Totaljobs.com > Career Advice > Careers in... > Careers in Sales > Property Sales job description
Job description: Property Sales
As a property salesperson or negotiator, you will be working for an estate agent. Your work will be a mixture of negotiation, marketing and sales.
Your duties will depend on the sector you work in, but generally you will be:
- Convincing prospective clients that your agency is the right one to handle their sale or letting, and agree a price and the terms of the sale.
- Arranging advertising and other ways to promote the property in the agency's window, in newspapers, online and through 'for sale' boards.
- Sending out details of new properties on the market to people on your database who are looking for that type of property.
- Making appointments and showing buyers around a property, pointing out its best features and answering any questions.
- Finding buyers in a position to proceed with purchase and willing to pay an acceptable price.
- Refering buyers to mortgage arrangers for quotations and advice.
You may specialise in residential houses and flats, in commercial property and businesses or in letting and managing properties.
Hours and Environment
You will usually work from 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday. However, many agencies also open for part of Sunday and may have some late evenings. You may also need to meet clients and buyers outside of normal working hours.
You could work part time in some agencies.
You'll be based in an office, but are likely to spend a lot of time visiting properties and showing prospective buyers around.
In view of this, a driving licence may be useful.
Skills and Interests
In property sales you should be:
- An excellent communicator
- A good negotiator
- Able to inspire trust and confidence in clients and buyers
- Knowledgeable about property sales and lettings law
- Able to work under pressure
- Smart and business-like.
Entry
There are no set entry requirements for trainee agents, although GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3), or higher level qualifications, can be an advantage. A good personal attitude and communication skills are generally more valuabale than formal qualifications.
Usually, you'll join an estate agent straight from school or college as a trainee negotiator. You could also start as a receptionist or clerical assistant and move up.
TTC Training offers an Apprenticeship for young people, leading to an NVQ Level 2 or 3 in the Sale of Residential Property. The Apprenticeship also includes The National Association of Estate Agents' (NAEA) Technical Award, and Apprentices gain student membership of the NAEA after three months.
The scheme is open to people of all ages, but only those between 16 and 24 years can receive government funding. There are no formal entry requirements.
Apprenticeships which may be available in England are Young Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships, Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships. To find out which one is most appropriate log onto www.apprenticeships.org.uk or contact your local Connexions Partnership.
There are different arrangements for Apprenticeships in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For further information contact Careers Scotland www.careers-scotland.org.uk, Careers Wales www.careerswales.com; and for Northern Ireland contact COIU www.delni.gov.uk.
You could also study for a degree in subjects such as property studies management and real estate management. Entry is normally with two or three A levels/three or four H grades, or equivalent qualifications.
There are also opportunities for more mature adults, particularly if you have relevant business experience.
Training
As a trainee, you'll usually work alongside a more experienced negotiator or agent, and may be encouraged to attend external training courses. The NAEA runs a wide range of half-day and one-day courses.
The NAEA offers Diplomas in Residential Estate Agency, Residential Letting and Property Management, and Commercial Property Agency. These are aimed at people with previous experience in agency work and are at HNC/HND and degree pass level.
The NAEA also runs a Technical Award in Residential Letting and Property Management and the examination-based Certificate in Residential Lettings and Management. Both are open to practising letting agents and people just starting in the business.
You could also become a member, associate or fellow of the NAEA, depending on your qualifications and experience.
Opportunities
There are estate agencies throughout the country and job vacancies are common. However, opportunities tend to fluctuate with the state of the housing market, and this can be volatile.
You'll find jobs advertised in local newspapers and in publications such as The Estate Agent, The Negotiator and Estate Agency News. There are also recruitment agencies that specialise in estate agency jobs.
With experience, you could become a senior negotiator or manage a department. You're likely to find more opportunities for promotion in larger agencies, particularly if you're prepared to change location. It's also possible to become a partner, or to set up your own agency.
Annual Income
These figures are a guide only.
- A trainee could earn about £13,000 a year.
- With experience this may increase to £20,000 or more.
- A partner in an estate agency may earn £35,000 or more.
As well as a basic salary, many agents are paid on a commission basis. This is often a percentage of the profit they have made for the agency.
Jobs in Sales
Other Careers in Sales
