The Do's And Don’ts For Building A Successful Career In Estate Agency

When I first left school, despite the fact that all my friendship group went off to university, I was really keen to go and get a job and start earning. I'd always had part-time jobs as a kid because I enjoyed working, but also liked to have the independence of a little bit of cash I could call my own and not be reliant on others.

The trouble was, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. Yes, I had some experience with cars, but the idea of getting dirty and oily every day servicing them didn't appeal as much as I thought it would. I remember sitting in the back garden one summer talking to my father about what I should do and what might be a good career choice for me. I had spent some time in my youth renovating properties with him, so somehow the idea of becoming an estate agent came up in the conversation.

It was actually a better suggestion than my preferred career choice at 16 when I was desperate to leave school and become an engineer making airguns (my obsession at the time!). So I started looking around for a job in estate agency in my local area to see if it would be of interest. The trouble was, there were precious few jobs available, and those that were demanded a certain level of experience which I didn't qualify for as a fresh-out-of-school youngster.

So, with a bit of creativity, I decided to try and hack the system. I did something that no-one else in their right mind would have done which was to offer to work at an agency for a month for free! Why did I do that? Well, my thinking was, if agencies only employed people with experience, and that's the one thing I didn't have, then at least I would have a month's worth of experience to put on my CV if things didn't work out. I also knew I had a month to try and convince them that I would be invaluable to their team – even if it was just to run around being the tea boy!

And would you believe it? My crazy plan worked! Mainly because I believe I showed serious commitment in traveling to an office in a different town every day, arriving early and working late, and doing pretty much anything that was asked of me (I also put myself forward to work on Saturdays even though everyone in the office hated working on the weekends), so at the end of a month I'd proven myself to be a valuable addition to their team, and certainly worth more than the starter salary of around £11,000 they then agreed to pay me.

The good news was, I had a little savings from my part-time weekend work saved up, so covering my costs for this month felt like an investment in my future! That was the start of my career in agency which forced an opening that might never have otherwise become available. Perhaps there's a lesson in there somewhere if you're thinking about making your own start in this wonderful profession?

Because for me, estate agency can be both a rewarding and lucrative career, which requires a certain set of skills and qualities to be successful. And in this blog post, I'd like to share what I see as some key do's and don'ts of the profession. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, it's important to understand these key points.

Do's for Building a Career in Estate Agency:

• Do develop a deep understanding of the local, regional, and national property market: To be successful in estate agency, you need to have a deep understanding of the property market, including the latest trends, prices, and regulations. This will help you to provide accurate and informed advice to clients and help you with negotiating the best possible deals – both for your clients and the company you work for.
  
  
• Build a strong network: Estate agency is all about building relationships, so it's important to have a strong network of contacts, including other agents, solicitors, surveyors, and potential clients. Attend industry events, join local property groups, and make an effort to connect with others in the industry, even if it's not directly related to the estate agency profession – your wider understanding will make you more informed and set you apart from the competition.
  
  
• Communicate effectively: Communication is key in estate agency, and you need to be able to communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders. This includes the ability to listen, understand, and respond to their needs and concerns. A key point here is developing the ability to quickly build rapport with strangers so they feel at ease with you and recognise you're someone who can help them with their property-related problems – or refer them to someone who can.
  
  
• Be professional and ethical: The profession is marred with a reputation which suggests it can be unethical, or worse, one where insider dealings frequently happen. To avoid being tarnished with the same brush, it's essential to be professional and highly ethical at all times. This not only includes following industry regulations and standards, but more importantly, morally acting in the best interests of all your clients at all times.
  
  
• Be flexible and adaptable: The property market is constantly evolving, and you need to be flexible and adaptable to stay ahead of the curve. This includes being open to new technologies, marketing strategies, business models, and being willing to try new things. Don't be one of those agents who is too scared to change or won't try new things. Preserving the status quo won't cut it in a profession that will face major upheaval over the coming years as technology has more of an impact and competitive edges can quickly become eroded.

Don'ts for Building a Career in Estate Agency:

• Don't overpromise: One of the biggest mistakes you can make in estate agency is overpromising and underdelivering. This can damage your reputation and reduce your chances of success in the industry. This is particularly apparent when valuing properties for sale where one of the most damaging things you can do is overvalue to try and win the instruction. The lack of interest will only disappoint a client who will potentially already have mentally spent the extra equity on their new home, and if they then can't afford it, you've done them a disservice.
  
  
• Don't ignore the competition: Estate agency is a competitive industry, and so it's important to be aware of your competition and what they're doing in the marketplace to win business and sell homes. Beyond this, looking to overseas markets and their practices can help you spot niche opportunities to deliver excellence in the UK in a way your competition isn't doing or won't do. This will help you to stay ahead of the curve and offer the best possible service to your clients.
  
  
• Don't neglect your personal development: To be the best, estate agency requires continuous learning and development, so it's important to invest time and resources into your personal and professional growth. This can include attending industry events, taking courses and certifications, and reading industry publications. I also highly recommend picking up books on property investment, surveying, mortgage broking and conveyancing to increase your wider knowledge, especially if you want to build rapport with others in the industry and widen your knowledge base to spot efficiencies in the processes of helping people move home.
  
  
• Don't neglect your client's needs: Estate agency is all about helping clients to achieve their goals, and so you need to be focused on their needs at all times – including communicating them to your colleagues in the office so they're also aware and can spot opportunities to help them. This means being responsive to your clients, providing regular updates (one of the most overlooked things in agency), and acting in their best interests at all times.
  
  
• Don't ignore industry regulations and standards: Whilst estate agency isn't as highly regulated a profession as others, such as conveyancing, it's essential to follow industry regulations and standards at all times - especially if you want to stay out of trouble and avoid tarnishing your reputation. If you choose to progress your careers within the industry and expand into other areas such as surveying, mortgage brokerage or conveyancing, this will naturally come with additional regulations you'll have to adhere to, especially having to follow more ethical and professional standards.

In conclusion, building a successful career in estate agency requires a combination of skills, qualities, and personal attributes. By following the do's and don'ts outlined in this blog, you can increase your chances of success and establish yourself as a trusted and professional agent in the profession.

If you have any questions about getting started, or levelling up in your career – post them below and I'll be happy to answer them as best as I can.