A leasing agent is a person who works on behalf of landlords and property management companies to collect rent and provide customer service.They market rental properties to prospective tenants by giving tours, answering questions, and processing applications.Excellent customer service and communication skills are expected of most leasing consultants.Developing a relationship with companies that own the properties you might like to work for is one way to become a leasing consultant.
Step 1: Business and real estate are studied.
Many employers prefer to hire people with a degree or college background, even though a bachelor's degree is not necessarily required to become a leasing consultant.The completion of an educational program with some exposure to the areas of business and real estate, or even taking a few courses in these areas on the side, will serve you well.Some educational institutions offer degrees in areas related to property management.Real estate market analysis is a good subject to study.
Step 2: Gain some experience.
There are no absolute requirements for gaining a position as a leasing consultant.It is possible to get a job in leasing services and property management if you have a background in sales.Sales positions, such as at a car dealership or retail store, are where you can gain relevant work experience.
Step 3: Find out if you need a license.
You need a license to practice as a leasing consultant in some states.If you need a license to practice as a leasing agent, contact your state real estate association.You must be at least 18 years old, have a high school degree or equivalent, and complete an approved leasing agent course.The license fee is paid.
Step 4: If you have to, you must complete a lease license course and examination.
You can take a short course and get ready for the exam in a few days.Self-study materials can be used to prepare for the exam.Fees are usually charged for the course or study materials.The real estate laws of your area are one of the topics you can study to prepare for a lease exam.
Step 5: You can find out about the real estate market in your area.
It is a good idea to have a sense of the property market in your area before you start working as a leasing consultant.You will want to know what kind of properties are leased in your area.You can find the relevant information by researching the websites of property companies in your area, as well as calling or visiting them.Some of the leasing consultants work with both residential and commercial properties.Some agents only work with an apartment complex to lease units.Some people work for a property management company that may lease units.Knowing the answers to questions like: What kind of businesses are common in your area is a good way to have a sense of the tenants.What is the median age and family size in your area?Is long-term leases the standard?
Step 6: Interviews that are informational.
You can learn more about working for a particular property management company, apartment complex, or other real estate company if you meet with one of its representatives for an informational interview.The representative should be a leasing agent, property manager or both.You want to know more about the field if you are interested in working as a leasing consultant.It is an opportunity to network with others in the field of real estate and ask questions about the tasks and responsibilities of a leasing consultant.This can help you find a job as a leasing consultant.Do you know the average salaries for leasing consultants in your area?Many consultants work on commission.A consultant's base salary may seem low, but commission based on the properties he or she successfully leased to tenants would supplement it.Commission rates may be negotiable.Information on real estate jobs can be found online from the BLS and other sources.
Step 7: You can apply for leasing consultant jobs.
Use jobs boards, placement services, social media, word-of-mouth, or any other means to find advertisements for leasing consultants.Make sure that your application materials, such as a resume and cover letter, emphasize that you have the skills and information necessary to succeed, including: Responsibility A willingness to lease fairly and ethically courtesy and good customer service skills Excellent oral and written communication skills Conflict resolution skills
Step 8: You should take a certification course.
National Apartment Leasing Professional certification is offered by the NAA.The Building Owners and Managers Association offers a variety of courses.There is a fee associated with the certification course.Certification courses can be offered in-person, online, on-demand, or in a hybrid format.A certain number of hours may be required for certification.For more information, contact the real estate association.You must have worked as a leasing consultant for at least six months before you can take the NALP certification course.Some courses are for property managers with less than 3 years of experience.
Step 9: You should keep a flexible schedule.
Consultants may need to work odd hours to serve prospective tenants.Prospective tenants may only be able to view apartments to lease outside of regular business hours, so you may need to work evenings or weekends to serve their needs.In order to serve your tenants well, you will need to keep in close contact with them, and so you should sometimes answer phone calls and emails outside of business hours.