A real estate agent's principal duty is to try and sell properties, houses and apartments to their clients. They work for a real estate company and are assigned to a certain part of the city which they have to take care of. They are responsible for closing the deals and for trying to make a certain property they have for sale as attractive as possible to the potential buyers.
As an example, when a person is searching for a new place to live, whether they want to buy or rent it, they call a real estate company. An agent will be assigned to them, and he will show them all the properties that are in the price range the person is looking for. The person who wants to make the purchase usually has some requirements about what they are searching for in a house, such as: the house should be renovated, there shouldn't be too much noise, it should be located in a safe surrounding, etc. The real estate agent shows them everything they have listed and some choices are made from there. The people will then go and see the houses they are most interested in, and if the real estate is doing a good job, they will have a deal.
The real estate agent's profits come from closing the deal. When the agency receives the payment, the real estate agent will have his share, this depending on the company, state and type of purchase.
Real estate agents must do their job well. They must thoroughly know the area they are in charge of and they should know details about the properties they have for sale. When a potential client is asking for information regarding a certain property, the real estate agents must know all the possible details about it - it would be best if they went and saw it first. They must know the usual prices for their area, and they must be excellent negotiators.
The real estate agents must have very strong communication abilities and they should have the ability to make themselves be liked. They have to act friendly, but it is necessary to hold a professional approach. When a deal is sealed, the agents must write the contracts for the clients, and all the necessary paperwork to ensure the smooth running of the buying process. They are also the ones that negotiate the price between the buyer and the seller, so they need to know how to act diplomatic.
There are many real estate agencies you can choose from, but while searching or before searching make sure that you have the necessary drive to do this job. If you are an active person, with skills to convince people, you are probably what a real estate agency is looking for in an agent.