How to Become a Vacation Property Rentals Agent
In the travel industry, vacation rental means renting out a furnished apartment or a house through a rental agent as an alternative to a hotel. Normally a renter does not deal directly with the property owner but rather through a vacation rental management company that a property owner contracts with. The job of a property rental agent is to be the middleman for the landlord and the tenant.
- Make sure that real estate is a good career choice for you. You should have a pleasant personality, strong communication skills, good memory for faces and names, be well organized and have attention to detail. The job of a property rental agent is to work with the landlord and with the tenant. This type of work requires educational qualifications in real estate, especially since you will frequently be dealing with legal and financial issues. You can earn a certificate program or earn a degree in a field.
- Enroll in a trade school or a college for a certificate program in real estate. You can also choose a four-year degree majoring in finance, marketing and accounting, business administration, economics or English.
- Complete between 30 and 90 hours of classroom instruction. Check with the real estate licensing commission to verify the licensing requirements in the state.
- Become sponsored by a broker before taking your licensure exam. You should check the requirements in your state for this as the length of time working with a broker is different in each state.
- Earn a license to become a realtor. It is illegal to work as a real estate agent without a real estate license. You must at least be a high school graduate, 18 years of age and must pass a state-administered written examination to get a license.
- Get connected to a good mentor. Much of your experience and knowledge will come from working in the field.
- Learn marketing and advertising techniques to better showcase you and your properties.