WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER A CAREER IN ESTATE AGENCY

Have you been wondering if estate agency is the right career for you, but perhaps been put off by all the talk of low salaries, long hours, and weekend work? Then, you might want to read on, because there have been some big changes made recently within the sector to attract new talent!

So, what is required to commence a career in estate agency?

The good news is that you don’t need a specific qualification or university degree to get into estate agency, and if further education is not for you, then you could even sign up to a relevant apprenticeship scheme starting when you are as young as 16 or 17.

When hiring, many estate agencies are happy to consider people with no prior industry experience, but when they do so they understandably look to employ candidates with the appropriate transferable skills. They often come from backgrounds such as hospitality, hotel & catering, restaurant & bar work, cabin crew, recruitment and car sales.

We have written another blog that we believe you will find useful when helping you to decide if you are suited to a career in estate agency, and vice versa. It is titled “The top transferable skills that make a great estate agent”.

Summing up the above, estate agents like to employ people who are confident dealing with their clients, both in person and over the phone, those who are well-presented, articulate, polite and friendly, and who possess first-class customer service skills. They are also impressed by driven, ambitious individuals looking to progress and grow with them as a company.

In addition to the above, if you are looking to work as a front-line Sales or Lettings Negotiator, it is essential that you have a full, clean driving licence. This is often also required by property managers who are expected to carry out property inspections. As well as being able to drive, you will also need to have your own vehicle, or the ability to purchase one, as it is very rare for employers to offer company cars these days. They will usually, however, offer a car or mileage allowance to cover your business costs.

How have Estate Agency packages and conditions changed in recent years?

You will be pleased to know that gone are the days of working 10 to 12 hours a day, 6 to 7 days a week, and all for a measly £8,000 – £10,000 basic salary.

The estate agency world is changing, and many employers now understand the importance of a work/life balance, especially when it comes to not only recruiting but, as importantly, retaining staff. Back in the day, many agents would leave the industry after a few years due to physical and mental burn out. Nobody can work 12-hour days, 6 or 7 days a week forever. However, it is important to remember that estate agency is a service industry, so we are sure you can appreciate that there will be times when you will need to provide just that, a service, outside ‘normal’ working hours. Working above and beyond in this way will, of course, invariably benefit you too.

With regards to weekend working, the norm is probably still every other Saturday. However, more and more companies are not only trying to offer one in three Saturdays, but also giving a day in lieu when you do work a Saturday meaning you only ever work a five-day week. We even know of some companies that now hire Saturday staff to handle weekend appointments exclusively so that their staff don’t need to work weekends. Don’t get too excited though, as this really is the exception to the rule!

Basic salaries have also improved dramatically, very much prompted by the Government implementing a National Minimum Wage. In the last 5 years or so, we have seen typical front-line basic salaries increase from £12,000 to £14,000 to around £18,000 to £20,000 for trainee/junior level negotiators. For entry level property managers and administrators, we have seen salaries jump from £18,000 to £22,000 to £24,000 to £26,000.

New exciting benefits are also being offered by more and more companies, especially those that truly value their employees. These include discounted gym membership, cycle to work schemes, charity volunteer days, season ticket loans, high-achiever trips abroad, private medical insurance, therapy/counselling & health care, the option to buy additional holiday, and so much more!

Training/development opportunities:

In recent years, agencies have started to understand the importance of offering more training and development opportunities to their employees. Many will cover the cost of putting you through NFoPP (National Federation of Property Professionals) qualifications such as ARLA and NAEA. These are industry specific and recognised nationwide. Once you have gained these qualifications, you are usually rewarded with a pay rise, and sometimes even a promotion on top of an increase in salary!

How easy is it to progress and what can your career path look like?

Wanting to progress in your job role is only natural. After all, the quicker you progress, the more money you are likely to make. A track record of achieving and exceeding targets, along with the right attitude and commitment levels, will invariably be recognised and lead to promotion.

There are other ways of accelerating your chances of promotion. These include:

• Mentoring less experienced colleagues. Being supportive by sharing your experience and knowledge and, at the same time, providing guidance and feedback demonstrates what a great team player you are.
• Cross-selling other services within the business. Referring a landlord who wants to sell his property to the sales department, or a vendor who can’t sell to the lettings department, along with referring clients to financial services or conveyancing departments or providers are all examples.
• Getting involved within any employee networks can also hugely add weight to your value in a company, particularly if you are active in, or lead one of these groups. This could include promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion within the workplace, or actively participating in any charitable fund-raising events.

If you are wondering how long it will take you to move into a more senior position when you start as a trainee, the good news is that it could be not much time at all! In fact, most trainees will start moving up the ranks within their first 12-18 months in the business.

Over the years, we have placed thousands of individuals at entry level, many of whom have progressed to become managers, directors, and even owners of their own estate agency businesses.

To find out how you could advance along your estate agent career path, take a look at our infographic here.

If you are still reading this article, the chances are that you really are interested in a career in estate agency! One more blog we would like to share with you that may help you make your final decision is entitled ‘A typical day in the life of an estate agent’.

We hope this blog has cleared up any queries that you may have about the business. If you have any more questions, we have a team of experts at your disposal who would love to help you. Please do not hesitate to contact us on: 020 7792 9779 for a friendly, informal chat, or email us at: enquiries@propertypersonnel.co.uk