There is hardly a person who would not agree that buying and selling real estate is a troublesome business. The buying process, like the selling process, requires time, full involvement and some legal knowledge. And if when selling, the main thing for the owner is to get the amount he expects, then when buying, there are much more important points.
At the same time, an additional difficulty is that, after all, real estate is not bought and sold often enough to thoroughly understand the issue. This means that the risk of getting into trouble is quite high. In order for the transaction to take place quickly, safely and legally, you need to find a qualified assistant. This is exactly what a realtor – a real estate specialist – will become. How to become a realtor from scratch, what are the advantages and disadvantages of such a profession - we will consider in this article.
Story
The history of this profession goes back to Ancient Greece. It was here that private land holdings and their sale first appeared. They were marked with signs driven into the ground with the inscription “Mortgage”. They began to identify property because of debt obligations. In fact, this is how the boundaries of the plots appeared. Then people moved on to public auctions, and subsequently the first realtors appeared. In more modern society, the word "realtor" was originally associated with stock brokers, who acted in the same role, only between companies and shareholders. They also earned money, only interest from transactions on securities. The modern concept of “realtor” is already associated exclusively with the real estate market. In Russia, professional intermediaries were called brokers. This word came from Germany and was introduced by Peter the Great. At the legislative level, in 1917, the position of government broker was officially approved for the first time in the Commerce Collegium. This is practically the post of the country's main realtor, responsible for the processes of distribution and exchange of residential and utility properties. Nowadays, we all know real estate agents who accompany us throughout all transactions with apartments, houses and offices. He checks documentation, makes presentations and searches for real estate that can satisfy our requests. Realtors are universal workers who will help sell even the most unprofitable buildings.
A course for success or getting rid of expectations
There is a common stereotype that realtors get paid a lot of money for doing simple work. Due to misleading ideas about this craft, many try to master it and often fail. However, younger generations are increasingly entering the profession with an understanding of what a real estate professional actually is. Moreover, many students, after graduating from university, are initially aimed at working in this field. Discussions on one of the forums of the Abiturient.pro website about this issue speak for themselves. 11th graders are interested in what it takes to work as a realtor and what awaits them in the future.
What do more mature people think about the real estate profession when they decide to try their hand at this business? Irina Gudieva, head of the recruitment and adaptation department of the Real Estate and Mortgage Center “Etazhi”, comments:
“In my opinion, candidates fall into several categories: expectations are lower than reality; expectations equal reality; expectations are higher than reality. Nowadays there are a lot of applicants whose initial expectations are lower than reality. The problem is that there is no correct understanding of the level of development of the market, as well as an idea of what scale a real estate company can actually achieve.
Among those who successfully work as realtors today, there are people from various fields. Some came to this business due to life circumstances, others were interested in trying to realize themselves in this field. In any case, no matter what determines this choice, the accumulated experience has a positive impact on future work. However, the problem of not understanding whether it is worth entering this “sea” continues to exist. Let's work on the mistakes that arise in the mind and try to correct the picture of the perception of the real estate world.
Description
The profession of a realtor is the ability to do everything. One person must combine a sales manager, a lawyer, an economist, a psychologist and a diplomat. All these qualities are necessary for successful completion of transactions. The most important thing for a realtor is his versatility and ability to adapt.
The responsibilities of a specialist in this profession include presenting real estate to potential buyers, preparing all necessary documentation and verifying its authenticity. Association of seller and buyer, execution of the transaction. At the same time, a realtor can additionally help in re-registration of ownership of real estate, which is a big plus for him.
In addition, a good realtor knows how to correctly present both the advantages and disadvantages of the objects being sold. Knows all the rules and techniques of successful sales, knows how to work with objections, successfully overcoming them. After a transaction with a true professional, clients will always be satisfied and will recommend him to all their friends.
Where to study to be a realtor
At the moment, there is no separate direction for the specialty “realtor” in Russian universities. If you have a higher education, the profession can be mastered in special courses, both at state universities and at large companies involved in real estate transactions.
If we are talking about studying after 11th grade with subsequent employment in the real estate industry, it makes sense to obtain a legal education in the field of property law.
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What do you have to do at work and specializations?
The work of a realtor is directly related to communicating with people. It is important to be able to please them and clearly understand what they want. The work of a realtor consists of the following mandatory stages:
- Meeting clients and presenting yourself and the services of the company you work for. It is important to remember that there are many realtors, but only one client. Give the client the opportunity to feel that he is important to you. This is actually the ability to sell yourself as a service, to prove to the client that he needs you.
- Finding out the client's needs and preferences. These include area, type of property, primary or secondary market, for yourself or for business, etc. The more you learn, the more likely it is that you will soon find exactly what the client needs. Check the infrastructure, number of floors - everything that will help you sell, right down to the view from the window.
- Search for relevant properties for sale. This is the most labor-intensive process, requiring travel, inspections and constant calling of potential sellers. This stage is quite stressful, since realtors are not highly respected in Russia. This is where your stress tolerance and willingness to deal with objections will come in handy. After all, the more suitable properties you find, the higher the likelihood of successfully closing the transaction.
- Showing objects to the buyer and presenting them. It is important to say not only the pros, but also the cons of the object. But you need to be able to present it correctly. In the skillful mouth of a realtor, even the biggest disadvantage can become an advantage that will help make a sale.
- Pre-sale verification of documents and preparation of a purchase and sale agreement. This is an important routine job that requires basic legal knowledge and skills.
- Making a deal and making a profit. Realtors work on a percentage of the transaction amount.
- Sale of additional services, such as assistance in re-registration of documents. This proposal is especially relevant if the client consciously purchases residential real estate with the goal of converting it into a business, and it is quite difficult to obtain the necessary permits from government agencies without connections. Realtors have an established mechanism for working with officials.
Such a high range of responsibilities fully justifies the percentage that a realtor receives for a completed transaction, because all these services are worth it. By completing one or two good deals a month, you will receive a salary that will surprise you with its large size.
How to become a realtor
Where to start a career as a realtor? Preferably with legal education and specialized courses. Despite the fact that each real estate company has its own requirements for employees, legal education is the basis on which the profession of a real estate agent is built.
Completing special courses, usually lasting no more than 2 months, will certainly be a bonus when finding a job. However, in any case, becoming the best realtor will only be possible after several years of hard work in the market and interaction with clients.
Realtors maintain irregular work schedules: they present apartments in the evenings and on weekends
Where to get training
In Russia at the moment there are no specialized educational institutions that train real estate agents. The realtor's higher education is legal. But many people work without it, which is why the query “realtor training from scratch” is very popular in search engines.
Such courses are a good option to learn everything a realtor needs to know to work in practice. It is worth choosing a course whose program provides a strong theoretical basis with the study of legislative acts in the field of real estate and the conclusion of contracts with the development of practical skills (searching and retaining clients, market monitoring).
Finding realtor courses in your region can be problematic, so you should pay attention to online training. A full course is better than a one- or two-day training.
Where to look for work
Realtors work independently - as individual entrepreneurs or LLCs - or as employees in agencies. The first option is advantageous in that the agent takes all the money he earns for himself. When working in a company, you will have to give part of the money you earn to your employer. But on the other hand, clients trust firms much more than individual entrepreneurs.
Beginning realtors are better off working for an agency for some time. The specifics of the work are such that vacancies for real estate agents almost never appear on employment portals. After completing your studies, it is better to take the initiative by sending your resume to several organizations.
If you have a legal education and special training, as well as work experience, it will be more profitable to register your business and work for yourself. This is possible after just 1-2 years of work in the agency: when the specialist has already studied the market, gained the necessary experience in concluding contracts and finding clients.
What problems do newbies face?
What does a novice realtor need to know to make a successful start in the market? The main problem for new real estate agents is high competition. Several firms and individual entrepreneurs compete for one client. It is really difficult to compete and get clients in such conditions. This is one of the reasons why it is better to start a career in an organization rather than on your own.
Many newcomers are not ready for the fact that all claims of the parties to the transaction will be directed to them , as an intermediary, and not to each other. If one of them turns out to be unscrupulous, the responsibility will also fall on the agent. Beginning specialists should pay increased attention to their own contract for the provision of services, do only what is documented and take maximum care of their business reputation.
A realtor simultaneously conducts several transactions: only in this way can you earn really solid money
Who is this profession suitable for?
The profession of a realtor is suitable for active and hardworking people – workaholics. The working day is irregular, so a day off can turn into a weekday in a matter of minutes if a potential client calls. A realtor's earnings directly depend on how hard he works. After all, his income depends on the number of clients.
Communication skills and the ability to restrain oneself are important. You should always smile and, even in the most unpleasant situations, remain calm, pretending that this was expected and everything is going according to plan.
A realtor must have excellent organizational skills. He is involved in presentations and organizing his work.
Demand
This profession is always in demand. This is quite a difficult job, and many people give up halfway to success, unable to withstand the difficulties. If you decide to become a realtor, remember that this is work for results. Be prepared for difficulties and obstacles.
You can always find realtor vacancies on any website or in a recruitment agency.
How much do people working in this profession earn?
Realtors receive a percentage of the transaction. Only a percentage. There is usually no bet or it is minimal. The agency earns from 3 percent of the transaction amount, while the realtor gets 25-50 percent of the agency's profits. For example, you sold an apartment for $1,000,000, while the agency receives $30,000, and you, accordingly, $15,000. And all this in one transaction. The more properties you sell or rent, the more profit you make.
The real estate profession is one of the highest paid in the world. Real workaholics, rapidly moving towards their goal, quickly earn substantial capital.
