A real estate agent sells the property, whether a house, commercial building or a piece of land. The agent may also specialize in one or the other. They are also required by the state they live in, to be licensed. This is a requirement in all states an agent will be active in. There is a good deal to learn and going to a Real Estate School is a good idea to be encouraged. The school goes over every aspect of real estate careers and is instrumental in getting your license.
A listing agent is the agent, also licensed, who finds and procures the listing for a house or commercial building and is given permission, by the client, to promote and sell the different properties listed. There are also agents who do both selling and listing. The sale sign on the property also includes the listing agent's name and contact information. An individual passing by the property will be able to contact the listing agent for information. The property may be sold by another agent other than the listing agent.
Property manager jobs entail the management of properties such as apartment buildings and empty homes to be rented. Usually this means renting the available units of the apartment or taking care of the renting a vacant home that has been placed in the agent's care.
The broker, or Realtor, is the top man or woman and usually the owner of the real estate business, especially if it is a small business. Sometimes he or she may also work on the sales end. Usually, he or she is more on the administrative end of the business and leaves the sales and listing end to his licensed agents. He is also a member of a real estate organization called the Board of Realtors and is the one licensed to buy and sell properties.
The above describes the differences between real estate careers of listing agent, property manager jobs, real estate sales agent and brokers.
Be sure to shop for an agent to help you. This is absolutely the first thing to do. There are specific questions to ask an agent before you accept him, or her, as your agent. For example, ask about the local market and how your home relates comparatively. Will they list your home comparably to those already on the market in your neighborhood? What is the neighborhood and schools like? You want straight answers not just what you want to hear, after you are paying his commission.
Guard your numbers. Do not give up all your information. It isn't necessary for the agent to know everything at the beginning, such as your loan amount, especially if you want to look at homes that are less expensive than you can get with the loan. The agent may be influenced to offer more expensive homes to you in the beginning rather than the price range you want.
