Navigating the ebbs and flows of the property market is your second nature; but without an outstanding real estate cover letter, your chances of landing your dream job seriously dwindle.
That's why we've put together this easy-to-follow guide, packed with the best writing tips, customizable templates, plenty of examples, and real-life cover letter samples. Without further ado, let's begin!
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Read on to learn all about:
- How to create an excellent cover letter header and headline
- Why tailoring your cover letter for specific employers is crucial
- What key information is necessary to include in your introduction
- Which of your qualifications as a real estate professional to showcase
- How to conclude your real estate cover letter effectively
- Where to look for job opportinities for real estate agents
In case you're just thinking about becoming a real estate agent, feel free to read all about the licenses, exams, and skills you need to obtain.
1. How to create an excellent real estate cover letter header and headline
The first essential step to writing a real estate cover letter is to create your cover letter header and cover letter headline. These elements are important, as they give your letter visual flow and structure that makes it easier to read and navigate for employers.
Beginning with your header, this element is found at the very top of the page, located either in the center or lefthand corner of the document.
Your header should include:
- Your first and last name
- Your professional title
- Your professional contact information
Additionally, a header will typically contain the employer’s name and address as well.
Here is an example of a well-formatted real estate header
John White, Real Estate Agent
(123) 456-7890 | johnwhite@email.com | linkedin.com/in/john-white
To: Genius Real Estate
1234 Street Address
Miami, FL 33101
Following your header is your cover letter headline. A headline can serve a variety of purposes, such as hooking the employer’s attention and providing a preview of the information to come.
To write a headline, make sure to use relevant keywords, as well as strong adjectives and verbs to make it as compelling as possible to the reader.
Here is an example of a well-written real estate cover letter headline
My Successful 3-Step Approach to Real Estate Sales & How It Can Greatly Benefit Your Firm
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2. How to tailor your real estate cover letter for specific employers
The term tailoring is used to describe a process in which you make a cover letter highly relevant and specific to one employer. This requires thorough research before you begin writing, looking for key information such as what the employer’s goals and values are.
After gathering this information, you'll then sprinkle it throughout your cover letter, referencing specific details that the employer is looking for in future employees.
You can also use this information to create a personalized greeting that addresses a specific person by name. This person should typically be a hiring manager, company owner, or similarly high-level staff member.
Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings
- Dear CEO Jack King,
- Dear Mr. Jack King,
- Dear Hiring Manager Kate Lyons,
3. How to make your real estate cover letter introduction appealing
Any good real estate professional knows the crucial importance of making a great first impression — and your introduction is where you'll make your first impression on employers!
Writing a strong and effective cover letter introduction requires you to identify the very best qualities that make you the best fit for the role. This will often include your professional history, years of experience, and specialized areas of expertise.
Remember to keep things concise and punchy — you want to compel the employer to continue reading above all else!
Here is an example of a strong real estate cover letter introduction
Dear Mr. Jack King,
In my more than 9 years of experience as a luxury real estate agent, I have worked with a wide array of clients ranging from high-level politicians to A-list celebrities. With my professionalism and poise, I have earned many awards for my work in real estate, making me the ideal candidate for your talented team of agents working in Calabasas.
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4. How to showcase your best real estate qualifications
When you show a property to potential buyers, you showcase its very best features, whether it's grand arching doorways, sweeping staircases, beautifully landscaped yards, or anything in between.
As you write your cover letter, consider how you can do the same for yourself. You must identify your top qualifications, skills, and accomplishments that are highly relevant and sure to impress employers.
Here are 6 skills to describe in a real estate cover letter
- Negotiation
- Property appraisal
- Real estate sales tactics
- Promotional procedures
- Communication (describe your precise communication style)
- Hosting and event management
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a real estate cover letter
During my time as a real estate professional for [Former Employer], one of my key roles was to plan and execute open house events in high-class neighborhoods. As a result of my more than 80 different events, the real estate firm saw a 30% increase in yearly closings and achieved sales at an average of 15% of the original asking prices.
5. How to conclude your real estate cover letter effectively
The final element to include in your real estate cover letter is an effective conclusion.
In this conclusion, an employer should find:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of an effective conclusion from a real estate cover letter
It is with the utmost excitement that I submit this cover letter and application for your consideration. I hope to hear from you soon and am available to meet or speak on the phone any day of the week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. As I am eager to be considered for this opportunity, I plan to follow up next Thursday morning if I have not yet heard back from you.
Appreciatively,
[Applicant Name]
If you've ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
6. Where to look for job opportunities for real estate agents
Behind every successful real estate agent is a successful job search! And yours can begin right now! To get you started, we've prepared the following list of recommended resources:
- Job boards for real estate agents: Your job search can be much more straightforward if you look at websites that cater specifically to your profession, such as A.creJobs, RealEstateJobSite, or iHireRealEstate.
- General job search platforms: Still, you shouldn't overlook platform with broad focus, like Indeed, Glassdoor, SimplyHired, or ZipRecruiter.
- LinkedIn: In the world of real estate, networking reigns supreme. And with a powerhouse of a platform like LinkedIn, you can connect with industry professionals and potential employers from the comfort of your home.
- Professional associations: For professional development, job postings, the latest industry trends, visit official web pages of organizations like the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
- Real estate agencies: Or, you can go straight to the source and get in touch with agencies likeRE/MAX, LLC, Century 21, and Savills plc directly through their websites.
- Courses & certifications: A big portion of your success as a real estate agent depends on your soft skills. That's why you should keep developing them with online learning platforms like Coursera, edX, LinkedIn Learning, or Udemy.
Your ideal job opportunity might be waiting right behind the corner. Just keep on pushing!
Real Estate Cover Letter FAQ
Personalization is your secret weapon. A uniquely tailored cover letter demonstrates your genuine interest in the role and the company. For example, mention specific things about the company that appeal to you. Here, you should do a bit of research about the company itself — visit their webpage, stalk their social media, and go check out their LinkedIn profile.
First of all, you need to identify the keywords in the job description (look for any required skills, experience, certifications, …). Then align them with your skills. Finally, pepper those throughout your letter. But try to make it sound natural. And avoid stuffing your letter with keywords. Balance is key.
You, you can do that! Have a paragraph dedicated to your career goals. Be clear and concise, but also tie it back to the company you're applying for. Show them how their company fits into your future plans. This lets them know you’re in it for the long run. But don't dwell on this for too long. Your cover letter should primarily showcase the things you can do for your employer, not the other way around.
Confidence is about stating facts and expressing certainty in your ability. Arrogance, on the other hand, usually involves blowing things out of proportion. Walk the line. So demonstrate your achievements without exaggerating them. If possible, quantify your accomplishments with specific numbers or percentages to give them more weight.
It's not necessary to include references in your cover letter. Instead, have your references prepared in a separate document, so you'll be ready to produce them when asked to during the interview phase of the hiring process. If you think a particular reference is specifically relevant and would strengthen your application, mention the relationship in the body of your cover letter instead. BUT if the job posting instructs you to include references in your cover letter, do it!
