Work as a realtor: reviews, training, salary

The profession of a realtor has its own specifics. According to statistics, out of every ten who started training after 3 months, no more than five people will remain. Six months later, only three. And only one out of three will be able to earn more than the average salary. But then the income will allow him in the future to acquire his own housing.

The Internet and SMS are full of ads like "Get a valuable profession and start earning a month from 2000 dollars" or "Earn your own apartment in 2 years." Let's try to figure out how true such reviews about working as a realtor are true.

What is alarming?

Training of realtors from scratch is offered free of charge, which always impresses the consumer. Its term is indicated equal to one and a half to two weeks - somehow not solid for the formation of a specialist with such decent future earnings. For comparison, they have been studying law at a university for 5 years. If you enter a serious law university on a paid basis, then the amount spent over the entire training period will be no less than 1,000,000 rubles. Then a certified lawyer will be able to receive an average salary of 40-50 thousand rubles.

A simple arithmetic calculation allows you to establish that the money invested in training will pay off no earlier than two or two and a half years of hard work. Only after this can we talk about net income. To earn a monthly income of $ 2,000, a lawyer will have to work hard. Why does a pass to the profession of a realtor look so comparatively affordable? Let's try to figure it out.

How to become a real estate specialist?

What exactly needs to be done to take place in this profession? How to become a realtor? First of all, to get a job in one of the promising real estate companies (having successfully passed an interview in it). Maximum honesty and openness are recommended. Do not try to mislead future employers regarding past successes and existing professional qualities. Such a deception will be discovered sooner or later.

Each agency trains its employees in its own way. How to find out how successful a particular technique is? Pay attention to statistics: a company that has existed for several years and has trained a serious number of specialists will most likely offer you really relevant information.

Often, training is carried out simultaneously with work, that is, the theoretical knowledge gained is immediately applied in practical activities. The main difficulty here is to learn how to obtain legal information, etc., in a language that is accessible to clients. In fact, the training of a real estate agent continues uninterruptedly throughout his career. Of course, most techniques and technologies can be found in magazines and the Internet. But without practicing them in real transactions with clients, it is better not to dream of success.

Getting started …

The first shock for a novice realtor, as a rule, is a "sudden" discovery - he is not the only one here. A lot of people are working in the endless field of real estate services, and all of them are competitors. Why is this profession so attractive?

The "golden" time for real estate agents was 2007-2008. At this time, housing quickly grew in price, a mortgage loan at the bank could be obtained without problems, the services of a realtor were appreciated, and there was a strong opinion about the easy and quick earnings of a representative of this profession. Many people came to it who did not find themselves in other areas of activity.

But with the onset of the crisis of 2008-2009, prices fell sharply, it became much more difficult to look for buyers and, as a result, there was an outflow of personnel from the profession. Reviews about working as a realtor have acquired a negative connotation. However, experts believe that even today a capable agent can earn more than representatives of a number of other professions.

The problem of the majority of those who came to this sphere is that, dreaming of serious earnings, people are actually not ready to invest their own forces and time in adequate proportions. And without such investments, reaching a serious income level and staying on it will not work.

Where do realtors come from?

This profession is not one of those for which they have been preparing since childhood. Rarely has anyone considered for years how to become a realtor. So far, almost everyone who got here are random people. Among the successful agents are former representatives of various industries and specialties. Something pushed on this life circumstances. Others were interested in the process of working as a real estate specialist. At least 20% of current professional agents were initially motivated by a desire to resolve their own housing issues.

When the market economy was just in its infancy (in the early nineties), each of the real estate agents was a pioneer by definition. There are not many reviews about working as a realtor. The subtleties of the profession were comprehended exclusively by experience. In the same way, understanding came of how suitable this work is for you.

Today, the real estate market is more civilized and predictable, but the dropout rate is not decreasing. Why are so many not doing this job? You can understand this by understanding the essence of the profession and identifying the main mistakes that most beginners make.

About the problems of novice agents

We will not talk about obvious irresponsibility, unprofessionalism or excessively low sociability - we cannot succeed anywhere with these qualities. According to experts, the main mistake of beginners can be called a lack of desire to "dig" - to understand the most important fundamentals of the profession of a realtor. A significant part of agents is poorly aware that their most important product is personal time.

The person hiring a realtor instructs him to solve a specific problem that requires certain time and energy costs. The success of the first meeting with the client depends on a well-constructed conversation. An agent who has taken an aggressive and hostile position, “First we sign the contract, then we start working,” usually remains alone.

As experienced and successful specialists testify, one has to spend time not only on the direct services of a realtor. Housing operations for the majority of the population are associated with many personal circumstances, sometimes very dramatic. The agent must temporarily become a trustee and adviser to his own client. People at a subconscious level expect not only formal support of the transaction, but also emotional support. Customer reviews of realtors are often largely "tied" to the so-called human factor.

What's important

Thus, a professional realtor is required to combine a considerable number of skills and abilities - knowledge of the market, subtleties of legislation, the ability to promote the interests of clients in the necessary instances, the ability to quickly collect and execute the necessary documents. At the same time, such an agent is a good psychologist, ready to listen to complaints, for example, about an unfair division of real estate, etc. Smart and far-sighted realtors will never refuse to give the client half an hour of a telephone conversation with comfort words, even if this is not at the right time. Those who are categorically not ready to spend their time in this way are unlikely to become a true professional in their field. In any case, he will not see valuable recommendations from clients.

Such customer focus should not be confused with elementary spinelessness. Soft-skinned and indecisive, following the lead of others, there is nothing to do in this profession. From all sides, the agent is tested - distrust, anxiety, sometimes direct aggression. People trying to make a real estate deal are often overwhelmed with anxiety, sometimes without real justification. The task of a professional realtor in this case is to show confidence and sometimes toughness, calm the owners and take on the role of leader.

How disappointed in the profession

Work can sometimes seem deceptively simple. The situation with the real estate market is changing on the go. At times, sales can be obtained easily, and a person mistakenly believes that this work is almost “free”. Reviews about working as a realtor are the most enthusiastic. But with the change of scenery, the intensification of competition in the agent market, it turns out that most are not able to cope with the new rules of the game. After the crisis, the struggle goes for each client. They run after them, they persuade them, sometimes even inappropriate behavior is tolerated.

Another reason why relations with the real estate profession do not develop is a lack of patience. Not everyone is able to wait for the declared income. The remuneration of a realtor of a large agency, as a rule, is from 15 to 40% of the commission paid by the client. The minimum percentage is assigned to beginners. Among other things, due to lack of experience, they cannot afford to make a large number of transactions; accordingly, the level of income remains low.

Most agencies do not have a fixed salary - realtors work exclusively for interest. Somewhere there is a fixed salary, but it is quite a ridiculous amount. The most difficult one can rightly be called the first deal. A man is full of information and his own emotions. Experience is completely absent. The company will pay the realtor without experience the minimum fee - 10-15% of the income. Thus, the first three to four months of hard work, by definition, turn out to be “lean”, which is very annoying for new realtors.

Be patient…

According to experts, the average time to the first transaction (we are talking about the secondary market) is 3-6 months. At the same time, people usually decide for their preferences (whether the chosen profession is suitable or not) for half a year or a year. In this area, the main indicators of success are the number of transactions and, accordingly, the realtor’s earnings in monetary terms.

Experienced agents argue that in the sales of the same secondary real estate, it is possible to “unwind” to conduct from 2 to 3 transactions every month. At least one of them will be difficult (the agent leads it from the very beginning to the conclusion of the contract), in other transactions its role is accompaniment. If such a specialist works for himself, he has a chance to earn about 150 thousand rubles a month. As an employee of the agency, he will receive much less income.

According to professionals, those professionals who can handle complex, sometimes conflicting negotiations have the highest earnings. The most successful agents are able to earn from 200 to 250 thousand rubles per month (on average), but such experienced professionals in the total mass are no more than 5-7%.

What to be prepared for

Realtors, as has long been known, feed their feet. Indeed, for the sale of any object you have to run a lot. First, an ad is given, then a buyer is searched, numerous views are conducted (most of which lead to nothing). And only when the deal is ready, does a new stage begin - running around in instances.

By turning your legs to the fullest, you can make good money. The amount of commission charged from the client depends on the difficulty level of the sale of the property displayed on it. If the requirement of the seller-owner is to sell the apartment in a short time, and the object is also not liquid, the agent has the right to request a larger fee.

The percentage of a realtor is also affected by the degree to which he is involved in a particular transaction - whether he leads it from the beginning to the end or simply brings a new client to the agency. The more brokers "invest" in the process, the higher they earn.

The sales plans established by the authorities for their employees cannot always be translated into real life. Compared to a real estate agent, a private broker is able to earn an order of magnitude more - because he does not have to share with the employer. But for real success, such a single agent can not do without a huge customer base. It does not hurt to have your own people in the same agencies that are able to become suppliers of profitable orders.

Who is luckier?

"Golden" realtors called those who are engaged in the sale of luxury housing. Their percentage of commissions, as a rule, is greater, and the "value" of a realtor can be calculated in amounts of several hundred thousand dollars per month. But if business-class real estate is considered to be "gold residential", the economy-class housing rental segment is among the least profitable. Such work is usually entrusted to beginners. The deals here are relatively simple, it’s difficult to make mistakes, there are few serious papers for signing. But this work requires a lot of personal time, impressions and legwork.

Any of the segments of real estate has its own specifics of sales. For example, suburban facilities are considered the most profitable for sale among brokers. But at the same time, to sell such an object is a rather laborious affair. A client who intends to purchase housing in a cottage village is usually very picky. Most often, people have been saving for years to buy a house in the countryside. They approach the deal responsibly and very carefully, unlike those who, for example, sell a city apartment inherited from their grandfather. In addition, cottages are more expensive than apartments, and people with large sums are subconsciously more difficult to part with. They are confidently traded and require an individual approach. To get along with such a client is sometimes only possible for an experienced sales manager.

Where can I find a job?

Where exactly can a real estate agent work? As mentioned above, in addition to private practice, they can be employees of real estate agencies. In addition, representatives of such a profession can be found in an investment company or in any organization whose activities are related to real estate operations.

We list the main responsibilities of realtors:

1. Collect information on the property sold or leased.
2. To study the housing market, find out the demand for its specific categories.
3. Negotiate on behalf of customers about the purchase, sale or rental of real estate.
4. Monitor sites where ads for such transactions are possible.
5. Register possible offers from potential customers.
6. Search for buyers for specific objects.
7. In the same way, select tenants for certain objects.
8. To acquaint customers with a bank of offers with the selection of the most suitable and advantageous options for them.
9. Conclude agreements with homeowners and conduct transactions on all real estate transactions.
10. Advise your clients on all possible issues during the process.
11. Protect the interests of customers, keep documents submitted for the transaction, ensure data confidentiality and their complete safety.
12. Report on all work done.

Let's talk about the benefits of the profession

First of all, it is in a free working schedule. A realtor can work after lunch or in the evenings. After all, most meetings with clients are scheduled for a time after 17-18 hours. Often, for this reason, young mothers sitting on maternity leave come into the profession. Thanks to the free schedule, they manage to plan the day taking into account the needs of both family and work.

Another undoubted plus is the lack of a “ceiling” of the salary that the employer appoints for you. After all, any boss is able to find the right argument and not pay you your legitimate money. Here you are your own boss and your income - in direct proportion to the number of transactions.

For private entrepreneurs, realtors, the ability to rent a room for their own office not far from home is important. In addition, many cite as an advantage the emergence of a wide circle of contacts, new acquaintances and contacts. There are no age restrictions in this profession. Even a pensioner will be able to earn money in this area if he is energetic and competent enough.

Work implies a constant growth of professionalism in the chosen field, that is, the agent has something to strive for and where to develop. There are all kinds of advanced training courses, and the experience gained is practically invaluable. A specialist in almost any field can be retrained for a realtor.

But what are the disadvantages?

First of all, the lack of a fixed salary amount. Another big minus is significant difficulties in finding clients. Sometimes for this you have to make truly grandiose efforts. Still, as already mentioned, the lack of quick money, especially in the first months of work. Often, a realtor complains about the negative attitude of clients suspecting him of fraud and selfish intentions. Many annoying lack of entries in the workbook.

The main thing to strive for is to overcome the first most difficult six months in this profession. Over time, the contact database is growing, the number of customers is increasing and the transaction and sometimes begin to "come to hand" themselves.

Where to find realtor courses for free

Where are they trained for realtors? Sales professionals need theoretical training. What are the requirements for them in terms of education? It is possible to get this profession at a university, but not everyone can afford a higher education. There are a number of reasons for this, mainly due to lack of time or money. In addition, the university diploma itself (as well as other qualification documents of a realtor) in this case is not the main thing. For the private practice of an agent, it is practically not useful. The same applies to college education.

A good option may be distance learning in the same college, college or university. By the results of it you get a diploma, while saving a significant amount of time and money.

An alternative option is to attend realtor courses free of charge with the selected agency. As already mentioned, most of them independently organize such training. Successful candidates are hired by themselves.

Another opportunity is to enroll in courses or participate in trainings and seminars conducted by companies and corporations, the scope of which is real estate operations. Most often, the teachers of such seminars are professionals who have already achieved some success in this area. Courses are conducted by them with the aim of training beginners and at the same time improving the skills of their own employees.

Most of these seminars and trainings are paid, giving the results of passing a certificate of acquired qualifications. Mastering the profession is also possible in the training center, where you will be issued a certificate of assignment as a realtor or real estate agent.

We repeat once again - the main thing in the work of a specialist in this field is not the prestige of the “crusts”, but real success in practice, which allows us to talk about the employee as a true professional in his field.

What is required from an agent first of all

What skills and professional qualities must a successful realtor have? Real estate agent - a diverse person. He combines the profession of a lawyer (solves a lot of legal issues that arise in connection with the competent execution of documents on transactions), an economist (understands the supply and demand on the housing market, predicts the rate of increase in housing prices), a psychologist (finds a common language with clients, focuses on the needs of specific people, knows how to convince and defend their own positions), an advertiser (knows how to sell the desired object to a specific buyer, compiles ads of an exclusive nature, understands the types of advertising in correspondence with the audience).

Additional, but quite important skills include skills in handling modern computer programs, as well as office equipment (scanner, fax, printer), as well as knowledge of a foreign language or two and the status of a motorist, coupled with the presence of a car.

Who is this profession suitable for?

What about the personal qualities a real estate agent needs? As in any work, it is primarily about organization and responsibility, determination and the ability to quickly resolve issues that arise. In addition, a good education, communication skills and high stress resistance are extremely important for a realtor. Perseverance is also an essential quality, the main thing is not to go too far. In addition, this profession implies a certain degree of creativity - after all, sometimes only a creative approach helps to solve professional problems.

What can you say about a career in this profession? Career growth here is a direct result of ambitions and aspirations. There are no promotions as such. Rather, we can talk about a “horizontal” career related to personal, professional, financial growth and building a reputation in relevant circles.

What is the Russian Guild of Realtors?

In 1992, a national organization was created, bringing together members of real estate market professionals. She received the name of the Russian Guild of Realtors. About 1200 companies entered it. RGR calls its main task the development of a real estate market in a civilized form in our country. All its members in their own activities are required to be guided by a code of ethics and professional standards.

Among the tasks of the RGR is the development of legislative acts, the content of which is the regulation of the real estate market. Its members - agents and brokers - are on the lists of the Federal Register of Certified Real Estate Specialists of the Russian Federation. This register combines the entire set of certified companies, as well as certified brokers and private realtors of Russia with their contact details and database of offers.

On the official website of the RGR, in addition to information about the proposed property with displays on the map, you can find analytical materials and a lot of useful information.