A real estate agent is someone who sells and buys properties on behalf of his or her clients, and also gives advice and negotiates with real estate sellers and buyers on their behalf. But, what does it take to be a real estate agent?
Is there anything special you have to do to become one? And, what do they actually do on a day-to-day basis? In this article, we’ll look at these questions and more to help you decide if becoming a real estate agent is the right career choice for you.
Research Houses
Researching houses for sale is one of your most important duties as a real estate agent. Before you can help clients buy or sell, you must first know what’s available on the market.
To do that, you have to research—ideally, before any buyers are actually shopping. How do you find homes for sale?
Begin by locating places that are being listed with agents in your area. Make sure to keep an eye out for under contract and off-market listings; many home sellers prefer to work with private real estate brokers who don’t list their properties publicly.
Then it all comes down to looking at pictures and videos and getting more info online: house value estimators, neighborhood crime statistics, local schools and more. You want to know everything about every property so that when buyers start shopping, you’re ready to recommend just the right ones.
And once prospective homeowners begin touring properties with you, you need to pay attention so that your advice matches up with what they really want in a home. Which bedrooms should be bigger? What street feels safest? What amenities are worth paying extra for?
These questions make up much of a real estate agent’s job description.
Network
While real estate agencies are known for helping people buy or sell homes, they are also part of an enormous network that includes attorneys, designers, contractors and other professionals that could be valuable contacts later on.
That’s why it’s important to make connections with agents at your local agency early on—even if you’re not quite ready to buy or sell yet.
Start asking questions about what it takes to succeed in their field; build relationships by connecting with others through LinkedIn (if you don’t have one already, set up a profile ASAP); and keep tabs on trends in real estate via sites like Zillow (the Z stands for Zealot!) or Yahoo Finance.
If all goes well, one day you might find yourself surrounded by potential clients instead of potential home buyers.
Oversee Listings
Real estate agents are responsible for overseeing their clients’ listings. They meet with clients to discuss their listing, then post it on websites, apps, and through other channels to attract interested buyers.
While online search plays an important role in attracting potential buyers, real estate agents are responsible for contacting prospective buyers by phone or email directly. Many realtors also show properties in person.
Finally, real estate agents work closely with mortgage brokers who can help consumers secure financing if they decide to buy property. All of these tasks are overseen by real estate agents, helping them see deals through from start to finish.
Negotiate Deals
A real estate agent (or realtor) is responsible for supervising and executing transactions, including buying and selling of properties.
A good realtor can help you find your dream home or sell your current property quickly and efficiently. This post explains how to work with a realtor as well as what duties they perform throughout each transaction. It also gives advice on choosing a great realtor to represent you.
1.) Choose an experienced realtor that fits into your style of working best.
Have them walk through your house beforehand, providing suggestions about staging it in order to get it sold faster. Get someone who makes you feel comfortable when negotiating deals on houses since they are essentially in charge of everything until the sale is finalized.
2.) Check the comparables.
A good realtor will provide you with multiple comparable listings (i.e., homes for sale in your area) so that you can estimate how much your property may be worth and create appropriate selling prices for your home.
3.) Get prequalified.
The first step after selling your home is getting pre-approved by a lender; many times, prospective buyers won’t even look at properties unless there is proof of pre-approval.
4.) If possible, try to sell your house quickly.
In order to minimize expenses such as maintenance and mortgage payments, you should try to sell your home as fast as you can. Make sure to hire a stager if need be in order to make your property seem more appealing.
Supervise Transactions
Your job as a real estate agent is to help people sell their homes and find new ones.
This often involves managing negotiations with multiple parties, checking for and making necessary repairs on homes, and moving items in and out of homes to make them presentable for showings.
After you put an offer in writing on a house, you’ll also be responsible for supervising inspections, appraisals and title searches to ensure that everything goes smoothly after closing.
You may even help buyers find contractors to remodel their new homes before they move in. Overall, your day-to-day activities can vary significantly depending on how much individual attention you give each client and transaction.
Thinking of buying or selling your home?
The first thing you’ll need to do is hire a real estate agent.
Your agent can help you prepare your home for sale by giving valuable advice about getting it in its best condition possible.
When it comes time to sell, your agent will guide you through each step of an often complicated process. And if you’re buying, your real estate professional can provide valuable information about specific properties and neighborhoods that could give you an edge over other buyers trying to find their next dream home.
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