Occupation Profile for Real Estate Sales Agents

opportunity | video

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.

Signficant Points

  • Real estate brokers and sales agents often work evenings and weekends and usually are on call to suit the needs of clients.
  • A license is required in every State and the District of Columbia.
  • Although gaining a job may be relatively easy, beginning workers face competition from well-established, more experienced agents and brokers.
  • Employment is sensitive to swings in the economy, especially interest rates; during periods of declining economic activity and rising interest rates, the volume of sales and the resulting demand for sales workers fall.
 

Tasks

  • Core — Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration.
  • Core — 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.
  • Core — Interview clients to determine what kinds of properties they are seeking.
  • Core — Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other.
  • Core — Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.

Activities

  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.