How to Become a Real Estate Agent

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So you want to get into Real Estate!

Maybe you are interested in being your own boss and having a flexible schedule, or you’re attracted by the great average salary and satisfaction that comes from helping someone find a new home for their family. Whatever reason you have, Real Estate is a great business and can be relatively easy to get into, but it’s important that you follow the right steps.

  • Save up a nest egg
    • This is very important because you will mainly be spending the first few months of your real estate career building up a client base and finding your niche, so you want to make sure you have some savings to cover you for a bit.
  • Find out your state’s requirements
    • Other than being over the age of 18 and a US Citizen, every state has different education requirements and certification courses for becoming a real estate agent. Contact your state’s real estate commission to see what exactly you need to be licensed in your state.
  • Get to know your market
    • Take stock of what the area you’d like to work in is like. Is it mostly young renters or established families? Is it a neighborhood of timeshares for snowbirds or penthouse apartments? The more you know about the price ranges and types of real estate in your area, the more prepared you’ll be to help your clients.
  • Find a broker
    • Unless you become a broker yourself, you’ll need to find one to work with. Though you will technically work for yourself, the broker is the umbrella company you will work under. Find one with a good reputation that people trust. That doesn’t necessarily mean go with the famous ones, because you might be happier or find more success working for a local real estate broker. It just depends on what kind of market you want to focus in and whether you personally feel good about working with them.
  • Make friends with someone in the field
    • When you’re first starting out you will probably have LOTS of questions and unique scenarios that you’ll want advice on. If you can find someone who’s been in real estate for some time to become your mentor, you’ll have someone to go to when you have those questions.
  • Market & Network
    • No one is going to hire you if they don’t know who you are! At first it will probably seem weird, asking your friends and family if they know anyone who is looking for or selling a house but once it starts bringing in clients, you’ll understand why it’s necessary. Make business cards, print ads and fliers, anything to get your name and face out there.

Being a real estate agent can be a very interesting and gratifying career, so best of luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[-jeg]

What do real estate agents do for buyers?

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RealEstateLogoBeing a real estate agent is one rewarding career and has lots of benefits. Real estate agents assist home buyers especially the first time homebuyers in finding homes and properties for sale. They usually help people in collecting information about the place and on their soon to be neighbors. They help first time buyers to identify property values and negotiate prices to ensure that deals will push through.

A real estate agent should also assist buyers who are looking for a place to live to be aware of the possible problems of living on that particular place. They should also how to check several issues that pertains on the land, homeowners association or insurances. They help to solve issues that will somehow affect the selling price of a home and assist them to make small changes to increase the home’s value.

A real estate agent also helps buyer to identify what type of home they want to have especially first time buyers. First time buyers may not know what they want but they have a gut feel what they want. Real estate agents know what houses will have a better fit to a buyer and what are the reasons why they will buy the house.

One of the most important functions of a real estate agent is to negotiate transactions and help the buyer to settle that transactions. The agent negotiates a good deal for the buyer as well as educating them about its market. Before the buyer purchase the house, the real estate agent usually work with other people who will ensure that all of the documents has been completed and properly filled up. This work might involve working with bank managers, assessors and brokers.

For a first time buyer, they should ask the help of a real estate agent to provide them with information about the sale of the homes, how long that home is in the market and what are the ins and outs of the real estate market. A real estate agent should also bear in mind, though much help is being given to the buyer, it is ultimately the buyer’s decision what house to buy and what price and terms they wish to have. Buyers on the other hand should trust their real estate agent in educating them on the home being offered.

Real estate agents should also be able to work with other professionals. They work with attorneys or other company representatives that will help them in the buying process. Real estate agents are not lawyers so they need to work with these people to ensure smooth transactions and get help in tax advises and other legal issues. Real estate agents can give background information for homes but they are not experts and will suggest to the buyers certain services on other professional as the need arises.

Real estate agent also helps clients who would want to sell the house and help them set its price. The price is usually based on sales of the same house in the area. Real estate agent will also advise the seller on what to prepare for the house to be on display and make the home more appealing for soon to be buyers. The agent should also advise the seller to keep the house clean, do some basic repairs and decorations and painting the walls. The real estate agent will help the seller advertise the home to the public. If someone is interested in buying the house, the real estate agent arranges a tripping to the buyer. They can also have an open house where anyone can come to talk a look at the house for sale and ask questions and information about the home. When an interested buyer wants the house, the real estate agent will then advise the seller whether to accept it and then will process the sale if it was accepted.

A good real estate agent talks the truth to his clients. Buyers would want to hear the truth about the homes they want to buy. If there are odors, clutter and dirt in the house you are selling it is best to tell the truth and suggest ways to help improve it. A good real estate agent should not be afraid to tell the truth and be rewarded for it.

A real estate agent should be prepared to give advice and guidance. He should be prepared to help the seller highlight the positive image of the house and try to help eliminating the bad things about the house. He should be able to name few people to do the cleaning and do the renovations. He should have contacts who have businesses that will help them clean and make the house look good.

A real estate agent should give feedback and follow ups. The buyer needs to see what is being sold. Real estate agent should make it a point to follow up the buyers interested in buying the house. He should also be available whatever time the buyer wants to visit the place. They should know when to keep in touch with clients and give feedbacks particularly on its price and house conditions. An agent should also supply information on competitors’ houses that are in the market. They should do research on other properties to ensure that the houses being sold are priced properly.

A good real estate agent should be able to help clients from choosing up to the purchase of the house. This house is your client’s place to unwind and relax, you should make it a friendly and cozy place for them to enjoy their money’s worth.

Real estate agents should know how to work with people, should have an understanding of how to work with them giving their best to assist clients to arrive at the right decision of which house to buy making them satisfied with the choices they made. With patience, dedication and hard work, a real estate agent will be successful in his chosen career.