Which real estate role is best for you - sales agent, auctioneer, or support staff? Each role plays a vital part in the industry.
Real estate offers a range of career paths that can be adapted to suit an individual's career goals and their personality.
Working in real estate can be hugely gratifying. The satisfaction gained from helping someone buy their next home, or assisting them with a problem in their rented home, or guiding an investor in their latest purchase, can be immense.
In real estate, you are engaged in people's lives in a way that you are not in many other professions.
Real estate is very much a people-focussed career. Buying, selling and managing real estate can be stressful and emotional; good professionals can make all the difference to smooth and problem-free real estate transactions.
When considering a career in real estate, consider the full range of roles available in the industry, and think about which roles you are most suited to, and which roles will help you achieve your career goals.
WILLIAMS MEDIA takes a look at the different roles available in the real estate industry.
Sales agent
Sales agents work for vendors to sell their property. Agents can be involved in a range of tasks within an agency, or they can focus on one or two tasks, depending on the size of the agency. Larger agencies tend to employ specialists, for example, they may hire a copywriter to write marketing materials.
The responsibilities of sales agents include appraising properties, marketing properties, arranging inspections, negotiating sales, and coordinating legal work.
Agents say they love helping people through the process of buying and selling homes, which can be stressful and is often the largest financial transaction of a person's life.
Visit RECON Jobs to view the latest sales agent roles.
Auctioneer
Auctioneers conduct public sales, sometimes in auction rooms but sometimes at the site of the property being sold. Auctioneers must be able to think quickly and be good with numbers, have an engaging personality, and a professional demeanor. Auctioneers must describe the property, explain the contract features, and answer any questions before the bidding starts. Auctioneers must either be a licensed real estate agent, or employed as an agent's representative.
An auctioneer in action. Image: supplied by Justin Nickerson.
Related content: How real estate employers are attracting - and keeping - top staff
Property manager
Property managers look after property on behalf of their owners. Property managers can look after residential, commercial, or industrial property. The role involves finding tenants, ensuring that the rent has been paid, arranging repairs, marketing the property, and negotiating leases.
Property managers can help people in the community find rental accommodation and help them manage the property they are in. Property managers can be particularly helpful to disadvantaged communities when they take the time to understand their problems and find ways to solve them.
Find the latest property manager roles on RECON Jobs.
Body corporate manager
Body corporate managers look after common property, usually in a block of flats. They manage body corporate meetings, arrange repairs and maintenance, ensure strata fees are collected, and arrange insurance for the building.
Buyer's agent
While sales agents act on behalf of the vendor, buyer's agents act on behalf of the buyer. They find suitable properties, and look after the buyer throughout the buying process. Buyer's agents require a special buyer's agent license.
Valuer
Valuers estimate the value of a property by considering the features of the property and market conditions.
Real estate support staff
Like every organisation, having a good support team can be the difference between success and failure. Real estate receptionists can be particularly important because they can be the first point of contact, and set the tone for all future transactions. Support staff in a real estate business can perform a range of duties, from reception to receiving rent, to typing, and can be an excellent way to learn about the business, and a great first step on your real estate career path.
Visit RECON Jobs to view real estate support roles.
Read more about real estate careers:
Strong Aussie employment data reflected in real estate jobs
Development boom driving strong demand for property managers