I am talking the provincial (canada) RE course. Its an online course and we have a on line forum and out of the 100 or so students I am about the only one with any sales traning. I am a jaded in your face salesman 2 year cars and 10 years flogging hottubs. I have been told by other 99 students RE is not about sales I should go back to selling other things... houses sell themself... Do I just not get it? or are they setting themselfs up? Is this why there is an 80% drop out rate?

In our 1000 page study book there is not one mention of sales. There is a hole chapter on the internet but nothing on even basic sales 101. Is this odd?

I dont get it?

PS I cant spell I am dislexic please refrain from ragging on my spelling.

Though I'm sure a sales background can offer some positive experience to the real estate process, it's really a very intensive service delivery process.

We're all always selling ourselves as real estate agents, brokers and brokerages, but what we should be delivering to our clients is quality service. I don't see anything wrong with courses that don't stress sales in this business.

Well, the other 99 are wrong and they'll find out in a hurry when they sign on with their brokerages and expect sales to fall into their lap.

The post-licensing course is the hands-on course but even then there is minimal information. The provincial assoc. really needs to redo the course to focus more on basic sales skills. Since you have a year to complete post-licensing, take your time and wait a few months. The course will be much more practical when you have some RE experience first.

As Jim says, it really is all about the service but you do need to know how to sell your services in the first place.

Your sales background will serve you well.

After reading the other 99 od bio's I would not hire any of these people on the newbie school forum. When I was a salesmanager I only recruted experienced top sales people. Newbie's would cost me to much in lost sales and time. In the RE industry it seams like a wholesale cattle call by the broker. I was hired at the firt place I went. It seemed to easy. I was ready for some kind of role playing test or something. I walked in and an hour later I was hired "subjet to passing the test on dec 7".

Actually I picked them after I had info from this site its a national firm with a 100% commis and low monthly fee. I dont plan on getting a 100% of nothing. To me I just din't see the point in a 50/50 split or hugh desk fees.

I have read many threads here saying the industry has to many agent well what I would say is "follow the money". Here in British Columbia I paid $1000 bucks for the course an recived about $80 worth of books. Then there is the boards that want $ and the brokers and the assosiation. etc....

If you want to limit agent make the brokers pay for all new training/school/etc.. and it would make a change over night. Then people would be linded up to get hired and need a resume and a suite. Yes I got hired with no resume and no suite no real interview.

Like I said I am a jaded (let me explain jaded in as far as I herd it all from customers and if the be back bus had ever come in I would not be here) salesman and have seen it all. There is no dought in my mind that there is a hugh chur rate in RE but dont blame the newbies they are just sheep going to the wolfes.

It is gut wrenching on this forum to hear the stories of tapped out agents with no sales or Mary slepping up and down those stairs. But on the newbie school forum they are all spending the 200k a year they are going to make.

Just my two cents worth.

That was a excelent report Jim Kimmons. Very informative.

This is a sales-based industry. Period.

I was in dealership management for about 5 years, so I can identify with your situation. Your background in "Buy it NOW" sales can both help and hurt you.

There are certain instances (such as listing presentations) when a more aggressive stance will benefit you.

When showing houses, dealing with contract negotiations, and dealing with potential buyers from your listings, you would do better by easing off of the gas a little. The car sales mentality usually hurts you during these times. Moreover, the service aspect that Jim spoke about is more important in R/E than in other, smaller ticket industries.

I think you would do well by listening to Mike Ferry (real estate sales trainer). His approach is close to what you are used to in your previous industries. He will show you how to hone it for R/E. www.mikeferry.com

Good Luck!

I would say I have been able to apply 90 percent of what I learned as a marine salesperson in RE. Other than getting out of the habit of asking "are you going to buy it TODAY I have used my qualifying, closing, negotiating and I am sure other techniques that don't come to mind at this moment. Another thing I believe helps is a background as an independent contractor.I was an independent contractor for almost 20 years before going into RE so I am able to delegate my time and motivate myself. Most of our new agents drop out because they need someone to tell them what to do.