For many people, becoming a real estate agent sounds like a great idea. In addition to meeting a variety of people, the job also offers the chance to earn a substantial income, be your own boss in many respects, and help people realize the American dream of home ownership. However, while offering many benefits, a real estate career should not be taken lightly. If you are considering a career in real estate, here are some tips to help you decide if it is the career for you.
Getting Licensed
Whether you enroll in a licensing class at a local college, take an online course, or attend classes at a real estate firm in which you expect to work, getting licensed as a real estate agent can be done within only a few months. However, study hard for the licensing exam, since many people often need more than one attempt to pass.
Enjoy People
To be a successful agent, you must enjoy dealing with people from all walks of life. By having a passion for helping others and gaining a reputation for paying attention to even the smallest of details, you'll find yourself quickly gaining many
referral leads.
Income Planning
Once many new agents begin their careers, they assume the commissions will start rolling in immediately. However, that rarely happens. As a result, most experts suggest new agents have an income plan for their first six months on the job. This can include either starting your career with six months of savings, keeping your current job and starting your real estate career part-time, or relying on a spouse or other family member to help you financially until you real estate career takes off.
Embrace Technology
While you will still need to have many face-to-face conversations with people to be a successful real estate agent, it is also extremely important to embrace technology if you want your career to soar. Not only does this include having your own website, which can help generate
referral leads, but also investing in a top-of-the-line smartphone. By doing so, you'll be able to respond to client requests in a matter of moments, which can often mean the difference in landing a client or losing out to another agent.
Persistence and Tenacity
As a real estate agent, you need to be persistent and tenacious. However, these qualities must also be tempered with common sense and business knowledge. If you are too aggressive, you may discourage some clients from using your services. However, if you are not aggressive enough, you may also lose out on a lucrative deal. By knowing when to move forward or back off a bit, you will gain a reputation as a top agent.