Hi, I'm currently taking my New York real estate salesperson courses. One area I am going to need dire help in is the construction/building materials department. Just wondering if anyone can recommend me some good literature on this, as I am a total novice! Thanks!

You will soon discover that while we don't need to know everything that a builder knows, people do expect us to know something about what we're selling. Sooner or later, an Agent will need to know the difference between joists and rafters; sashes and moldings; girders and bridging; mullions and muntins; stringers and lath . . . . et cetera.

We don't need to be Architects either; but we sure do need to know the variations in local building Styles and Framing echniques like Platform, Balloon or Post and Beam.

The same holds true for the Law; though we don't have to be Attorneys . . . . we certainly have to be able to read and interpret a complex contract.

And we don't have to be Plumbers, or Electricians; but we need to know the differences between Amps, Ohms, Volts and Watts.

I don't claim to be a Historian or Sociologist; but prospects expect us to be VERY knowledgeable about the territorial areas we work and their demographics.

We don't have to be Surveyors; but we need know how to accurately read a Survey's Metes and Bounds.

We don't have to be certified in any of these professions . . . . but people expect us to have an awful lot of knowledge in our heads and to be able to speak intelligently about every one of them; plus carry the skills of an Arbitrator and Psychologist and employ them when necessary to close a transaction.

Jacks of all trades, and Masters of none . . . . that's what we are. Every little bit helps. Hopefully, we don't have to do all of them everyday; but every Little bit helps. We have to be prepared to talk a good line . . . . regardless of who we're speaking with . . . . and we usually can't fake it.

What kind of siding does this home have? Flitch? What is the difference between T-1-11 and board and batten? Is that cedar? Vinyl? Aluminum? Asbestos?

Is that a maple floor? Oak? Hickory? Pergo?

Slate? Ceramic tile?

I want a home with a gambrel roof. Do not show me any homes with a hip roof because I hate them and a home sporting an ordinary gable roof is boring.

Please send me all the Dutch colonials and Cape Cod homes you can find. Please know the difference between a Victorian and an old 1860's farm house.

Here are some that may help the OP...not help pass the exam (which really asks very little about the practical aspects of being a real estate agent) but will help encourage intelligent mastering of the craft of home selling, by knowing your product.

The Illustrated Dictionary of Building Materials

The Houses We Live In

Field Guide to American Houses

A Visual Dictionary of Architecture

Amazon will suggest others that are similar. Read the descriptions, read the reviews, and choose one or two that seem interesting. I have some of these books, as I am interested in knowing the difference between a true bungalow and a dumpy little ranch home (that's what many agents seem to like to choose for a style, since "dumpy little ranch" is not an option on the MLS) and also, since my husband is a carpenter/woodwooker/craftsman, and since we have a love affair with books...I find myself wanting to fill out this collection even more and am amazed that many of my fellow agents have no interest in even checking out a tome such as this from the public library.

How refreshing the OP is. Wanting to expand his mind beyond passing the licensing exam and actually learning about what he's peddling. Bravo.

Perky/Vermont that was my thought to ask to explain why he was wanting the books. Was it to pass the test or to expand his mind after the test. The classes and test in AZ did not have any thing in them that pertains to actual construction or building materials. Is this something that is in a lot of other states test? I would agree that it should be but it does not seem to be important to some states. I also think that it is very refreshing to see someone want to learn this but I would venture to guess that 60 to 70 percent of agents do not know the difference between a rafter,joist or board and batten siding. Forgive me for asking someone to explain their question a little futher.

It's not in PA. There is very very little on the licensing exam that has to do with the practical aspects of selling real estate.

Thanks for the help guys! I highly doubt there will be anything on the licensing exam about construction or materials...I just feel like it will be my weakest area as a salesperson, so I'm all about improving!

your better off reading books on how to get customers..
without that..who will you be talking building materials to?

grab shift by gary keller
and millionaire real estate agent by gary keller

For just learning about building codes, you may want to google "icc", or "international code council", and pick up one of their books. It would also be wise to visit a local hardware store to learn something about all of the different materials to gain some knowledge in that aspect (hgtv is also great). One very important thing to remember is that you will be a Realtor, not a home inspector! Sometimes giving your opinion on the home can come back to bite you, other than pointing out an obvious material defects that you may find. Agents fall into this trap all the time by stating things like "the electric looks good to me", or "plumbing is up to code", when they are actually wrong. Remember that when you go through enough homes, you will start to learn a lot about architectural styles, and what types of materials were used. Just give it some time, and remember that you are a salesperson first!

Are there any books specific to the NWMLS?