When it comes to becoming a real estate agent, there are several things that you have to keep in mind. After all, these property professionals are more than the training they undergo. They also have a commitment to excellence and their clients, as well as a dedication to continuous learning and improvement. Let’s look at the traits that exemplify these commitments and dedications in a bit more detail.
The Traits of Real Estate Agents
Resilience
One of the most critical traits of any real estate agent is their resilience in the face of adversity. JD Real Estate, in particular, can attest to the importance of this trait, as it makes a significant difference in the happiness and well-being of these professionals. Knowing that you will have to face odds that may be stacked against you can make some people thrive, and others fail, which is why it is so critical to have the resiliency to make it through.
Dedication
Dedication is also an important part of the journey to becoming a real estate agent. This isn’t a weekend warrior kind of job, and you will find it difficult to find success without putting in the effort. This means learning and understanding your market, how your clients think and what they want, and continually striving to be a better service provider than you were yesterday.
Continual Improvement
Continual improvement is a third trait that often says a lot about fresh-faced and experienced agents alike. Continual improvement isn’t just about learning better home design trends, understanding the ins and outs of your area or building strong and lasting relationships. But, it is also about all of those things too. In truth, continuous improvement is a state of mind that allows one to know their weaknesses and strengths and compensate for them both in equal measure.
What Do Real Estate Agents Do?
If you believe that you possess the traits described above, you are already on the journey to becoming an excellent agent. But, having the right attitude and beliefs is only one part of the equation. You must also understand what you will be expected to do in the run of a typical day as an agent. After all, you don’t want to be surprised by your responsibilities or make preventable mistakes. Below, we look at some of the most common activities that are performed in this line of work.
Negotiate Property Transactions
Obviously, negotiations are a major part of the job of being a property agent. These negotiations may be on behalf of the buyer, seller or both parties in a property transaction, depending on the needs of the agent’s client. Property negotiations can be stressful and time-consuming, as some people are unwilling to budge on price or compromise for the best of everyone involved.
Assist Their Clients
Right along with negotiations, assisting clients is another major part of a real estate agent’s responsibilities. This includes the obvious things, such as preparing an open house, researching applicable listings and providing advice. Still, the assistance offered by these professionals also extends to education, planning and providing contact information for other adjacent professionals within the industry.
Organize Information from Multiple Sources
The third part of a realty professional’s duties includes organizing discordant information. From the listings boards to the client’s requests to the buyer’s restrictions and the needs and wants of all the other professionals involved, real estate agents must be able to juggle multiple tasks and direct sequential activities to expedite the process and ensure it flows smoothly.
The Process of Becoming a Real Estate Agent
With an understanding of the personal traits required and the knowledge of what you may be expected to do as a real estate agent, the final step is understanding how the process of becoming one actually works. In general, the process involves three stages, namely studying, testing and licensing.
It is important to note that the process is not general enough to provide specific information. Every province has its own legislation and governing bodies to oversee the real estate industry, which you will learn more about as you study the requirements of your area. With that in mind, let’s look at what you can expect to do as you progress through the stages to become a real estate professional.
Studying
The first stage in the process is studying. As mentioned before, part of your studying will require you to learn the specific requirements of your province or area. This will include understanding that most provinces have an organization that provides oversight for the industry, which is also typically responsible for training and educating future agents.
Another part of your studying will concern the rules and regulations that govern the industry. This includes ethical concerns, proper process and other, more technical aspects of the job. You will also learn how to use listing boards, negotiate and other necessary and helpful skills. Though, eligibility requirements are also something worth looking into.
Often, they are not particularly difficult to meet, like being over the age of 18 or legally able to work in Canada. However, those without government-issued ID, or those who struggle with English or the language of their region, may want to ensure they are properly prepared before continuing.
Testing
The testing portion of the process will also vary significantly, depending on the location and governing body. In Alberta, for instance, you will be required to complete mandatory education with a minimum grade of 70%. There are also occasionally re-licensing requirements for experienced agents.
Additionally, the testing phase often also requires you to start paying fees and join the governing association. This is part of the show of commitment that is required of all real estate agents, which we discussed at the beginning of this article. Furthermore, you will likely be required to join a brokerage association. This is an organization comprised of multiple agents working together to train and support their peers.
Licensing
Finally, the licensing process has arrived. In this stage of becoming a qualified agent, you will receive the licensing required to trade real estate. Typically, this process is done in conjunction with the brokerage that you have joined so that they can endorse your work and vouch for the quality and knowledge displayed in it.
This final stage requires your license to become “active” through the completion of the process. Once this occurs, you will be a real estate agent capable of helping both buyers and sellers complete their real estate transactions.
Final Things to Note
Remember, while most agents work by themselves for a majority of their time, they are not lone wolves. Instead, it is the collaborative and cooperative nature of the industry that allows them to flourish as individuals since working together will be a major part of the process. Therefore, you should not underestimate the importance of building strong relationships within your brokerage and the greater community.
In closing, it is also important to remember that simply getting your license does not mean your journey is over. You will still need to improve and grow as an individual to continue providing better services and strengthening your skills. This step cannot be overlooked, as a stagnant real estate agent can be a detriment to every party they are involved with.
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