SoYouWant To Be A Real Estate Agent

 

 

By:

 

Kenneth J. McIlvaine, CRB, CRS, GRI

Broker of Record – Budd Realty, Inc.

NJ State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser (SCRREA)

NJ Licensed Real Estate Broker

Real Estate Consultant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A CAREER IN REAL ESTATE

 

The real estate profession has expanded and offers one of the widest career selections in the business world today. Helping people buy and sell homes, office buildings, industrial property and corporation farmland, property management, land development, mortgage banking, urban planning, real estate counseling, appraisal and research are all aspects of a career in real estate.  

 

A career in real estate provides flexibility and freedom to set your own pace. Income directly reflects your efforts, with no limits on what astute, hard-working men and women can earn. Successful people in real estate are goal-oriented, persevering, self-motivated, ambitious and people-oriented. The rewards of a real estate career are a potential for high earnings, status in the community, autonomy, time freedom, helping people, the intellectual challenge and the satisfaction from those accomplishments.  Working in real estate allows for independence and choices of environment in which to work, such as affiliation with a large or small firm as a listed salesperson. With more experience and upon passing of an additional exam, becoming a real estate broker is the next step. Brokers can own their own businesses and employ other salespeople. 

 

Colleges and universities now offer a variety of real estate and related courses. At many of these colleges, students can specialize in a program that leads to a bachelor's degree in real estate. Some universities offer graduate level courses.

 

Entry into the real estate profession takes preparation. As with other professions, licensing is required. Licensing requirements vary across the nation, but all states require prospective salespeople and brokers to pass a written exam. Some states allow students to take pre-licensing educational courses accredited by the state licensing agency before they qualify to sit for the exam. In other states, students can take these educational courses within a specified time after being licensed.  In order to obtain a broker's or sales agent associated license, more than half the states specify special education and/or experience or their equivalents. However, states are upgrading their license laws and prerequisites for both brokers and sales associates at a rapid rate.

Entry into the real estate field depends on education, training and interests. Most people begin as sales trainees in a brokerage firm. Other possibilities include office assistant, listing or rental agent, assistant in a department of a large real estate organization, or in the mortgage division of a bank or savings and loan. 

 

Formal education is available while working in real estate. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and its Institutes, Societies and Councils sponsor continuing education programs for members, and award designations for specialty areas of real estate.

 

Helping people buy and sell homes is one of the most important and basic services a real estate agent performs. Agents are experts in the process of buying and selling property, financing, government programs, etc. The real estate agent's expertise facilitates the transaction, saving clients time, trouble and money. Real estate professionals need to have a thorough knowledge of such areas as real estate law, local economics, fair housing laws, types of financing, mortgages and government programs.

 

BUDD REALTY – THE ONLY PLACE TO BE LICENSED!

 

            A rather bold statement, wouldn’t you say? It is a bold statement. With all the brokerage firms that are out there, all claiming the same thing, what makes us standout among the others? Consider:

 

1.                 Management Experience.

 

Ken McIlvaine has been a REALTOR® since 1974 – 34 years, non-stop. He has been a real estate broker since 1978, owned two separate brokerage companies, one building corporation, developed two new home communities and built over 175 residential homes. He is a New Jersey State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser (SCRREA), holds designations awarded by the National Association of RELATORS as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI), a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and a Certified Residential Brokerage Manager (CRB). He has been a Real Estate Consultant for a large non-profit organization, advising on all forms of real estate in the six southern counties of New Jersey; to this day, he continues to counsel on their real estate holdings. He has over 1500 hours in commercial real estate appraising. He is a former member of the Gloucester/Salem County Board of Realtors Professional Standards Committee.

 

In today’s ever changing world of real estate, no sales associate should be without a broker of this caliber. Support and guidance is essential to a successful career in real estate. We believe that no other broker of record in the Gloucester, Salem and Camden County Board of Realtors holds all of these designations and certifications. Ken’s experience in negotiating and marketing far exceeds the majority of brokers who are actively practicing in the real estate field today. His knowledge and expertise can make the difference between a sale being consummated or simply falling off the table.

 

 

2.                 Dedication to Sales Staff.

Over the years, we have observed that many corporations view their company by placing ownership first, then management, then administrative, and finally sales staff last. At Budd Realty, we see this as upside down. We have and always will place ownership and management last in the list of priorities in the management structure.

 

                                                                    SALES STAFF IS FIRST!

 

In the absence of a qualified, hard working sales staff, no brokerage firm can expect to exist, let alone participate in the highly competitive field of real estate marketing and sales. As such, Budd Realty recognizes our sales staff as being the primary asset of the organization. We strive to attend to their needs, in all respects. We appreciate the fact they have chosen our company and trust in our guidance in assisting them be the success they set out to be. This is a business of people and relationships. When you join our sales team, we view our commitment to you as a long-term relationship, one in which you grow to exceed your expectations and one where we can be proud of having been instrumental in that process. Our dedication to your success is paramount.

 

3.                 New Office Facilities.

 

   The office environment is a significant part in the success of the real estate agent. In addition to being functional, the environment must look professional.

 

We have enjoyed a great deal of success over the past seven years. In that time, I am happy to say that we have outgrown our current office space. For the past two years we have been developing a site plan and architectural drawings that are completely designed around the real estate agent.

 

Our new location is in the heart of Deptford Township with the street address being 901 Cooper Street. We are located approximately 800 feet from the intersection of Delsea Drive and Cooper Street – within walking distance to the Deptford Township Municipal Building.

 

 

 

As with any real estate investment, location is critical in the overall plan. We have chosen this location due to its high traffic visibility and strategic positioning and nearby municipalities, which host countless residential housing developments.

 

 

                                                          

                                                    First Floor Plan

 

The first floor plan provides for one very large conference room, reception/waiting area, copier-files cabinets, men’s and ladies rooms, lunch room and individual sales person work stations. Each work station has hard-wired computer network connections, telephone and, as an option for those using wireless laptops, point to point wireless connections.  Teh conference room boasts a wireless ceiling mounted projector, HD TV, wireless conference phone and beautiful 12 person conference table.

             

             

 

Second Floor Plan

 

The second floor plan provides for the processing department, management offices, conference room, men’s and ladies rooms, lunchroom and  individual sales associate’s workstations

            

  

Basement Plan

The basement plan provides even more individual sales associate’s workstations. Training facilities are also located in the basement.

 

 

4.                 Training.

 

As you enter into the exciting and ever changing world of real estate, you will find that continuing education is paramount.  Other real estate offices offer a two-week training course, boot camp or even leave you to your own devices.  What Budd Realty offers to their agents is truly unique.  When you join the team at Budd, you will receive one-on-one training with our office manager and development coordinator.  You will then have the ability to attend a listing presentation and settlement with the president of the company!  We honestly believe that the one-on-one training is the best route to go as every individual possesses different strengths and weaknesses and this is the best way to build upon that and make you the best real estate agent you can be.

 

In addition Ken, the broker himself, actually conducts training seminars on a regular basis.  The new office is equipped with plasma TV’s, projectors and screens and is wireless so he is easily able to teach with power point presentations and the like.   Some of the topics he covers in these trainings are appraisals, foreclosures, tax issues, personal marketing/budgeting, just to name a few.

 

At our sales meetings we have guest speakers to discuss the different issues that directly affect us as real estate agents.  These guest speakers range from mortgage representatives to inspectors to contractors and many more.  And, of course, we also have tools such as DVD’s, CD’s, books and marketing programs to supplement ALL of this training you would already be receiving.

 

 

       5.           Compensation.

 

We offer our agents the best of both worlds, no over-head costs and a graduated commission scale.  That’s right, the agent does not have to pay for advertising, desk fees, etc. yet can actually earn up to 90% commission!  Unheard of, but we believe if our agents are happy and successful, the company as a whole will continue to thrive.

 

 

 

If you would like to contact us to further discuss how we can put you on the road to success and other opportunities Budd Realty has to offer, simply give us a call or click on the “Contact Us” link.