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Estate agent

Alternative titles for this job include Property agent

Estate agents sell and rent out commercial and residential property, acting as negotiators between buyers and sellers.

Average salary (a year)

£15,000 Starter

to

£40,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

35 to 40 a week

You could work

weekends on a rota

How to become an estate agent

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • training offered by a professional body

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

  • business studies
  • civil and structural engineering
  • estate management
  • property development or management
  • surveying
  • urban and land studies

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels for a degree

More information

Apprenticeship

Some estate agents offer an intermediate apprenticeship as a junior estate agent or an advanced apprenticeship in property services.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), usually including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More information

Work

You may be able to start as a trainee sales negotiator and learn on the job.

You could also start as an administrator in estate agency or lettings company and work your way up.

Local knowledge of the area where you'll be working would be an advantage.

Other routes

You could start by taking qualifications offered by an industry body like NAEA Propertymark.

Introductory qualifications can be done whether or not you're working in property. There are also courses aimed at people in the industry who want to develop their career.

More information

Further information

You can find our more about working as an estate agent from NAEA Propertymark.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • the ability to sell products and services
  • the ability to work on your own
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • persistence and determination
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • you will be expected to use a computer confidently as part of this job.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

  • have a full UK or EU driving licence, held for at least 12 months

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

  • visiting sellers and landlords to value properties
  • arranging appointments and showing properties to buyers or renters
  • getting feedback on viewings
  • negotiating between buyers and sellers
  • generating sales leads for mortgages and conveyancing
  • managing auction sales
  • working under pressure to meet sales targets
  • updating computer records

Working environment

You could work in an office, at a store, at a client's business or at a client's home.

Career path and progression

With experience and a good sales record, you could be promoted from sales negotiator to senior negotiator and then branch manager.

Larger chains of estate agents may offer more opportunities for promotion than smaller companies.

You could also become self-employed as a partner in a firm, or set up your own agency.

Training opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Junior Estate Agent Apprentice

  • Wage : £156.00 Weekly
  • Location: Reading RG1 1QB

Apprentice Property Consultant

  • Wage : £144.30 Weekly
  • Location: Wallsend NE28 9NY
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Are you interested in becoming an estate agent?

Search for training courses near you.

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