JobatAre you ready for a career in real estate? Jobat.be explains what you have to do before you can start as a broker and zooms in on the pros and cons of the versatile but sometimes demanding job.
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By Matthias Van Milders, in collaboration with Jobat
24-05-22, 11:01
Latest update:
11:13
Can you just start as a real estate agent?
No, a real estate agent is a protected professional title that you only acquire after you have obtained recognition from the Professional Institute of Real Estate Agents (BIV). This means that you are obliged to be self-employed. To receive this recognition, you must first complete an internship of at least 1,500 hours, which you complete in at least one year. After your internship you take a written and an oral exam. You get a maximum of two chances for both. If you don’t pass, you can go for an internship again once. If you do pass, you will become a titular real estate agent and you will receive a name plate and certificate from the BIV.
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“The exams are not easy”, warns Vice-President OIivier Morobé of the BIV. “Interns really need to know their job. But the pass rates are good, about 7 out of 10 pass after one internship for the exams. And only a very small proportion do not pass at all after two exam opportunities.”
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You can work as a clerk in a real estate office without BIV-recognition. You will then work under the supervision of a recognized broker.
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Want to make a career in the real estate world? These companies are looking for employees with a passion for real estate
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Do you need a diploma?
Yes, before you start your internship, you must be able to present a diploma: a bachelor’s degree or a diploma after an entrepreneurial training to become a real estate agent. “Your bachelor’s degree does not necessarily have to be specifically in real estate, but we do recommend it,” says Olivier Morobé. “Although you can also start an internship with a bachelor’s degree in, say, orthopedagogy. You will probably have to put in a little more effort to acquire the necessary knowledge. For a real estate clerk, the diploma is not mandatory, but it is recommended.”
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How much knowledge do you need about real estate?
Before you start the internship, you take a non-binding competency test. That test teaches you where your strengths and weaknesses lie. You will work on the latter during your internship. “There is no clear profile of the ideal real estate agent”, says Olivier Morobé. “A portion of life experience is a nice bonus. Specific knowledge and experience in real estate also help, but they are not conditions. Ultimately, a lot revolves around your interest in the real estate world.”
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What are the pros and cons of the job?
• “You guide people through one of the most important transactions of their lives. It really is a service profession.”
• “Over time you can earn a nice income if you go for it.”
• “You come into contact with many people, real estate is a ‘people business’.”
• “Real estate broker is a very versatile job. You can choose one of the three branches, or combine them: intermediary (sales and rental), syndic and steward (management of other people’s property). No file is the same. And you are active in different domains: commercial, technical, legal, social.”
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• “Flexibility is an asset in the life of a real estate agent. You regularly work evenings or weekends. For some that is a problem.”
• “You have to have nerves of steel and a lot of patience at certain times. You sometimes get into difficult situations and people are not always in a good mood. The pressure can be quite high, because sometimes a lot is expected of you.”
• “Sometimes you hit a wall of administration.”
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How do you find the job that’s right for you? This guide will help you make the right choices
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How much can you earn as a starter?
As a trainee real estate agent you are entitled to a minimum fee of 6.24 euros per hour (excluding VAT). You can agree a higher fee with your internship supervisor. This hourly fee can also be extended with a commission. Or it could be an advance on your commission, which is deducted from that.
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Once you have received your accreditation, you will start working as a lecturer. Your income then depends very much on the circumstances. Are you immediately successful in your own office? Or do you work as a starting real estate agent in a large company? What one broker earns can be very different from what another makes.
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Real estate employees are not self-employed and fall under joint committee 323. Exactly how much you earn depends on your job category. For a starter without experience, the wage is between 1,954.65 and 2,353.69 euros gross. In addition, there is an end-of-year bonus, single and double holiday pay and a supplementary pension. In addition, fringe benefits such as a company car and smartphone have become established.
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Don’t miss any extras? View an overview of the most popular benefits here and what they can do for you
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