How to become a real estate salesman

A real estate salesman, employed by a real estate firm, is a negotiator who is responsible for selling property for his client. In effect, a real estate salesman acts as a middleman responsible for completing the transaction between the seller and the buyer of the property.

Requirements to be a real estate salesman

Although there are specific technical aspects and knowledge required to become a real estate salesman - gained through real estate board approved education and examinations - there is no doubt this is essentially “sales” job and therefore non-technical skills are just as important as having the ability to pass your real estate exams.

Communication

• Now, this is no job for a person with shy exterior. This job requires people that are extremely talkative and know how to sell. You have to have the ability to interact with the seller and the potential buyer at various times during the course of a sale.

• You have to have the ability to convince buyers the property is right for them. So being highly persuasive is a great advantage and is a demonstrable characteristic of a real estate salesman.

• A person with a lot of sales experience in other areas may be a good candidate to become a real estate salesman as long as they are prepared to take the real estate exams.

• A good deal of patience is required on the part of a real estate salesman because not all sales will go through.

Computing skills

Today, a real estate salesman will spend as much time, if not more, at his/her computer than actually visiting property or showing potential buyers around.

A basic/good knowledge of common office programs such as word processor, spreadsheets, database and the internet are often a prerequisite for working in this industry.

Real estate broker exams and education

• Real estate salesmen are required to go through education in a board approved real estate school.

• Next, you are required to pass a state specific examination. Almost all states in the US have slightly different regulations governing the real estate industry. A prospective real estate salesman is required to pass exams that are specific to the real estate laws governing a particular state.

These exams test a candidate's knowledge of rules and regulations and other technical aspects associated with the real estate market.

Exam preparation

Make sure you prepare for real estate exams that are specific to the sate you intend to work in as a real estate salesman. Although there are general exams, many states require state specific exams because of the different ways the real estate markets are regulated in different states.

Continuing education and renewing license

A real estate salesman is required to go through continuing education through tests because, typically, a real estate salesman holds his/her license for two years. The tests are done to renew the license. This is partly because there are continuous changes to legislation or regulation affecting the real estate industry.

Finding a job

Passing the real estate exams and obtaining a real estate license is the first step in becoming a real estate salesman because it still requires that you find a job.

Fortunately, if you meet some of the educational and non-educational requirements then finding a job won't be too difficult.

Unless, you do a course with a provider that will place you with a real estate sales firm, in which case you will probably need to pay thousands of dollars for the course, it will be left to your prerogative to find a job.

Classifieds

There are lots of jobs for real estate salesman advertised in the classifieds section of national and local newspapers.

Internet job sites

Everyday, many real estate jobs are posted by employers at online jobs sites like Monster, Hotjobs, Reed and others. Look through the appropriate section to locate jobs that meet your criteria. You will find jobs for new recruits as well as those that require more experience.

The Internet has made it very convenient to apply for jobs by posting your CV with popular job sites where if, jobs meeting your requirements come up, then you will be notified of such vacancies for you to look further into.

Recruitment agency

Another option is to visit a recruitment consultant and discuss your situation with them and they will be on the lookout for a job for you.

Salary

According to salary.com the median earnings for a real estate sales agent is just over $33,000, but the earnings vary substantially based on experience, employer and type of industry. Many earn well in excess of $100,000.

The salary earned by a real estate salesman is often based on a two-tier system. First, a salesman can expect to earn a flat monthly salary, which often varies from state to state, but there are also commission based earnings on the number of sales that you make.