Being independent, self-motivated and ambitious may have been key factors that compelled you to earn your real estate license. Now that you’ve been building your brand and establishing a presence in your community as a successful sales agent, you might be feeling the itch to take your career to the next level. For agents, this typically means furthering your education to become a real estate broker.

Your feelings right now might be similar to the way you felt when you were deciding several years ago whether enrolling in real estate school was a good risk to take. You might be asking: Is becoming a broker a good fit for me? Is this the right time to go back to school? Do I have what it takes to be a good broker? Remember how you felt before enrolling the first time, and look how far you’ve come since then!

Determine if becoming a real estate broker is right for you

Earning a broker’s license takes time, effort and money, although choosing a quality real estate school can help minimize cost and enable you to get the most out of the time and effort you put in to completing the pre-license education requirements to become a broker. The following list includes basic questions to ask yourself to determine if this career step is a good fit for you:

• Why do I want to become a broker?
• Am I interested in mentoring inexperienced sales agents?
• Can I afford to stop selling?
• Do I have what it takes to build a successful team, recruit new team members and manage an office?

If you were easily able to answer these questions, you might be ready to take your real estate career to the next level by earning your broker’s license.

What are the South Carolina requirements for brokers?

State law includes a list of requirements that must be met to be eligible for a real estate broker’s license. Several of them are as follows:

• You must have your real estate license for three consecutive years.
• You must complete Broker A and Broker B pre-license education courses.
• You must pass the state broker exam.
• You must complete 150 hours of required education, which may include the 90 hours you completed to take the real estate exam.

After completing pre-license requirements, you’ll be eligible to sit for the South Carolina broker exam. If you score 70% or higher on the test, you may apply for your license and start building a successful brokerage!

Just think—if you enroll in real estate school today, you could have a license in your hand to start selling homes before autumn rolls around. After studying and working so hard to learn as much as you can and to pass your final exam, you’ll want to launch your business on solid ground. Tapping into the right resources can help you form a strong support network that, in turn, can help you build a profitable South Carolina real estate business.

Your network should include numerous professionals who play key roles in the real estate business. It takes time to get to know people and to connect with people you trust, whose work ethics you admire—people you’d be comfortable recommending to clients, and people you can count on to give you referrals, as well. There’s no reason to wait. You can start making connections while you’re studying to earn your sales license. In this blog post, you’ll find a list of suggestions for real estate professionals you’ll want to add to your network.

Home inspectors should be part of your real estate support network

The inspection process is an integral component of a home sale transaction. While you may, on occasion, when working as a buyer’s agent, have a client who chooses to waive a home inspection to submit an offer with no contingencies (which sometimes happens when there are multiple offers on the table and a buyer wants his or her offer to stand out from the others) it is somewhat rare. Good home inspectors who are reliable and timely are a great asset to realtors who are hoping to get to the closing table quickly.

Whether an inspection is taking place as a normal part of a home sale or clients are planning to have their home inspected after they move in because they’re waiving the contingency, it benefits you, as an agent, to be able to recommend home inspectors in your area. Take time to discover who the best inspectors are, and keep their contact information on hand.

Which mortgage lenders would you recommend to a client?

Without mortgage approval, a home sale can’t happen, unless a client happens to have the full amount needed in cash. Most buyers take out mortgage loans. As a sales agent, you’ll meet many buyers who are in the market for a new home but haven’t yet connected with lenders to seek mortgage loan approval. Get to know which lenders provide prospective clients with estimates in the most timely manner, who can offer the most cost-effective rates, and who can be trusted to successfully close a transaction and complete the approval process.

A client doesn’t necessarily have to accept your recommendation for a preferred mortgage lender. However, incorporating several quality lenders into your support network is never a bad idea.

Your clients might appreciate recommendations for movers

Another group to add to your support network as a real estate agent might include moving companies. Having a mover lined up can help expedite, or, at least prevent delays a scheduled closing. This also happens to be a niche where there are often dramatic differences in quality. Being able to provide recommendations to your clients for trustworthy, quality movers is a benefit to you as an agent.

Miscellaneous resources that help build a strong network

Your options are basically limitless regarding who you can add to your support network, especially as a newly licensed South Carolina real estate agent. In addition to the groups mentioned earlier, the following list includes several other professionals who may be willing to form a connection that can benefit your business as well as their own:

• Landscapers/contractors/painters
• Local hotel and restaurant owners
• Home appraisers
• Professional home stagers
• Financial advisers
• Architects

Forming a strong support network from the start builds a base from which you can grow a successful, profitable real estate business. Don’t wait until you have your license to begin making connections. Start now!

In every South Carolina industry, you’ll find some people who are a perfect fit for a certain type of work and others who would be much better off somewhere else. It can be frustrating to invest a lot of time and effort (and, sometimes, money) into a particular niche, only to later realize that you’re not cut out to do the job. Regarding real estate sales, for instance, it’s best to determine ahead of time if you have characteristics and attributes that would enable you to build a profitable business.

Every real estate business is unique, yet many real estate agents have certain things in common, which make them a good fit for the industry. If you don’t like the ideas listed in this blog post, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should disregard real estate sales as a potential career. However, if you read this post and think real estate sales is something you’d enjoy, you're encouraged to research schools in your area to determine if you’d like to enroll.

Real estate sales involves more than direct selling

As a licensed real estate agent in South Carolina, you’ll be doing a lot of behind-the-scene work. Such duties might include writing listings, creating and sending out flyers, filing documents, drafting comparative analysis reports, updating blogs, websites and social media pages, and more. You’ll also make many phone calls, send text messages and emails, as well as schedule appointments, showings, open houses and closings.

While working in real estate sales may enable you to have more control over your schedule, you will no doubt be busy on most days. If you’re an energetic person who enjoys being on the go, you might be a good fit for the real estate industry.

You’ll spend a lot of time generating leads

To be successful at selling homes in South Carolina, you need a strong client base. To build your client base, you have to generate many leads. Lead generation can occur in many ways, but most agents start with their family members and friends. You can also generate leads while working in your community, volunteering at your child’s school (if you’re a parent) and in many other areas, as well.

You will help people achieve their goals 

If you are not a “people person,” it might be best to pursue work in another industry. A primary activity in real estate sales is interaction with other people. You will do it every day, in some form or other. Many agents say that helping people find their dream home is a rewarding business. If you think you have what it takes to turn a profit in real estate, you can enroll in a quality school and have your license in hand in less than 18 weeks.

If you’ve decided to become a licensed South Carolina real estate agent, you’ve got some work cut out for you in the months ahead. Choosing to enroll in a top-rated school is a key to success. Such schools typically have faculty members who are willing to go above and beyond to help you master concepts, share their own real-world experiences and impart valuable knowledge and wisdom to help you prepare for your real estate exam and for future success in the real estate industry.

Even with support from the best instructors, there’s always a risk that you may not perform well on your state exam. In fact, many people fail the test on their first attempt. There’s usually a reason for that. In this post, you’ll find some of the most common issues that can impede your performance when taking the South Carolina real estate exam. Being aware of such issues ahead of time may help you avoid them, so that you can score the 70% or higher needed to earn your license.

Take advantage of study guide resources for the real estate exam

One of the most common reasons people fail their real estate exam is lack of quality study materials. Some students think that their notes and assignments or quizzes they’ve taken in class are enough to help them prepare for the state test. Students who score highest on their state exams are those who make use of quality study guide materials. Such materials should include questions and answers regarding fundamental concepts, such as contracts, market analysis, disclosures, financing and more.

Not knowing what to study can result in poor test performance

Another reason to obtain quality study materials that are specifically designed to help you score well on your final real estate exam is that such materials are centrally focused on information and styles of questioning that you are likely to encounter on your state exam. You can have pages and pages of notes but if you’re not studying the right things, you may not achieve a passing grade when you take your final test.

Do you suffer from test anxiety?

If you tend to get so nervous that you can’t think straight when you take a test, you’ll want to learn more about how to reduce test anxiety before you sit for the South Carolina real estate exam. Test anxiety is one of the most common reasons people fail their state test on the first attempt.

Good study habits will help you score well on your real estate exam

Procrastination is not your friend when it comes to preparing for your real estate exam. Can you wait until the eleventh hour to study and still score a passing grade? Maybe, but waiting until the last minute to cram for the test can have disastrous results, as well, and increases the chances of scoring under the required percentage to pass the test.

With quality study materials, helpful instructors and strong effort on your part, you’ll not only feel well-prepared and ready to take the South Carolina real estate exam, you’ll be much more likely to pass the test with flying colors!

Procrastination can greatly impede your quality of life, especially regarding the dreams and goals you have in mind for your career. Unexpected issues can arise that temporarily keep you from moving forward toward your goals (such as illness or loss of income). However, more times than not, procrastination is at the center of a delay. If your dream is to earn a real estate license in South Carolina, you’ll want to lay the groundwork for success.

It’s helpful to understand what types of issues typically cause people to procrastinate, so that you can avoid them, or, at least, know how to overcome habits, mindsets or behaviors that are keeping you from achieving your goals. It’s also helpful to speak to others who have successfully forged similar paths ahead of you. Ask them if they struggled with procrastination at some point and what advice or guidance they might have to offer to help you keep moving forward.

Self-doubt can stall your real estate license plans

You must believe that you have what it takes to earn a real estate license to achieve your goals. Many times, it’s simply a lack of confidence that keeps people from pursuing their dreams. If you have a particular weakness that you think would hold you back as a real estate sales agent, such as feeling shy when meeting new people, you can take proactive steps to overcome the problem without letting it prevent you from accomplishing your goals.

Fear is often at the center of procrastination

You might fear failure. Then again, you might even fear success. Either way, fear is an emotion that can spark procrastination and keep you from obtaining your real estate license. Courage is the ability to keep moving forward despite your fears. Take time to analyze where the fear is coming from and determine ways that you can overcome it and keep pursuing your dream.

Money problems can be a real struggle

If you’re going to real estate school, you, of course, must pay for the curriculum you will use to fulfill the pre-license education hours required by state law to become eligible to sit for the South Carolina real estate exam. Financial challenges are not uncommon and shouldn’t necessarily keep you from pursuing your goals.

To overcome procrastination fueled by financial woes, try to think of ways to generate additional cashflow. You might be able to sell things you have on hand or create a side hustle (What skills or talents do you have to create income opportunities?) like a monetized blog or website.

Ask a friend or loved one to help with accountability

If you want to set a goal to earn a real estate license in South Carolina, ask someone you trust to help hold you accountable. Accept support and encouragement, so that when challenges arise or procrastination starts creeping in, the person you have chosen can help you overcome, rise above and keep moving forward toward your goal.

As a South Carolina real estate agent, you play a key role in helping sellers and buyers achieve their goals. When you’re dealing with buyers, you no doubt often have conversations about South Carolina living and all the amenities the state has to offer. Especially if prospective buyers are coming in from out of state, they might be interested in learning more about state history or interesting facts that make the area unique.

That’s why it’s a good idea to do some research to learn as much about South Carolina as you can, especially landmarks, events, people or things that make it stand out from other states. For instance, do you know that this state produces more peaches than any other state, except California? Read on, to learn some more unique and entertaining facts about “The Palmetto State.”

South Carolina was home to the tiniest police station in the country

Imagine getting arrested and being transported to a police station that is the size of an average toll booth. Up until 1990, that would have been possible in Ridgeway, South Carolina, which was then the home of the smallest police station in the United States. When it was first built, it functioned as a water well. It’s now used as an information booth.

Aliens are welcome in South Carolina

In Bowman, there is a special welcome center. A local resident constructed it in his backyard. It’s called the “UFO Welcome Center,” and its purpose is to welcome aliens to earth from outer space. The center is shaped like a flying saucer.

A unique DUI traffic stop law exists in this state

No one wants to get pulled over, especially if the police officer conducting the traffic stop suspects a driver of DUI. Your homebuying clients will want to know that South Carolina is the only state in the country that mandates videotaping for DUI traffic stops. Motorists should be aware that everything they do and say will be recorded if they are pulled over in a DUI stop.

You can’t live on Monkey Island if you’re a human

There’s an island in South Carolina, which is formally known as “Morgan Island.” What makes it so unique is that all its inhabitants (approximately 3,500) are rhesus monkeys. They are the only free-ranging colony of monkeys in the United States.

World class golf courses in Myrtle Beach

If your buyers are golf enthusiasts, they may be looking for a new home in the area because Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is the golf capital of the world! According to many PGA pros, the top three courses in the region include Dunes Golf & Beach Clug, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, and Tidewater Golf Club.

Use your spare time wisely to learn as much as you can about South Carolina

When you become a real estate agent, make it a priority to become a go-to for interesting facts and information about South Carolina, which can help you attract buyers to the area.

If you’ve been working as a real estate agent for several years now, you have hopefully achieved many successful closings. Working full time, you’ve no doubt developed your own style, marketed your business and established a brand that is easily recognizable in your community and online. As time passes, you might want to set new goals, such as focusing on a particular niche or taking your career a step further to become a broker.

The main benefit of becoming a broker is that it enables you to become fully independent in the industry. With your own broker’s license, you no longer must work under another brokerage. Learning more about state requirements to obtain a broker’s license will help you determine if it’s a good fit and if now is the right time to move forward.

You must have 3 active years in real estate sales to qualify

To qualify for a broker’s license, you must have three years of active service in real estate sales. These years of service must have occurred within five years prior to applying for a broker’s license. By fulfilling this requirement, you demonstrate that you have had the real-world experience necessary to work independently as a broker, as well as to lead other agents who might sign on to work under you.

A total of 150 hours of pre-license education is necessary

Every state has its own licensing requirements. In South Carolina, you must complete 60 hours of pre-license education to become eligible to sit for the broker exam, plus the 90 hours you already completed before taking your sales license exam. These hours are split between two separate courses. Once you have completed the course work and have studied well, you can take the state exam.

Similarities between the real estate exam and broker exam

You might recall that the state exam you took to earn your license as a sales agent included a section with national-based questions, as well as questions based on South Carolina laws and regulations. The broker exam is proctored in a similar format. You must correctly answer a total of 85 questions, 60 national-based questions and 25 state-based, to pass the test.

The last step includes a fee and application

A passing grade on the South Carolina broker exam enables you to submit the appropriate fee (it differs for a broker versus a broker-in-charge) and application to obtain your broker license. It’s quite possible to complete the entire process, including the time it takes to become a licensed agent and work in the field for three years, and earn a broker license in less than four years, which is how long it typically takes to earn a college degree.

Not everyone who reads this blog wants to become a licensed South Carolina real estate agent. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the industry has nothing to offer them regarding career options. If you’re interested in working in the real estate industry but not in sales, this post presents an alternative that might be a better fit for you. Have you ever considered becoming a home inspector?

In this state, you must complete a specific number of education hours to become eligible to sit for the license exam. This is similar to the process for becoming a sales agent. If you pass the test, you must then pass a background check. Once all the steps are complete, you may pay a fee and apply for your license.

As a home inspector, your day starts early

If you are not a morning person, a career as a South Carolina home inspector might not be a good fit for you. An inspector’s day typically begins somewhere between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on a regular basis. The usual routine would include reviewing the information for your assignments, then heading out to your first job site for inspections.

A home inspection includes indoor and outdoor work

Each time you conduct a home inspection, you will carefully and thoroughly observe and assess the assigned house. You can begin with the exterior of the home or inspect the inside first, then move to the outside, as long as you inspect both components of every home. If you’re doing your job correctly, a single inspection should take several hours to complete.

With each inspection, you will take photographs and record notes regarding specific issues that have raised your concern. This might include problems with the roof, drywall, air conditioning systems or the infrastructure of the home. Issues like water damage, signs of mildew or mold or electrical problems would also be of concern.

Working long hours with flexibility

If you work independently as a South Carolina home inspector, you can expect to put a lot of hours in each day. However, one of the benefits of this career is that you also have some control over your own schedule. While you do have to work many hours, you can also block out time to take care of personal matters or have vacation time, as well.

One of the first steps to take to become a licensed South Carolina home inspector is to complete the pre-license education portion of the process. Choosing a top-quality real estate school will set you on a path to success.