If you’ve been thinking about doing a real estate course in Australia, don’t wait any longer.
Property sales are booming in every state and territory across Australia.
Want to dazzle your way to real estate sales success? Keep reading, and we’ll show you how with a full outline of the first steps to becoming a real estate agent.
Here are our seven steps to your dream job in the real estate industry:
7 Steps to becoming a real estate agent
1. Do your research
A few people are going to ask you why you want to be a real estate agent. Their curiosity is related to a number of things, such as the lifestyle associated with a successful career in real estate and even the smart car they think you’ll soon be driving.
What will you tell them? The thing is, anybody working in the real estate industry will tell you that success comes with hard work and extra hours at the grindstone. That it takes a while to build up a cracking client list, and you need to enjoy helping people buy and sell their properties. So, why do you want to become an agent? Once you can figure out what you want from the job, you’ve ticked off one of the first step to becoming a real estate agent.
Building your confidence to talk comfortably to people about their properties develops as you increase your industry knowledge. So, as long as you’re not in a mad hurry, you’ll acquire these skills naturally as you work.
To get a head start, talk to people who work in the industry, read the real estate pages, go to open houses and see how they’re run. Go to auctions and watch the action, search online for Australia’s top agents and read their stories, and research real estate courses in your state or territory.
2. Create a resume
One of the first steps to becoming a real estate agent is inevitably going to be putting together a resume.
There are three things to remember when writing your resume. Keep it concise, relevant and interesting. No fluff words (for example: very, really, might) or long sentences. Keep it on target and make it interesting reading.
How do you make a resume interesting? You pitch it to the reader, tailoring it to the job you’re applying for. If you do this well, you’ll win the recruiter over as they read how well-matched your skills and knowledge are to the job they’re advertising.
Make sure your writing is confident and strong. Instead of ‘I would suggest …’ write ‘I suggest …’ and instead of ‘I hurriedly finished …’ write ‘I finished’.
When writing about your skills and knowledge, focus on how they relate to the job you’re applying for. So, if you previously worked for an insurance company and you’re applying for a job as a real estate agent, point out that you’ve had experience valuing assets, providing technical advice and working with people.
Proofread your resume, and ask a family member or friend to read it. Read it aloud to somebody as this can identify errors you missed in the reading.
3. Find the right real estate course for you
Real estate courses across Australian states and territories are created differently, although they all fall under the same national regulator – the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). In the end, real estate courses have the same quality outcome.
To teach real estate courses, you must be a registered training organisation (RTO) with ASQA. It’s always best to check that any course you enrol in is accredited by ASQA because then you know it meets Commonwealth Government standards. Entry Education is RTO No 41529.Entry Education offers online and face-to-face real estate courses. Find out which type of course is more suitable for you: online vs classroom real estate courses.
Providing you’re not dreaming about being a singing real estate agent, the following is a list of real estate courses in every state and territory across Australia. Yours is there:
Victoria
Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419)
This the educational requirement to work as an agent’s representative in Victoria. After completing this real estate course, you can work in real estate sales, leasing, property management and admin. You cannot open your own agency with this qualification. Read more about how to become a real estate agent in Melbourne, Victoria.
NSW
To break into the real estate industry in NSW, you’ll need to complete an Assistant Agent Certificate. After completing this real estate course, you can work in property sales, marketing, property management and more. With this entry-level job you’ll work under a licensed real estate agent. Read more about how to become a real estate agent in Sydney, NSW.
Queensland
Real Estate Salesperson Registration Certificate
If you’re looking to become a real estate agent in Queensland, this entry level real estate course will get you in the door. The Real Estate Salesperson Registration Certificate enables you to work in real estate or property management under a licensed real estate agent. You can’t open your own agency with this certificate. Read more about how to become a real estate agent in Brisbane, QLD.
South Australia
Sales Representative Registration (CPP41419)
This real estate course will qualify you to work as a real estate agent in South Australia. There are two levels of qualifications. The first is called ‘restricted registration’, where you work under a licensed real estate agent. The second ‘unrestricted registration’ provides a higher-level qualification because you have completed all 19 units of the real estate course and provided proof of completion to Consumer and Business Services in South Australia. Read more about how to become a real estate agent in Adelaide, SA.
Western Australia
If you want to work as a real estate agent in Western Australia, you’ll need to apply for Restricted Sales Registration at the completion of your real estate course. This course restricts you to different types of sales including residential, commercial, rural sales and working as a buyer’s agent. The course is also a partial completion of the Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419). Read more about how to become a real estate agent in Perth, WA.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Certificate of Registration (CPP40307)
This is the real estate course for you if you want to work in property sales, marketing and property management in the ACT. You’ll need to complete five core units of the larger Real Estate Licensing course (which has 18 units in total), and you’ll work under a licensed real estate agent. Read more about how to become a real estate agent in Canberra, ACT.
4. Applying for your first real estate job
Now that you’ve completed your real estate course, you’re ready to start your career in real estate, but how do you land your first job?
You know the line ‘Dress for the job you want’? Well, don’t take that to the extreme. If you’re dying to wear the vintage suit you rescued from the Salvos, put it back on the hanger and do some online research. Go to the real estate agency and look at the bios of the agents. If they’re wearing business suits, do the same at your interview, but keep your colours toned down – don’t forget to polish your shoes!
Now do some serious agency research. Read the ‘About’ section on their website. Study their listings and recent sales. How many auctions versus private sales do they do? How has COVID-19 affected their work? What geographical area do they cover? Take notes about the content on their website. Does it tell you a story about the business? There should be enough information there to generate a couple of questions for that part of the interview where they ask ‘Do you have any questions?’
Working as a real estate agent requires you to talk to people with confidence, and the job interview is your opportunity to demonstrate your expert people skills. Be confident and calm, listen intently, smile and look at ease.
There is a real estate job platform in Australia: realestatecareers.jobs there, you can register for free and get found by agencies.
5. Where do you fit into the real estate industry?
The real estate industry is a sea of job options. If you’ve done a real estate course, you’ll be acquainted with the assortment of roles and levels of expertise.
Before you jump in, make sure you’re going for a job that will serve your needs. Would you rather work as a property manager? Do you ultimately want to be an auctioneer? Is marketing your secret passion? Are you keen to act as a buyer’s agent? Do you want to work as a part time real estate agent?
Aspects of these job roles can expand your repertoire as a real estate agent, but some of them are stand-alone jobs. In the early stages of your real estate career, map out your goals and career path, including the real estate courses you want to complete in the future. Throughout your career, visit your plan regularly and update it. Keeping tabs on your own career keeps you on track and ensures you ask the right questions.
6. Develop your IT skills
During the COVID pandemic, we all learned the value of connecting online. Virtual tours of properties became the norm; Zoom was where we connected, and mobile phones were more indispensable than ever before.
There’s a strong need for ongoing skills in this area. You might have discussed this in your real estate course. Clients will continue to purchase properties without stepping foot in them. Real estate agents will need to meet a swag of client expectations as the world, itself, races towards faster and more sophisticated technology.
One of the major steps to becoming a real estate agent in 2024 needs to be levelling up your IT skills so that you can successfully navigate the digital working environment.
7. Learn about building, architecture and design
While most real estate agents learn about architectural styles, buildings and design over several years in the industry, you can start on it early. Delve into the history of the buildings you know. Visit public buildings and open houses and research online.
Learn the architectural characteristics of the Victorian, Edwardian, Californian bungalow, Art deco, Contemporary and Brick veneer eras. Do this and you’ll know whether part of a building is original – whether it’s been updated or renovated, or if it needs a lot of work.
Research the requirements for local council planning and building permits. Read contracts of sale and understand the purpose of the section 32. Take the initiative and you’ll be rewarded and, most importantly, your clients will appreciate it!
Find out more about how to become a real estate agent through each course here.
