Summary
Role of the real estate agent
Upstream research
The real estate agent is always on the go: he must prospect to “return” new properties to his agency. He follows up with undecided owners and evaluates apartments and houses.
The real estate agent has an important advisory role, both alongside owners and potential buyers or tenants.
Signature of the mandate
Once the owner has decided to sell or rent, the real estate agent signs a sale or rental mandate with him, in which all the conditions are specified. This mandate may or may not be exclusive.
Support and advice
The real estate agent accompanies and advises the 2 parties before signing the contract: mandatory real estate diagnostics, loan terms and rates, supporting documents to be provided…
Working conditions
Almost exclusively in agencies
The real estate agent, with very few exceptions, always works in agencies. These are franchised in networks (ORPI, Century 21, Guy Hiccups…) or are independent.
Always on the go
The real estate agent is constantly on the move to visit and show apartments and houses. As clients are often only available outside office hours, he often works on Saturdays and late at night.
How much does a real estate agent earn?
A beginner real estate agent can earn minimum wage of €3,000 gross per month, or even more. He is remunerated by commission on sales (from 5 to 7%), with a fixed amount often based on the amount of the minimum wage.
Becoming a real estate agent: what training to follow?
Bac + 2 minimum
The BTS Real Estate Professions is a sought-after training to become a real estate agent. There is also a DEUST in real estate professions.
To be employed in an agency, a Commercial BTS may be sufficient.
With a tray + 3
There are many professional licenses allowing access to the profession:
- law and political science, legal activities, specializing in real estate law and management;
- human and social sciences, legal activities, management specialty and real estate business law;
- law administration management of organizations, specialty management of rental housing and social housing.
With a baccalaureate + 5 and more
Several masters train the profession of real estate agent:
- master’s degree in real estate and housing law;
- master’s degree in real estate law, town planning and construction;
- specialized master’s degree in project management and real estate management;
- master’s degree in asset and real estate management.
A diploma from the School of Real Estate Professions (ESPI) opens the royal road to agency management.
Necessary qualities
The real estate agent, a salesperson above all
The real estate agent must be an outstanding negotiator.
He must also have a good knowledge of the market and a good analysis of trends, both up and down.
End psychologist
It is not enough to be a good salesman to be a good real estate agent. You also need to have a good perception of people and their character. Being persuasive and a tough negotiator, while knowing when to stop at the right time, that is the whole difficulty.
Content updated on 07/09/2012
Our tips:
To open your own real estate agency, you must hold a professional card issued by the prefecture.