Published: 27th October 2020.
Written by Jodie Magrath

A Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate) is an ideal qualification to set you up for a career in real estate. Whether you’re working in real estate sales, property management or administration in a real estate agency, this course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this industry. You might work with home owners who are selling their property, buyers looking to purchase a home, landlords who are renting their space or tenants who are looking for a lease.

The Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate) explores a range of topics relevant to working in the real estate industry. You’ll learn about the key functions of a real estate agency and learn how to minimise risk to all parties involved in a real estate transaction. The course explores the legislation involved in selling and managing property and find out more about the legal and ethical requirements of a real estate agency.

Working in real estate is an exciting and rewarding job role. If you have strong customer service skills and enjoy helping people find the right property for their needs, this could be the career for you. People working in real estate need excellent people skills and should be good communicators. You’ll need to be a good problem solver and should be able to negotiate with people from a range of backgrounds.

A Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate) is an ideal course of study for the following careers:

Property Manager

A Property Manager oversees the management of rental properties on behalf of landlords. They might deal with residential or commercial properties and will act as a liaison between the building owner and tenants. Property Managers might have to organise repairs and maintenance when required or conduct inspections of properties. They may have to find new tenants for vacant properties, organise contracts and collect rental fees.

Real Estate Agent

A Real Estate Agent coordinates the buying and selling of properties. They act as a liaison person between people selling their property and those looking to buy. They might have to oversee the sale process including drawing up contracts and coordinating settlement. Real Estate Agents also have to advertise properties for sale, communicate with potential buyers and host open homes or private inspections.

Strata Manager

A Strata Manager looks after the day-to-day running of a strata property. Their role might involve coordinating the financial administration of a building and collecting strata fees or they may have to attend to any problems with the property that require repairs or maintenance. A Strata Manager makes sure the property meets all relevant regulations and standards and oversees any large repairs, renovations or additions to the property.

Higher education pathways

A Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate) is a great way to get started in a real estate career. If you’d like to work as a real estate agent or a property manager you could extend your studies with a Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice. If you have plans to own or manage a real estate agency you could also enrol in a Diploma of Property (Agency Management). This course offers more information on managing a real estate business including legal compliance.

If you decide to further your career in real estate you could enrol in a university degree such as a Bachelor of Property Economics or a Bachelor of Business majoring in real estate. This will expand your knowledge and broaden your career opportunities. You may be able to use a Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate) as a pathway to these courses.

Getting started

If you’re thinking about enrolling in a Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate) you should start by finding the right course provider for your needs. Make sure you request information from a range of course providers because they often differ in how they provide your course materials. It’s important you find out about the duration of the course, costs, any prerequisites and the content the course will cover. The Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate) usually takes 24 months to complete.