We Create Success
We firmly believe that companies don’t succeed, people do and that is why we at Harcourts focus on the success of each and every member of our team in order for us to achieve our goals as an organisation. This forms one of our core values. That is why we focus on providing our people with the following:
• Industry-leading training and coaching through the Harcourts Academy
• Support, guidance and leadership from our dedicated, experienced management team
• Cutting-edge technology and systems
• World-class marketing products
Not only do we provide the tools and support for every individual within our organisation to succeed, we also have an uncompromising culture that is focused on our people, fun and laughter. We believe in celebrating successes and do so regularly with recognition events and performance incentives. We make sure our people have an opportunity to shine!
Our Values
People First
Being Courageous
Doing the Right Thing
Fun and Laughter
These eleven simple words say it all! They provide the crucial focus for us every day. They are four beliefs by which we work. They are the Harcourts values.
If you enjoy negotiating with people and find satisfaction in seeing something through to completion, value honesty and integrity, are customer service oriented, and identify strongly with our core values, then a career in real estate with Harcourts Real Estate (SA) may be for you.
For more information, please refer below to the points briefly explaining what a property consultant’s responsibilities are, skills needed, and information pertaining to work environment, salary, and legislative requirements.
A property consultant (estate agent) usually specialises in either sales or letting, either of residential or commercial properties, businesses or land on behalf of their clients. They look at the property’s condition and compare it with others in the area to value it and get the best price for the client. They also market the property and negotiate on deals. In this sense, estate agents perform a mixture of sales, marketing, administration functions, and even act as counsellors from time-to-time in performing their roles.
Responsibilities
As a property consultant (sales) you will need to:
• gather a thorough working knowledge of the property market and your ‘farming’ area
• keep up to date with trends in the relevant property market
• be au fait with current legislation pertaining to property, tax and municipal regulations
• source and liaise with new clients; keep in touch with established clients – understand clients’ needs whether they are buyers or sellers and acquire a detailed understanding of what they want in a property
• appraise properties and set prices
• advertise, market and promote properties for sale and for rent that are on the books
• take prospective buyers to a number of suitable properties
• negotiate contracts with buyers and sellers
• meet with other estate agencies
• monitor sales as they proceed and liaise with all interested parties, including bond originators, conveyancers, surveyors and other estate agents
• sit at ‘show houses’ which are viewed by prospective buyers over weekends
• be available to both parties (buyers and sellers) all the time
If you work in rentals you’ll also need to:
• vet prospective tenants by collecting references and carrying out credit checks
• ensure properties meet legal and health and safety requirements, e.g. gas safety certificates
• draw up rental agreement contracts
• collect or organise rent payments
• act as a property manager and resolve any issues that arise with properties
Skills
A successful property consultant will have the following skills and abilities:
• skills in negotiation and persuasion to win clients and achieve success in deals
• a confident and outgoing manner to gain trust and give reassurance
• customer service focus to keep clients happy
• determination, perseverance and patience
• honesty and integrity
• a sense of diplomacy
• strong organisational, time management and administrative skills
• able to handle rejection
• financial awareness and the ability to achieve sales targets
• ability and willingness to learn
• excellent communication skills for liaising with different professional contacts
• an understanding of marketing techniques to help market the properties
• be IT literate
Qualifications
A degree is not an essential entry requirement for this career, however, increasing competition for employment means that a tertiary qualification in one of the following subjects may give you an added advantage:
• business and commerce related studies
• legal studies
• civil and structural engineering
• property development and/or management
• surveying
• urban and land studies
While prior experience is not essential, a sales, administrative or customer service background can be useful as you will have developed some of the required skills. As there is an increasing amount of applicable legislation which has to be understood by those in the profession, experience of legal work may also be an advantage.
Work Environment
Property consultants typically work a 40 - 50 hour week. Working hours include so-called ‘unsocial’ hours and weekends, particularly Sundays. Working in the evening is a regular feature and you may be required to work extra hours, especially when completing deals for clients.
Work is generally office based, but you will also spend a significant amount of time spent visiting properties, either for valuations and marketing opportunities or for viewings with potential buyers.
As travel within a working day is so frequent, a driver’s licence and own transportation is a likely requirement of the job. You will be expected to dress smartly in corporate wear and the Harcourts’ colours.
Salary
This is a commission-based role. While working solely for commission can be nerve-wracking, the rewards can be great.
Professional Development
As part of an international brand, at Harcourts Real Estate (SA), we have the resources and expertise to provide you with an advantage in real estate. Harcourts offers national and local training, systems and support that ensure our people are a step ahead. With access to classroom, on-the-job and online training courses to constantly improve your skills and knowledge, Harcourts can offer a career path filled with opportunity to grow.
Upon entering the profession, you will have an in-house induction, which may last one or two weeks, giving you an insight into the running of the business and the legislation attached to the real estate industry. Thereupon, a new entrant to the industry is required to achieve the qualification FETC: Real Estate (NQF level 4), to complete a compulsory 12 month internship under the mentorship of a principal estate agent or an experienced estate agent (who has continuously held a valid fidelity fund certificate issued by the EAAB for a period of at least three years) and to write and pass a professional designate exam (PDE) at the end of the internship. This aligns the real estate professional education and training requirements with those of the legal and accounting professions.
The compulsory internship is aimed to equip the intern estate agent with relevant workplace learning required to operate successfully in the industry. During this period you must maintain a ‘Portfolio of Evidence’ (complete a logbook) which shows the various areas, functions and activities you were taking part in, inter alia:
• first class customer service
• negotiation
• dealing with difficult people
• marketing and sales
• agency administration and management
• effective leadership
• essential law for real estate practitioners, including conveyancing practice and procedure.
You will also need to complete:
Further Education and Training Certificate: NQF in Real Estate Level 4 - SAQA Qualification 59097
This usually consists of 6 sessions which last between 3 to 5 days each, over a 6 month period. After each session, the intern must complete written assignments which are to be handed in. These assignments also form part of their Portfolio of Evidence. In terms of the Estate Agency Affairs Act (112 of 1976), every Estate Agent and agency must obtain a Fidelity Fund Certificate (FFC) from the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB). You may be certificated against the qualification after undergoing training through an accredited education provider approved by the EAAB.
If the intern estate agent holds a degree or national diploma in specific fields he/she could possibly be exempt from having to achieve the FETC: Real Estate. During the 12 month internship period, an intern estate agent may also approach an accredited education provider approved by the EAAB, to request an exemption from completing the full qualification and complete an exemption process against the EAAB’s approved equivalency matrix for FETC: Real Estate (NQF 4).
Where the intern’s qualification does not fully meet the equivalency exemption process requirements, the intern may complete the qualification by way of ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ which will allow interns with any relevant previous experience and learning an opportunity to be granted credits against the qualification and thus allowing them an opportunity to only complete training on only those unit standards that were identified for gap training.
If this is you, and you are considering a career in real estate, applications are now open. We offer unparalleled training, knowledge, support and leadership from the best in the industry. To apply send your CV to: careers@harcourts.co.za
