Are you a practising real estate agent looking to secure more clients? As the property industry in Singapore is heating up, so too is competition among real estate agents. In order to stand out and succeed, it’s essential for real estate agents to develop their industry knowledge and beneficial soft skills. Attending a training course for real estate agents can be one of the best ways to acquire these skills.

In this article, we’ll look at the skills successful real estate agents have, as well as nine of the best training courses for real estate agents to help you learn these skills. Whether you’re a new agent looking to gain a foothold in the industry, or an experienced agent looking for new ways to boost your career, these courses can help take you to the next level.

 

What Skills Do Successful Real Estate Agents Need?

From in-depth knowledge of property laws to communication, sales and marketing, successful real estate agents are jack-of-all-trades capable of wearing many hats. If you want to make it in this industry, look for a training course for real estate agents that offer these skills.

Market Knowledge
The successful real estate agent is up-to-date with market trends, property values and real estate law. They know recent transactions and how to value property like the back of their hand. Clients trust them to get the best prices and navigate complex regulations or contracts.

Communication Skills
In the competitive world of real estate, clients remember how you make them feel. The ability to actively listen to their needs, speak clearly and persuasively, as well as the ability to adapt your communication style is key to building trust and establishing a positive relationship.

Sales Skills
The best real estate agents aren’t just property experts, they’re also skilled salespeople. To succeed in this industry, agents need to understand their clients, negotiate favourable deals and close sales.

Digital Marketing Skills
Successful real estate agents know how to leverage technology to generate and manage leads. From social media to email marketing to search marketing and even customer relationship management systems — the modern real estate agent uses every digital tool in his/her arsenal to stay connected with potential and existing clients.

 

Market Knowledge Training Course for Real Estate Agents

 

1. Real Estate Valuation by Ngee Ann CET Academy

Real estate agents need to know what affects property values in order to calculate a fair price for their clients. This training course for real estate agents by the Ngee Ann CET Academy focuses on residential property valuation.

Learners will explore the role of a valuer, the different factors that affect property values and the different methods used to value a property. This is a self-directed, online course that consists of 10 bite-sized lessons. It is also a recognised Professional Competency Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA). Upon achieving an 80% assessment score at the end of the course, real estate agent learners will receive 2 Professional CPD Credits.

Cost: S$40
Mode of learning: Online
Duration: Self-paced. (3 months to complete)

Learn real estate valuation with Introduction to Real Estate Valuation by Ngee Ann CET Academy.

 

2. CPF Housing Schemes and Calculations by C&H Properties

The Central provident Fund (CPF) is an essential tool for Singaporeans looking to finance a house in Singapore. Clients often turn to real estate agents to advise them regarding the law and budgeting when it comes to purchasing property using CPF funds.

With many new rules and regulations being implemented over the years, CPF housing schemes and policies can be especially confusing to members of the public. New agents may also be overwhelmed by the different regulations associated with financing a house with CPF.

This training course for real estate agents will cover:

  • Usage of CPF monies for purchase of private residential properties under the Private Properties Scheme
  • Usage of CPF monies for purchase of HDB flats under the Public Housing Scheme
  • Amount of CPF monies that can be used for residential properties with a remaining lease of less than 60 years and if the remaining lease does not allow the youngest buyer to stay till age 95
  • Refund of CPF monies upon the sale of a property or divorce
  • Relevant case studies with CPF calculations

As a CEA-approved CPD course, real estate agents will receive 2 Professional CPD Credits upon completion.

Cost: S$35
Mode of learning: In-person
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Learn how to navigate CPF housing schemes with CPF Housing Schemes and Calculations by C&H Properties.

 

3. Handling Complex HDB Resale Transactions by Real Centre Network

Approximately 80% of Singapore residents live in HDB flats. As a real estate agent, HDB transactions will make up the bulk of your clients unless you carve out a niche in private or enterprise properties.

While most transactions will typically involve couples or families as buyers or sellers, there are times when the sale of a HDB flat can be due to complex circumstances like a divorce, deceased partner, bankruptcy, negative sale or power of attorney. This training course for real estate agents by the Real Centre Network aims to prepare real estate salespersons with the necessary knowledge to handle these unique cases.

The course learning outcomes include:

  • Understanding complex case policies for the sale and purchase of a HDB resale flat
  • Understanding how complex cases affect the eligibility of HDB resale flat ownership
  • Understanding the transaction procedures of complex case HDB resale flats

As a CEA-approved CPD course, real estate agents will receive 2 Professional CPD Credits upon completion.

Cost: S$60
Mode of learning: In-person
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Learn how to handle complex HDB resale transactions with Handling Complex Complex HDB Resale Transactions by Real Centre Network.

 

4. Understanding Property Related Tax by Real Centre Network

Tax is an unavoidable part of property transactions in Singapore. Real estate agents are expected to have robust knowledge of property taxation laws to advise their clients on the taxes required during real estate transactions.

An average resale HDB transaction may have multiple types of taxes imposed on it depending on factors like whether the resident is an owner-occupier or stamp duties. This training course for real estate agents provides learners with the must-knows of property taxations.

The course learning outcomes are:

  • Understanding property taxation in Singapore
  • Explain the tax duties and obligation of property owners
  • Calculation the various stamp duties (ABSD, SSD) for property transactions
  • Explain compliance matters for stamp duty
  • Understand GST and how it applies to various property types

After the course, learners will be better able to explain tax obligations to their clients. Registered real estate agents will also receive 2 Professional CPD Credits upon completion.

Cost: S$60
Mode of learning: In-person
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Get a handle on property tax matters with Understanding Property Related Tax by Real Centre Network.

 

Communication Training Course for Real Estate Agents

 

5. Recognising Different Customer Behaviours by C&H Properties

The best real estate agents are able to read clients and adapt their communication style to connect with them. In this training course for real estate agents, learners will discover how to distinguish various types of customer behaviours and the best communication style for each behaviour.

Participants will gain knowledge of the fundamental principles of D.I.S.C behavioral styles and be able to identify them within a few interactions. Once agents know how to identify a customer’s behavioural style, they’ll be able to tailor their communication to better connect with the customer and achieve better outcomes. After the course, real estate agents will receive 2 Generic CPD Credits upon completion.

Cost: S$35
Mode of learning: Online
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Learn how to identify customer behaviour and tailor your communication style with Recognising Different Customer Behaviours by C&H Properties.

 

Sales Training Course for Real Estate Agents

 

6. Effective Selling Skills by FirstCom Academy

Successful real estate agents have well-developed selling skills in order to sell themselves and the properties they are representing. They are master communicators, able to present information in an organised, clear and engaging manner — capturing the attention of potential clients, effectively communicating the value of a property and inspiring confidence in their abilities as an agent.

FirstCom Academy’s Effective Selling Skills is a training course for real estate agents to help them connect and build excellent relationships with their clients. The course focuses on how to get into the mindset of sales as well as practical sales techniques to solve your clients’ needs and wants. At the end of the course, you’ll have a key understanding of sales psychology, effective communication techniques and more confidence to manage client interactions.

Cost: S$240
Mode of learning: In-person
Duration: 2 days

Learn how to improve your connection with clients with Effective Selling Skills by FirstCom Academy.

 

Digital Marketing Training Course for Real Estate Agents

 

7. Basic Social Media Marketing by OrangeTee

Successful real estate agents make use of social media marketing to greatly improve their outreach. This can include publishing content like house tours or using social media ads to generate leads or set up appointments.

This training course for real estate agents by OrangeTee aims to equip agents with a basic understanding of Facebook advertising. Learners will create their own Facebook marketing campaign following a step-by-step guide and understand best practices and common mistakes to avoid.

The course awards 2 Generic CPD Credits upon completion.

Cost: S$53.50
Mode of learning: Online
Duration: 1 day

Learn how to create Facebook advertising campaigns with Basic Social Network Marketing by OrangeTee.

 

8. Introduction to Digital Marketing Essentials Programme by FirstCom Academy

Understanding digital marketing is crucial for real estate agents because the majority of property searches begin online. Smart real estate agents know they must have a solid understanding of digital marketing tools and strategies to effectively reach potential buyers wherever they are and promote their properties.

Introduction to Digital Marketing Essentials Programme by FirstCom Academy is a programme that covers the foundations of digital marketing by introducing the difference between traditional and digital marketing, and also shares how you can identify which platforms you should tap on to enhance your business opportunities. Learners will discover how to incorporate pull and push marketing into their business, and identify when to use paid or free tools to increase engagement and outreach.

If you’re a real estate agent that wants to make use of valuable data and insights to better your marketing efforts for improved results, this course will help you achieve that.

Cost: S$2,700
Mode of learning: In-person
Duration: 6.5 days

Learn how to use digital marketing to generate more leads with Introduction to Digital Marketing Essentials Programme by FirstCom Academy.

 

9. TikTok Marketing by FirstCom Academy

Real estate agents have found huge success on the TikTok app. Nearly three-quarters of TikTok users spend more than an hour on the app weekly, according to Statista. The endless scroll and use of algorithms keep users coming back for more. Smart real estate agents know they must get on this popular platform to effectively reach potential buyers wherever they are and promote their properties.

@thatproperty.guy 673a yishun avenue 4. 5 YEAR OLD Tastefully designed looking to let go at market price! #sgrealtor #sgrealestate #sgpropertyagent #sgrealestateservices #sgviral #sgproperty #hdb #sghdb #hdbtok #hdbmop #housetour #thatpropertyguy ♬ LoFi(860862) – skollbeats

Part of what makes TikTok so useful for real estate agents is the quick-fire video interface and algorithmically curated For You page (FYP). Videos that appear on a user’s For You page are collected according to their unique interests, region, search history, and interactions with advertisers. Because TikTok uses such engagement metrics to determine interest in a video, a new content creator does not need a large following or paid promotion for their video to go viral and reach a broad audience.

Setting Up TikTok Shop and Running Advertisements on TikTok by FirstCom Academy is a course that covers how you can take advantage of TikTok to create compelling videos and run effective ad campaigns on the platform. Get hands-on experience with TikTok’s in-built functions to add filters, effects, stickers and even royalty-free music to spice up your videos.

If you’re a real estate agent that wants to make use of the TikTok platform to better your marketing efforts for improved results, this course will help you achieve that.

Cost: S$330
Mode of learning: In-person
Duration: 2.5 days

Learn how to use TikTok to generate more leads with Setting Up TikTok Shop and Running Advertisements on TikTok by FirstCom Academy.

 

Constantly Refreshing Your Skills is Key to Becoming a Successful Real Estate Agent

Whether you’re a new or experienced real estate agent, constantly refreshing your industry knowledge and soft skills is key to being a successful agent. For example, marketing in the real estate industry has evolved from door-to-door flyer distribution to house viewing videos and social media ads.

If there is one thing we can be certain of, it is that trends and the way we communicate will change over time. Make sure your skills are up-to-date with the real estate training development courses in this article!