If you have ever purchased a home, you probably hired an inspector to look it over before you completed the transaction. As a savvy homebuyer, you likely followed the inspector throughout the home asking questions, or you at least carefully reviewed the final report. Perhaps it was then that you considered exploring the idea of becoming a home inspector yourself. 

No matter where the spark came from, your goal of having a career as a home inspector is a noble one. Inspectors often save potential buyers thousands of dollars by finding problems in a structure that can justifiably break a deal. They also help ensure the homes people buy are safe and functional. If this sounds appealing, you may be wondering how to begin your path toward a career as a home inspector. 

Taking your first steps 

You do not need a college degree to become an inspector, but you do need certain skills, such as attention to detail and impeccable customer service. It also helps if you have a basic knowledge of construction and an interest in the real estate industry. On the job, you will be taking notes about what you observe, and you will need to transcribe those notes into a format your customers can understand. You may also sit with your clients to discuss your findings, so communication skills are key.  

To get started in your career as a home inspector, you will need to take the following steps: 

• Learn what your state requires to obtain your license, which may be slightly different from other states. 
• Enroll in state-approved courses to prepare for your licensing exam. 
• Consider expanding your education by taking other related courses, such as electrical engineering, construction basics or even business management. 
• Complete any additional training your state requires for an inspection license. 
• Apply to take the exam with the real estate or home inspector commission in your state. 

• Pass the exam. 
• Prepare a business plan to start your new career. 

You will also need to renew your license periodically by taking continuing education courses and other training. Many schools offer these courses online, which makes it convenient to fit into your busy schedule. Some home inspectors work independently, and others work for a company. Depending on where in the country you live, you may find your job as a home inspector can produce a comfortable salary and plenty of potential to expand and grow. 

Showing a home to prospective buyers can be exciting for you and your client. This might be the one that checks all the boxes on the client’s wish list, and you may be on your way to earning a commission. While you may be concerned about highlighting the selling points and answering the client’s questions, there are several points of courtesy you should not neglect. 

Real estate agents have a code of ethics, especially those who are members of the National Association of Realtors. Above this, there are some aspects of professionalism that have evolved into unwritten rules. It is easy to forget that the home you are showing belongs to someone, and it is important that you and your clients treat the property and the residents with respect. 

Showing respect for the homeowner 

One of the biggest complaints homeowners have when it comes to showings is that agents fail to contact them when the showing is cancelled or the agent is running late. Life happens, and appointments are not always easy to keep. However, always consider the effort and energy the residents may have expended to prepare the home for your client, gather their children, crate their pets and other steps, only to have no one show up or bother to call. This can be very disheartening for a seller. 

Showing up and being on time are important acts of courtesy, but the following are also ways you can show professionalism and respect as a real estate agent: 

• Always knock and announce yourself before entering, just in case someone is home when you arrive. 
• Avoid tracking dirt in on your feet. 
• Take care to prevent uncrated cats or dogs from escaping. 
• Discourage clients from handling the owners’ personal belongings, including opening drawers or looking in the fridge. 
• Don’t adjust the heat or air conditioning. 

• Make sure your clients keep their children close by instead of allowing them to roam or run through the house. 

Because it is someone else’s home, you will not want to make yourselves at home or linger over small talk. Once the clients have seen the house, escort them out and lock the doors, but not before making sure all the lights are out and everything inside is exactly as you found it. Remember to leave your business card on the counter and replace the key in the lockbox. Following these and other rules of common courtesy, you can build a reputation as a real estate agent with high standards. 

It seems like reality TV that highlights the glamor of the real estate world has renewed the nation’s interest in real estate as a career. Watching snappy-looking agents showing luxury homes in exotic locations, narrowing the field to a few homes, and closing the sale within an hour can be enticing to someone who is looking for a change of career. 

However, it is important to realize that the heavily edited TV shows do not show the whole picture. While there are certainly many positive reasons to pursue a career in real estate, it is smart to take the plunge with your eyes open. In this way, you may avoid shock and disappointment when you don’t earn a million-dollar commission in your first year as an agent. 

The reality of real estate 

As exciting and rewarding as a career in real estate may be, the work is long, and much of it is administrative, especially when you are just starting out. Instead of working Monday through Friday from nine to five, you can expect to work evenings and weekends if it fits a client’s schedule. When you aren’t showing houses or closing sales, you will likely be doing market research, following up on leads and networking with other agents and brokers. Other surprising truths about life as an agent include the following: 

• Clients will not be beating down your door. In fact, a large part of your job will be tracking down leads and building a client base, and this may involve persistent contact with prospects. 

• Not every client will be a good fit for you. It’s important to be yourself when dealing with clients so everyone involved can see if they click together. 
• Your job is more about building relationships than selling property. This means you may work with a client for years before they make a decision. 
• You will benefit from growing some tough skin because you may have to deal with difficult clients, competitive agents and even people who want to sue you. 

Some tricks can help you improve the chances of more quickly reaching your goals in the real estate world. For example, getting your real estate license in more than one state can open doors because clients who are relocating will know where to come for assistance. Becoming social media savvy is an excellent way to create a brand, network and to reach your potential client base all at once. There is no question that real estate is a challenging business, but those who succeed wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Real estate is one industry where your personal qualities can be a positive factor in your success. Are you outgoing with an appropriate sense of humor? Do you genuinely like being around people? Do you have good manners, good grooming and a reasonable sense of style? These combined with your quality training may improve your chances of connecting well with your clients and building a business based on repeat customers and glowing referrals. 

Unfortunately, these positive factors do not come naturally for everyone who becomes a real estate agent. Additionally, the longer you work in the business, the more likely some bad habits may creep in if you are complacent.  

A long look in the mirror 

It is always a good idea to do some self-evaluation at the beginning of a new career, but it is also wise to do a follow-up from time to time. You may be shocked to recognize that some bad habits or negative attitudes have darkened your professional demeanor. For example, if real estate agents have any of the following annoying characteristics, many clients will not want to work with them again: 

• Instead of being confident in their knowledge and skill, they are arrogant and think their way is the only way. 

• Instead of being willing to learn new methods to reach clients and stay current with the latest marketing tools, they find one technique that is comfortable and stick with it. 
• Instead of finding the best possible situation for a client even if it takes a little extra effort, they are focused on getting the commission and moving on to the next sale. 
• Instead of being organized enough to make time to stay in contact with each client, their busy schedules prevent them from returning calls and messages in a timely manner. 
• Instead of offering a sincere apology when something goes wrong, they apologize too much either because they lack confidence or because they are trying to manipulate. 
• Instead of being prepared to work evenings and weekends for their clients, they expect that their job as a real estate agent should not interfere with their personal plans. 

Perhaps one of the most annoying habits some real estate agents develop is deciding what the client wants instead of really listening to the client’s needs and wishes. This may include directing a buyer to a condo when she is looking for a house, or trying to sell someone a property he cannot afford. While no one is perfect, and everyone has personal flaws and annoying traits, you may have to periodically self-evaluate to discover if any of your habits could be the ones that will chase away your clients. 

When someone is looking to buy or sell property, they are usually about to embark on an emotional endeavor as well as taking an enormous financial step. A real estate transaction can be one of the most, if not the most, significant financial ventures consumers may undertake in a lifetime, so it is understandable that they will want to deal with a real estate agent they trust. 

If you are a real estate agent or working your way toward obtaining your license, you certainly want to have a reputation for trustworthiness and integrity. However, this is often a quality you must convey well before clients hire you to handle their transactions. Your clients may not have the time to get to know you to learn how honest and reliable you are, especially if they begin their relationship with you online. You will want to know the most effective ways to demonstrate these important qualities. 

Your reputation precedes you 

When real estate clients answer surveys about their experiences with agents, the most positive comments involve agents who are competent, transparent and honest. Technology allows buyers and sellers to shop around online for an agent with whom they feel comfortable. Therefore, it is wise for you to earn your clients’ approval by taking the following steps: 

• Never stop increasing your knowledge of your region and your skills as an agent. 

• Know your clients’ experience in the real estate world and meet them at their level. 
• Fulfill every promise you make to your clients and don’t make promises you cannot keep. 
• Listen carefully to your clients and be certain you understand their goals and concerns. 
• Stay in contact with your clients; don’t make them have to chase you down to get answers or updates. 
• Use your social media to highlight your clients, not yourself, including posting informative and entertaining posts. 

Your online presence will be quite valuable to your success. Research shows that nearly a third of prospective real estate clients use online reviews before choosing an agent. Others use agent websites and past sales histories to evaluate whether an agent will be a good fit. Ideally, you can impress your clients with your integrity, transparency and knowledge so that they will leave convincing, positive reviews. These reviews may be the first good impression you can make on future clients. 

Getting your real estate license does not mean you will automatically have clients knocking down your door to buy or sell property. Other agents may tell you they get much of their business from repeat customers as well as clients who have recommended them to friends and family. So how do you get these kinds of customers if you haven’t made a sale yet? 

You may spend a large portion of your initial years in the business building a client base and following leads. The trick is to maximize every opportunity to create those leads. You may not have repeat customers just yet, but there are plenty of people who are looking to make real estate transactions. It is up to you to find them and keep them. 

Get busy right now! 

Perhaps you think you have to wait until you get your real estate license to build your business. This is not necessarily so. In fact, while you are working on your license is a good time to start priming potential clients by spreading the word to neighbors, friends, family and others that you are starting a new career in real estate. Once you obtain your license, you can contact those people to let them know you are ready to help them buy or sell their homes.  

Generating leads 

Chances are, many of your friends and family may not be in the market for a home just yet, but you can ask them to refer their friends and families to you. In this way, you are building a network of potential leads. Other ways to generate leads and find clients include: 

• Adding a personal touch to each email you send even if you are using a template 
• Using your social media and updating it regularly 
• Posting on community boards and apps, but being careful not to spam them 
• Paying for leads through online services or by purchasing leads from a real estate agent who is retiring 

• Creating a website that is more than just MLS listings. 

Your website can be a go-to resource for people who are looking for answers to their real estate questions. In addition to including an interesting and heartfelt biography so potential clients can personally relate to you, you can include an informative blog. Your blog can address common topics buyers and sellers may be interested in learning about, such as the steps in a real estate transaction. The website may also have an FAQ page and links to local resources in addition to the MLS listings. 

Once you have successfully worked with clients, stay in touch with them, such as sending a card on the anniversary of the day they closed on their home. If they had a positive experience with you, it is likely they will refer you to their friends and will want to work with you again in the future.  

Once you have a client ready to make an offer on a house, it’s easy to think you have won the battle, especially if the client has been difficult or indecisive. However, even if the client seems ready to move forward with the transaction, you still have many challenges ahead and many opportunities for your client to back out of the deal. 

It is natural for homebuyers, and even sellers sometimes, to become overwhelmed, intimidated or nervous about the decision they are about to undertake. After all, it is often the biggest investment they will make, and it is understandable that they may have second thoughts. However, part of your job as a real estate agent is to get your clients over those hurdles and into their new homes with minimal stress and no regrets. 

Sealing the deal starts early in the process 

Closing the deal takes skill and experience, and the more opportunities you have to work with clients, the more you will develop your own style and technique. There are, however, certain points that are foundational to any system for closing the deal, including: 

• Listen to the client; this cannot be overstated. The only way to understand the needs and goals of your clients is to listen carefully to what they say and don’t say. 

• Anticipate the factors that may trigger a flight response, which becomes a greater risk the closer you get to closing. 
• Always respond to your clients’ calls and questions as soon as possible. Nervous clients quickly lose heart when they feel their agent has forgotten them. 
• Even if you are working for the buyer, do not overlook the seller’s needs, or the seller may back out and cost you the sale.  
• Reinforce the positive from the very beginning by reminding them of their goals, especially during the times of chaos and uncertainty. 

Getting your clients to the closing table is often a delicate balancing act that may test your negotiating skills. For example, you want to be encouraging and positive, but you should also be completely honest. You may be so close to getting that commission, but you still have an obligation to be perfectly frank with your client whenever something new develops.  

Your experience in the real estate industry will help you gain confidence and develop a keen sense of timing. Until then, you can always seek out veteran agents who are willing to share their own insights with you. 

As with most jobs that deal with the public, real estate agents often work with some difficult clients. You may already have had experiences with clients who have no idea what they want, are too picky about every property you show them, or are irritatingly arrogant and think they know everything about your job. How should you handle these clients without damaging your chances of making the sale?

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution because there are no two clients alike. However, some basic methods for dealing with people may help you bring out the best in your clients and forge constructive relationships that lead to positive transactions and future success for you.

Building rapport

In many cases, the behavior of a difficult client is a system of self-preservation, which is understandable in a high-stress situation like a real estate transaction. Buying or selling a home or other property means taking an expensive leap of faith, and making a mistake may result in years of frustration and struggle. So if some clients seem a little aloof, aggressive, indecisive or even angry, try to see things from their perspective by using the following methods:

• Being honest: Making false promises to assuage your clients or avoid losing a potential sale is not the way to win their trust.
• Setting expectations: Clients may not see the whole picture like you do, so it may reduce their stress if you let them know what to expect and how long each phase should take.
• Getting to know your client: The information clients give you about themselves, their goals, and their likes and dislikes can be invaluable for helping you connect with them.
• Asking the right questions: Using what you know about your clients, you may be able to narrow down the listings that may be right for them.
• Resisting the urge to get defensive: Know-it-all clients may get your dander up, but deep breaths and calm reasoning are often effective in softening their tone.
• Not taking it personally: When a client is arrogant, argumentative or even insulting, it may be a way of dealing with the stress and intimidation of the real estate process.

Above all, really listening may be one of the most effective ways to handle an uncooperative client. Buyers or sellers who feel they are little more than a commission to you may have trust issues that prevent them from opening up. Your sincere attention to their needs and wishes, your ability to remember what is important to them, and your genuine concern for their best interests may break through the hard exterior and put them at ease.

Whether you have spent time in the real estate business or you are looking for a change of pace in your career, choosing to become a real estate appraiser is a smart move for those who have the right qualifications and attitude. As long as properties exchange hands, appraisers will be in demand. Seeking a mortgage, going through probate, filing for divorce and other events often require appraisals before moving forward. The potential for success is high for the right candidates.

Do you enjoy exploring properties and buildings? Can you appreciate the finer features of a building without losing your objectivity about its overall value? Are you a realist who can see the details behind cosmetic fixes? If you have these and other qualities and are willing to network to build your business, you may be headed toward a fulfilling career.

How do I get started?

Like many jobs in the real estate industry, you do not need any experience to get started. What is also attractive to many is that a college degree is not necessary unless you want to progress beyond the basic certification. However, you will have to undergo formal training to get your license. While each state sets its own standards for licensing appraisers, most requirements are similar from state to state, including the following:

• A certain number of hours of intense coursework, including learning about various types of real estate, market analyses and land valuation
• Application to the state licensing board to take your exam
• Successful completion of the appraisal examination
• Apprenticeship with certified supervisor

Your license will be valid for two years, so you should plan to continue your education in order to renew your license before it expires. You may find online courses that will fit your schedule and allow you to work at your own pace. If you choose to enhance your certification, you can take additional courses, earn a college degree and apply for further exams to become a Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser. These credentials can further the scope of your career, opening even more opportunities.

Working as an appraiser can be very rewarding. You will need good communication skills and a keen eye. Property owners will want your appraisals to be as high as possible, but lenders may push you to keep the value low. You should be prepared for this, remaining confident in your knowledge and the skills you have obtained so you can provide solid reasons for your conclusion.

Preparing a house for sale is not always easy, especially when your clients have lived in the home comfortably for many years. There may be much the homeowners will have to clean and rooms to de-clutter before you can help them create an appealing picture for potential buyers. At this point in the process, staging is everything.

Staging is preparing a home for sale by making it as attractive as possible to potential buyers. Staging a home gives interested home buyers an idea of what the house might look and feel like if they lived there. The idea is to provide a warm and inviting atmosphere, accentuating the positive features in the home and downplaying those less appealing spaces. There are some tricks to doing it right and some mistakes you will want to avoid.

Keep it warm and simple

To fit more furniture in a room, homeowners may arrange couches and chairs so that they block off doorways or create an awkward pattern of movement from one area to another. Rearranging the furniture to maximize the space and to create a logical, easy flow is often the first step to staging. Of course, this may mean removing some pieces of furniture and minimizing the clutter, but the result may give buyers the impression of space and light. Other easy staging ideas include the following:

• Redecorating gender-specific bedrooms with more neutral colors and décor
• Maximizing views by replacing heavy window treatments and removing any furniture that is blocking the windows
• Remembering to declutter and organize closets and storage areas since buyers typically want to see what is behind the closed doors
• Accenting special features in the house, such as fireplaces or built-in bookcases, by arranging furniture to showcase those items
• Avoiding trendy or dated decorations and instead using subtle colors and simple décor, such as books in the bedroom, table settings in the dining room and clean towels artfully stacked in the bathroom

Prospective buyers want to envision their own belongings in the home, so decluttering and removing personal items is important. However, it is also important not to go overboard. A bare room devoid of any décor, color or personality can seem unwelcoming and cold. Therefore, you will want to leave some simple accessories, a piece of art on the wall and plenty of light so the house looks like a home and not a hotel room. In many cases, proper staging has helped sell homes quickly for a good price.