Real Estate Sales Agents

• Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other.
• Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
• Advise clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, legal requirements and related matters.
• Promote sales of properties through advertisements, open houses, and participation in multiple listing services.
• Accompany buyers during visits to and inspections of property, advising them on the suitability and value of the homes they are visiting.
• Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds and leases.
• Confer with escrow companies, lenders, home inspectors, and pest control operators to ensure that terms and conditions of purchase agreements are met before closing dates.
• Interview clients to determine what kinds of properties they are seeking.
• Coordinate property closings, overseeing signing of documents and disbursement of funds.
• Generate lists of properties that are compatible with buyers' needs and financial resources.
• Arrange for title searches to determine whether clients have clear property titles.
• Display commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential properties to clients and explain their features.
• Contact property owners and advertise services to solicit property sales listings.
• Review property listings, trade journals, and relevant literature, and attend conventions, seminars, and staff and association meetings to remain knowledgeable about real estate markets.
• Coordinate appointments to show homes to prospective buyers.
• Answer clients' questions regarding construction work, financing, maintenance, repairs, and appraisals.
• Advise sellers on how to make homes more appealing to potential buyers.
• Investigate clients' financial and credit status to determine eligibility for financing.
• Develop networks of attorneys, mortgage lenders, and contractors to whom clients may be referred.
• Inspect condition of premises, and arrange for necessary maintenance or notify owners of maintenance needs.
• Conduct seminars and training sessions for sales agents to improve sales techniques.
• Evaluate mortgage options to help clients obtain financing at the best prevailing rates and terms.
• Arrange meetings between buyers and sellers when details of transactions need to be negotiated.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Real Estate Sales Agents.

• Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Real Estate Sales Agents.