts such as pricing and marketing. Then, you must pass certification exams before being allowed to represent a seller. This is only done by certain states.
Once you have this certification, then you may officially call yourself a real estate agent. You can now advertise yourself as such and add the title of Broker or Agent to your business name.
Buy a suit and a business card
Now that you have your license, you can start looking for real estate agents who are ready to take over their career! While having professional marketing materials like a business card or letterhead is great, nothing beats walking into an agent’s office with a suitcase full of money.
That will definitely get some attention! Luckily, it’s easy to pick up before sales training programs make sure everyone has one.
Start gaining clients
The next step towards becoming an agent is establishing your business and marketing strategies, which include creating a strong brand, developing your sales skills, and getting started with social media to spread the word about you!
Running your own real estate agency comes down to two things: finding suitable properties and then negotiating the sale or rental of these homes.
Your personal style and appearance are important parts of your branding as a real estate professional. You can’t be surrounded by all white every day!
It’s great to have a lot of experience under your belt, but don’t get too comfortable in that knowledge-base. Keep exploring new ways to do things and add some spice to your game!
Real estate agents who promote a positive, honest environment for potential buyers and sellers will reap the most success. Your colleagues and community members will be loyal customers if you always put their needs first.
Know how to sell
The second key element to being a successful real estate agent is knowing how to effectively market and sell homes. This means figuring out what makes your home stand out from the rest, presenting those qualities clearly, and engaging in conversation about them with potential buyers
Mostly, this comes down to having a good eye for detail and displaying your house like it’s yours — you should treat it as if it were your own. Your house is probably a lot more expensive than most people’s, which can make it seem slightly pretentious or even snobbish.
You have to be able to look past that. Potential buyers will take away some of that impression when they walk through the door, so you need to eliminate any negative impressions before anyone has a chance to form one.
Your house needs to speak loudly about quality and value, but not in a flashy way that may appeal to momentary whims instead of long-term goals. You want people who will buy here, not just someone looking for something new.
Be a good listener
As a real estate agent, your success will depend heavily on your ability to listen. Listen to people tell you about their house hunt or how they wanted to be a real estate agent but never made it work.
Many agents fail because they are too focused on getting their own sale done instead of paying attention to what strategies may help someone else find a home more quickly.
By being a good listener, you’ll better understand why some things don’t work for people and maybe learn something new that can aid you in yours.
Your colleagues and fellow agents are likely to share information about properties, sellers, and business-related topics. Take notes, ask follow up questions, and use this knowledge to help them!
As an aspiring real estate agent, listening is one of the most important skills you can develop.
Be optimistic
Let’s look at it from another angle- what if I told you that there is no way to become a real estate agent unless you have an interest in selling houses? What if I also said that this interest must be more than just wanting to sell your own house, but instead, you need to love selling all houses?
That would make sense because as a real estate agent, you are always looking for new homes or properties to showcase and market. You will not get paid doing nothing!
So, how do we develop this desire to sell other people’s houses? By practicing, of course! And the best place to do so is by becoming a real estate agent yourself.
By putting yourself out there and being vulnerable, you increase your chances of developing self-confidence which is a key element to success in any profession. Not only that, but you meet lots of different individuals who can help you reach your goal too!
There are many ways to begin your career as a real estate agent. Some agencies offer courses while others don’t, but either way, you should consider learning about the basics first.
This article will go into detail about some important things like how to become a real estate agent in North Carolina.
Love your job
Being a real estate agent is not like being any other profession. You will need to love what you do to succeed as a real estate agent. If investing in property isn’t something that makes you feel happy, then don’t become an investor, but instead go into business for yourself as a seller or a buyer!
Just because someone else can do something doesn’t mean you have to be able to do it too. Many people are good at speaking English, so they decided to start their own talk show.
However, if you aren’t sure whether you want to be involved in talking all the time, maybe you should consider becoming a teacher. There are many jobs where you must speak frequently, such as teachers, preachers, and lawyers.
If you’re more of a listener than a speaker, then teaching would be perfect for you. Or perhaps you’d make a great lawyer, since you enjoy listening to people tell their stories and relate them to you.
Your personal life may also influence how much money you earn as a real estate agent. For example, if you always wanted to take a year off after high school to travel or pursue hobbies, that could hurt your earnings.
Know the market
The next step in becoming a real estate agent is knowing your market! This means figuring out where the most popular homes are, what types of houses people prefer, and how to position yourself so you can offer these house options to clients.
Asking around friends and family or taking some online courses will help you learn more about the local housing market. You can also visit different listing sites such as Zillow and Realtor.com to get an idea of the area’s current trends.
By being well-informed, you’ll know if there are new developments that home buyers should be aware of, and you’ll have ideas for marketing strategies. It’s important to know who your competition is so that you can find ways to differentiate yourself from them.
