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What Does a Real Estate Sales Professional Do? Traits, Rewards, and Sales Techniques Explained

This article explains the work of real estate sales professionals, the types of properties they handle, the traits that make someone well-suited to the role, the rewards of the job, and techniques for improving closing rates. It offers practical information for those considering employment or a career change into the real estate industry.

Last updated: About 2 min read

Many people are interested in the real estate industry, yet hesitate because they feel that sales may be demanding. In this article, we provide a comprehensive explanation of the work of real estate sales professionals, the products they handle, the traits that make someone well-suited to the role, the rewards of the job, and sales techniques.

What types of real estate sales are there?

Real estate sales mainly includes the following types.

Real estate rental brokerage

This work involves standing between people who want to rent and landlords or property management companies. It includes introducing properties and accompanying clients to viewings. One of its defining features is that there is no cold calling, making it an approachable field even for those who feel resistance toward sales.

Real estate sales

This work involves selling detached houses, condominiums, and land owned by the company. Proactive sales activity is required, and quotas may be set, but the sense of fulfillment at the time of contract is significant.

Real estate sales brokerage

This work connects people who want to sell with people who want to buy. It begins with searching for properties for sale and covers everything from creating advertisements, posting flyers, and preparing materials to negotiating prices, meaning you are responsible for a wide range of duties.

What kinds of products do real estate sales professionals handle?

Product CategoryOverviewMain Sales Format
Residential condominiumsCondominiums for owner-occupancyRental brokerage, sales, sales brokerage
Investment condominiumsProperties intended to generate rental incomeSales
Residential detached housesDetached homes for owner-occupancySales, sales brokerage
Office spaceOffice properties for corporations and shop ownersRental brokerage
Whole-building investment propertiesInvestment properties purchased as an entire buildingSales

What traits make someone well-suited to real estate sales?

  • People who are quick on their feet: Prompt responses help earn customer trust
  • People with strong market awareness: They can quickly pick up changes in the real estate market
  • People with strong communication skills: They can draw out needs and make the most appropriate proposals
  • People with mental resilience: They can handle complaints calmly
  • People with a strong desire to earn: Because commission-based pay is common, results are directly reflected in income

What makes real estate sales rewarding?

  • The sense of accomplishment that comes with high-value transactions: There is real weight to closing deals worth hundreds of millions of yen
  • Meeting a wide variety of people: You can work with people across a broad range of ages, from students to high-net-worth individuals
  • Your efforts directly shape your results: There is potential to earn a high income even in your 20s
  • Diverse career paths: It is also possible to move into other fields such as property management, development, and consulting

What real estate sales techniques help improve closing rates?

Find common ground and create a sense of familiarity

By finding common ground with customers, such as hobbies or favorite things, you can shorten the distance between you and build a relationship of trust.

Draw out true needs from anxieties and dissatisfaction

For customers with vague wishes, listening to what they dislike about their current home can help uncover their essential needs.

Do not forget post-contract follow-up

After a contract is signed, a brief follow-up such as, "We also received other inquiries because it is a popular property," can be effective in preventing cancellations.

Write a letter on the day you first meet

Sending a letter expressing appreciation for the customer's visit can help differentiate you from other companies.

What qualifications are advantageous for real estate sales?

  • Real Estate Transaction Specialist: A specialist qualification in real estate that helps with risk avoidance
  • Financial Planner: Useful for advising on home loans and life planning
  • Real Estate Appraiser: A rare qualification that enables you to assess the appropriate value of a property

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Can I start in real estate sales with no prior experience?

A. Yes. Many companies actively hire people without prior experience. The key is to choose a company with a strong post-entry training program.

Q. What is the typical annual income for real estate sales?

A. Commission-based compensation is common, and an annual income of 6 million to 18 million yen is typical. Top sales professionals may earn more than 30 million yen.

Q. How is real estate sales different from other sales roles?

A. Because the products handled are high in value, the impact of each closed deal is substantial, making it easier to achieve both a strong sense of fulfillment and income.

Daisuke Inazawa, President & CEO of INA&Associates Inc.

Author

President & CEOINA&Associates Inc.

President & CEO of INA&Associates Inc. Leads real estate brokerage, rental leasing, and property management across Greater Tokyo and the Kansai region. Specialises in income-property investment strategy and advisory for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

Daisuke Inazawa is the President and CEO of INA&Associates Inc., a Japanese real estate firm headquartered in Osaka with a Tokyo branch. He leads the company's three core businesses — real estate sales brokerage, rental leasing, and property management — across the Greater Tokyo Area and the Kansai region.

His areas of expertise include investment strategy for income-generating real estate, profitability optimisation of rental operations, real estate advisory for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and institutional investors, and cross-border real estate investment. He provides data-driven, long-horizon advisory to investors in Japan and overseas.

Under the management philosophy "a company's most important asset is its people," he positions INA&Associates as a "people-investment company" and is committed to sustainable corporate-value creation through talent development. He also writes and speaks publicly on leadership and organisational culture in times of change.

He has passed eleven Japanese professional qualification examinations: Licensed Real Estate Broker (Takken), Certified Real Estate Consulting Master, Licensed Condominium Manager, Licensed Building Management Supervisor, Certified Rental Housing Management Professional, Gyōseishoshi Lawyer (administrative scrivener), Certified Personal Information Protection Officer, Class-A Fire Prevention Manager, Certified Auctioned Real Estate Specialist, Certified Condominium Maintenance Engineer, and Licensed Moneylending Operations Supervisor.

  • Licensed Real Estate Broker (Takken)
  • Certified Real Estate Consulting Master
  • Licensed Condominium Manager
  • Licensed Building Management Supervisor
  • Certified Rental Housing Management Professional
  • Gyōseishoshi Lawyer (Administrative Scrivener)
  • Certified Personal Information Protection Officer
  • Class-A Fire Prevention Manager
  • Certified Auctioned Real Estate Specialist
  • Certified Condominium Maintenance Engineer
  • Licensed Moneylending Operations Supervisor