Estate agents liaise with clients, solicitors and other property professionals to negotiate sales and lettings on residential or commercial properties

You may:

• visit sellers and landlords to value properties

• communicate regularly with potential buyers and tenants to share details of properties that meet their requirements

• arrange viewing appointments and show properties to buyers or renters

• get feedback on viewings

• negotiate between buyers and sellers

• generate sales leads for mortgages and conveyancing

• deal in person, on the telephone and through email with solicitors, financial advisers and surveyors

• manage auction sales

• work to meet sales targets

• update computer records

Estate agents often work on commission which means that you have a basic salary and also earn a percentage of the sale or rental price of any property you sell or rent. You might start on a guaranteed salary for a few months and then move to a commission based salary.

You may also have the chance to add to your earnings through bonuses linked to meeting individual or company sales targets.

You can get into this job through:

• a university course

• an apprenticeship

• working towards this role

• training offered by a professional body

You could start by taking qualifications offered by an industry body like NAEA Propertymark.

You do not need to be already working in property in order to take the introductory qualifications. There are also courses aimed at people in the industry who want to develop their career.

University

A degree is not an essential entry requirement for this career but increasing competition for employment means that taking a degree, foundation degree or HND in one of the following subjects may give you an advantage:

• business-related studies

• civil and structural engineering

• estate management

• property development/management

• surveying

• urban and land studies.

A postgraduate qualification is not required for entering the career and professional exams can be taken once you're in the role.

You may be able to enter the profession at an administrator level and then progress to the position of estate agent as you gain experience.

While pre-entry experience is not essential, a sales, administrative or customer service background can be helpful as you will have developed some of the required skills. There are increasing amounts of legislation applicable to property transactions, which have to be understood by those in the profession, so experience of legal work may also be an advantage.

Apprenticeships 

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

To look for opportunities ue the find apprenticeship gov site: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/

Qualification examples include :

• Junior Estate Agent Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship

• Housing and Property Management Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship

• Housing and Property Management Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These can take 1 year to 1 year and 6 months to complete.

Employment with Training 

Look for job vacancies at:

• The Negotiator - useful for general industry information

• Property Jobs

• Property Week 4 Jobs

• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Recruit

• Sales-Negotiator.com

Also look at local opportunities at the companies listed below. 

CPD 

Continuing professional development (CPD) is encouraged and there are opportunities to study for professional qualifications. NAEA Propertymark, the UK's leading professional body for estate agency, offers a range of training and qualifications short courses for those working in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A separate range of courses is offered for those working in Scotland.

Some jobs will also require qualification and membership of RICS.

Taken from prospects/ NCS 2022.