Career:
Real Estate Sales Agent
Job Description: Rent, buy, or sell property for clients. Perform duties, such as study property listings, interview prospective clients, accompany clients to property site, discuss conditions of sale, and draw up real estate contracts. Includes agents who represent buyer.
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What Real Estate Sales Agents do:
- Accompany buyers during visits to and inspections of property, advising them on the suitability and value of the homes they are visiting.
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other.
- Advise clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, legal requirements and related matters.
- Advise sellers on how to make homes more appealing to potential buyers.
- Answer clients' questions regarding construction work, financing, maintenance, repairs, and appraisals.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- Contact property owners and advertise services to solicit property sales listings.
- Coordinate appointments to show homes to prospective buyers.
- Develop networks of attorneys, mortgage lenders, and contractors to whom clients may be referred.
- Display commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential properties to clients and explain their features.
- Generate lists of properties that are compatible with buyers' needs and financial resources.
- Interview clients to determine what kinds of properties they are seeking.
- Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration.
- Promote sales of properties through advertisements, open houses, and participation in multiple listing services.
- Review property listings, trade journals, and relevant literature, and attend conventions, seminars, and staff and association meetings to remain knowledgeable about real estate markets.
- Visit properties to assess them before showing them to clients.
- Inspect condition of premises, and arrange for necessary maintenance or notify owners of maintenance needs.
- Confer with escrow companies, lenders, home inspectors, and pest control operators to ensure that terms and conditions of purchase agreements are met before closing dates.
- Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds and leases.
- Review plans for new construction with clients, enumerating and recommending available options and features.
- Rent or lease properties on behalf of clients.
- Arrange meetings between buyers and sellers when details of transactions need to be negotiated.
- Coordinate property closings, overseeing signing of documents and disbursement of funds.
- Evaluate mortgage options to help clients obtain financing at the best prevailing rates and terms.
- Arrange for title searches to determine whether clients have clear property titles.
- Locate and appraise undeveloped areas for building sites, based on evaluations of area market conditions.
- Solicit and compile listings of available rental properties.
- Conduct seminars and training sessions for sales agents to improve sales techniques.
- Contact utility companies for service hookups to clients' property.
- Investigate clients' financial and credit status to determine eligibility for financing.
- Secure construction or purchase financing with own firm or mortgage company.
- Appraise properties to determine loan values.
What work activities does a Real Estate Sales Agent do?
| Importance | Activities | |
|---|---|---|
Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
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Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. |
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Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. |
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Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions. |
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Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
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Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
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Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
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Communicating with Persons Outside Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
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Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
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Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
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Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
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Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
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Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
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Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
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Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. |
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Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
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Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
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Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
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Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
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Provide Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics. |
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Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. |
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Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
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Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
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Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
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Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft. |
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Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
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Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. |
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Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money. |
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Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. |
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Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. |
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Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
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Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
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