Looking for a change, but don’t have the experience or skill set?
Careers in real estate allow you to start at the bottom and work your way up. It’s not uncommon to see successful salespeople take home three or four times the average Australian salary, even when the economy is not so robust.
With this in mind, you would think that everyone in the real estate industry would be happy and therefore there wouldn’t be any vacancies. However, sales staff turnover is surprisingly high. I think this is mainly due to the fact that salespeople need to be incredibly self-motivated to generate their own listings, buyers and ultimately, their own income.
From my perspective, real estate is an extremely fulfilling profession for those who take it seriously and work hard to keep their clients happy. It allows you to meet hundreds of different people, help them with important life decisions, and be rewarded for it both emotionally and financially.
You only need to complete a short course to get started as an Agent’s Representative. You would then be able to perform a variety of real estate roles under the supervision of a licensed estate agent, such as sales and property management.
The course consists of the following three units from the Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate):
- Work in the Real Estate Industry
- Identify Legal & Ethical Requirements of Property Management to complete agency work
- Identify Legal & Ethical Requirements of Property Sales to complete agency work
If you want to become a branch manager or open your own agency, you’ll need to complete the rest of Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate) to become a Licensed Estate Agent.
Throughout your career in real estate, there are also specialist courses that can be completed online or at various institutions around the state.
At Aitken Real Estate, we place a strong emphasis on learning and personal development and not just for our new team members. We provide both internal and external ongoing training to everyone, no matter his or her experience.
You really need to be sure when starting out in real estate because it can be a very challenging career if the training and work ethic fails. However, it can also be a rewarding one if you are self-motivated, hard-working, honest and enjoy networking and helping people. Make sure you weigh up the pros and cons before accepting any job offers.
Pros & cons of working in real estate
PRO: Your income isn’t limited by an hourly wage or a corporate-dictated salary range. As a real estate salesperson, your income is largely dictated by the time you invest.
CON: Getting your first sales to come in will take some time. Depending on the market and your existing relationships, your cash-flow direction may be out when you first begin as a salesperson in real estate.
PRO: Real estate agents aren’t chained to a desk 9-5, they’re out in the community, building relationships and getting listings. It’s a myth that real estate agents have to work crazy long hours. It all depends on how you approach the job, your organisation skills and dedication.
CON: You will need to work weekends and sometimes even after hours during the week.
PRO: You’re able to work independently, having more flexibility over your workday.
CON: Although working independently is great, you need to be self-motivated and driven to succeed in this kind of environment.
PRO: Buying a new home is the largest purchase most people will ever make and can be life changing. There’s a lot of satisfaction to be had when you negotiate successful real estate deals and your clients are happy at the end of the process.
CON: Buying and selling property is stressful for your clients. Things don’t always go as planned and deals sometimes fall through. You often need to be a hand-holder, a negotiator, and a shoulder to cry on for a lot of stressed-out people. Unhappy clients can spread the word just as fast as happy ones can.
