How to Get a Job in the Real Estate Business

As with any other job, people who want to be real estate agents should interview with more than one real estate company before accepting an offer or choosing the best company for them. If you want to become a broker, you must first be honest with yourself about your goals, expectations, and the kind of work environment you want to be a part of. Here are some helpful tips and advice you can use to help you get a job in the real estate industry.

Set up meetings with the leaders of the organizations on your list: This should be pretty obvious. To get your dream job as a real estate agent, you'll have to make a good impression on your potential bosses. Larger companies will likely have recruitment managers or a human resources department on hand to help you. Stop by the agency before your interview to find out how applicants are supposed to dress.

Also, ask questions about the types of training the company offers: Does the training cost anything or not? Are you expected to pay a portion or all of the bill? Do they have a mentor or trainer who works full-time? You should also ask how many new people were hired last year and how many of them are still working there. A fake or unreliable agency might have a high turnover rate as a kind of warning sign.

Ask if all brokers will be doing standard floor duty: Floor duty is when you have to work in an office instead of, say, the site or neighborhood where you are supposed to sell and negotiate real estate. Study how leads (that is, the contact information of potential clients or the clients themselves) are usually given out during floor duty and other times.

Find out what costs the agency covers: You should ask a few brokers to make a list of startup costs for you. You need to know as soon as possible if you're allowed to join national, regional, or local professional organizations. You should also ask the agents if there are any monthly or quarterly fees for membership.

Signs that say "For Sale" and other signs also cost money, so don't be afraid to ask if agents are given these materials for free. Other relevant costs, such as stamps, photocopies, computers and printers in the office, general office supplies, long-distance phone calls to clients, and so on, should also be asked about.

Service Area Map

If you find a particularly cheap real estate agency, you might have to bring your own laptop, make your own signs, photocopy your own documents, bring your own paper, and pay for your own long distance calls. With this kind of company, it might be hard to get your commissions and paycheck.