How to become an estate agent in France?

10 May 2022

How_to_become_a real_estate_agent?

What is the day-to-day work of an estate agent like ? What are the essential traits, skills and abilities for this profession ? What qualifications do you need?  What are the legal requirements in France ? Do you really need to be like the agents in ‘Selling Sunset’? Can you succeed without being a member of the Kretz family in the French reality TV show ‘L'Agence’ ? Read on to find out the answers to all these questions !

The profession of estate agent

At the core of the job of an estate agent are the roles of intermediary and facilitator. They are appointed by an owner looking to sell or rent a property, whose aim is therefore to find a buyer or tenant. As we will see, from being appointed to handing over the keys to the property, agents carry out a whole range of tasks.

BTS in Operational Commercial Management

What are the main duties of an estate agent?

Prospecting properties and finding clients

Estate agents are constantly prospecting. Come rain or shine, they are always on the lookout for apartments, houses, business premises or offices to sell or rent. Occasionally, somebody will walk into an estate agent’s looking for somebody to represent them, but it is usually the estate agent who is out prospecting – and the competition is fierce!

 

Setting a sale or rental price

Agents must also assess the value of a property and set a sale price, or rent, that is in phase with market trends. Here, they are playing the role of advisor to their customer.

 

Finding a buyer or tenant

Next, the agent is tasked with publishing an ad and promoting the property, scheduling and carrying out visits, selecting applications and submitting them to the owner, who has the final say.

 

Completing the process

Lastly, agents guide the two parties through the signature of the sale agreementor rental contract. Where necessary, estate agents carry out the property inventory, hand over the keys and generally take care of all rental management matters (receiving rent payments, sending out rent receipts, etc.).

BTS in Operational Commercial Management

Where to exercise the profession of estate agent?

You can work at an agency (under a franchise or otherwise), for a property developer or independent estate agent. In the latter case, an independent agent can work under the legal status of ‘travailleur indépendant’ (self-employed or freelancer), or enter into a property franchise agreement with a network of agencies.

What does it take to be an estate agent?

Towork in the property sector, there are some essential traits, skills and abilities:

  • and the ability to build relationships
  • Power of persuasion and negotiating skills
  • Organisational skills and multi-tasking ability
  • Enjoying regular trips out of the office
  • Soundlegal knowledge and understanding of taxes
  • Having a reputation like Josh Altman is a plus

BTS in Real Estate

What qualifications do you need to be an estate agent?

The study path to become an estate agent in France:

Post-secondary courses ranging from two to five years are available to prepare for a career in property. You can, for example, enrol for a professional Bachelor's degree in real estate, or begin with a BTS in Real Estate (vocational qualification), followed by a Bachelor Pro in Taxation and Real Estate Management,and even a specialised Master’s degree.

Some business courses, such as the BTS in Operational Commercial Management or a DUT (Diploma in Technological Studies) in Marketing Techniques, can help you become a ‘mandataire immobilier’ (similar to an estate agent, but does not hold a professional licence), a freelance sales agent (‘commercial indépendant’), a property negotiator (‘négociateur immobilier’) or a property consultant (‘conseiller immobilier’). However, you should be aware that these roles are not really the same as that of estate agent. This profession is strictlyregulated in France and you need to have taken a course in property and hold a professional licence.

Changing career to become an estate agent

Professionals in this sector, including those working as a ‘négociateur immobilier’ and ‘mandataire immobilier’ can apply to obtain the professional licence based on years of experience: after three years for holders of the French baccalaureate and ten years for those who have no diplomas. It is also possible to have professional experience count towards a qualification through the VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience) scheme.

If you do not work in the property sector, you will need to make a career change to become a property negotiator, representative or sales agent beforehand, in order to build up experience.

Conditions to become an estate agent

To open an agency, carry out property transactions, manage an association of property owners, and buy or sell a business, you must hold the ‘G’ (for ‘Gestion immobilière’ – property management) and ‘T’ (for ‘Transaction immobilière’ – property transactions) professional licences.

And, in order to obtain these licences, you must have the following:

BTS in Operational Commercial Management

  • A qualification equivalent to two years or more of higher education, specialised in property or a bachelor’s degree in law, economics or business.
  • A financial guarantee with a bank, an insurer, the CDC (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, a French public financial institution), etc.
  • Insurance covering professional civil liability.

Applications must be submitted to a French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI). Finally, a sobering little reminder: “Using the title of ‘agent immobilier’ (estate agent) without holding the licence is punishable by a prison sentence of up to six months and a fine of €7500.” Of course, this will not concern you, as you will do brilliantly in your studies or career change!

To pursue your aims, IPAG Business School offers the following courses in the field of property: