How to become a REALTOR in Ottawa
A career as a real estate agent is a unique job that requires specific skills, training, and certifications. It’s a coveted job by a lot of people, and tends to get the reputation of being a quick or easy way to make a lot of money - which isn’t always the case! Let’s dive into some of the characteristics of a good real estate agent, and also talk about the way to become a licensed agent in Ottawa (or Ontario, but we’ll focus on the specific programs available in the nation’s capital!).
Do I have what it takes to become a real estate agent?
Real estate agents have a unique job, because it doesn’t have set hours. In theory, you make your own hours. But in actuality, you’ll have to have an incredibly flexible schedule. Clients reach out at all hours of the day and night, including on weekends. Showings will more often than not be after-hours, as many of your clients will work a typical 9-5. You may be receiving emails late at night, or early in the morning. You have the choice to respond when you want, but most clients will want, or even expect, prompt responses. You will be responsible for managing expectations, choosing hours that work for you but also respecting your client’s need for prompt responses, and setting boundaries when it comes to reasonable vacation time!
To be a real estate professional, you’ll need to be a people person. A great majority of your job is going to be working directly with clients, other agents, homeowners, and potential buyers. This means tons of emails, phone calls, texts, meetings, and more. If you’re an antisocial person, this profession may not be for you!
Are you quick thinking? Things can change fast in real estate, whether it's re-submitting an offer, addressing a last-minute problem during a showing, or addressing the current market to price a home. Whatever the problem, you’ll need to be equipped to think fast and respond even faster.
Do you have good memory and problem-solving skills? Real estate agents will be responsible for ‘gambling,’ in a sense, using information about the housing market. Pricing a home and placing offers on them takes a great ability to problem solve, using metrics from the market to make an appropriate offer. You’ll need to analyze whether it is a buyer’s or seller’s market, the neighbourhood statistics, your client’s desires, and more into consideration when talking money. Being good with numbers, quick thinking, and having strong problem-solving and strategy skills will be crucial to succeeding in this career.
Now that we know what it takes personality-wise, what about credentials?
In Ontario, real estate is a regulated profession. This means you must be registered with RECO, the Real Estate Council of Ontario, in order to sell real estate. In order to register, you must complete your real estate courses!
These courses are called the “Pre-Registration Learning Path” and are offered by Humber College. You can complete this course at home, on your own time. The only timely requirement is the final exam, which you can book a time to complete.
In order to enter this program, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
The course is split into five different courses.
Real Estate Essentials - which dives into the role of an agent, legal requirements, and Ontario’s rules.
Real Estate Transactions - investigates the listing and buying processes in residential real estate, as well as contracts
Additional Real Estate Transactions - continuation of the previous course but looks at condos, new homes, and rural homes
Commercial Real Estate Transactions - looks at the same content, but for commercial transactions
Getting Started - overview on beginning your career
There is an examination for each section of the course, and you must pass to move on. On average, it takes 9 months to a year for people to complete these courses.
Next step, finding a brokerage:
In order to work in real estate, you either need to be a broker, or work under a brokerage/broker. To become a broker, you need to complete more school, and especially when you are just starting out, you’ll want the guidance and mentorship of a brokerage, and perhaps a team as well. New Purveyors is a real estate team that works under the RE/MAX Hallmark Brokerage. You may want to find a small independent brokerage, a large brokerage like RE/MAX Hallmark (and then work independently), or find a team within a brokerage to work for. Brokerages and teams typically work for fees, or part of your commission. Each will be individual, and you may be talking to numerous brokerages and teams to find your place.
Register officially with RECO:
You have up to 12 months after you complete your final exam to register with RECO. If you do not find a brokerage and register with RECO in 12 months, you will have to retake the program!
Other requirements:
During your first 2 years as a registered agent, there are other mandatory courses you must complete before you are a complete salesperson. Then, you must take a continuing education course offered every two years after this.
Interested in joining New Purveyors, or speaking with the team about your journey as a real estate agent?
Check out our careers page to learn more about our team, or fill out the form below to book a call or meeting with us.
