How to Become an Estate Agent with No Experience
Breaking into the property industry can seem intimidating – especially if you’ve never worked in it before. But the good news? You don’t need years of experience or fancy qualifications to start a career as an estate agent in the UK.
In fact, many successful estate agents started with no background in property at all. Whether you’re changing careers, returning to work after a break, or simply looking for something new and rewarding, an estate agency could be a viable and flexible opportunity.
In this article, we’ll walk through exactly what the role involves, how to get started without experience, and why working with a franchise like Belvoir Franchise Group could give you a major head start.
What Does an Estate Agent Actually Do?
Before diving in, let’s clear up a common misconception: estate agents don’t just show people around properties. It’s a varied role that combines sales, marketing, customer service, and local knowledge.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Valuing properties
- Marketing properties (online and offline)
- Conducting viewings (in-person or virtual)
- Communicating with sellers, buyers, solicitors, and surveyors
- Negotiating offers
- Coordinating paperwork and compliance
While there are technical aspects to the job, many of the most valuable skills – communication, people skills, and local insight – are qualities you can develop or may already have from other life and work experience.
Do You Need Qualifications to Become an Estate Agent?
In the UK, you don’t legally need formal qualifications to become an estate agent. This makes the industry more accessible than many others.
That said, property law, marketing strategy, and compliance can be complex, so getting the right training is key – especially if you’re planning to launch your own business.
Many people find that working under a known brand or franchise model helps bridge the knowledge gap. With structured training and ongoing support, you can build confidence and credibility from day one.
How Do You Become an Estate Agent with No Experience?
Here are some of the most common and realistic ways to enter the profession:
1. Start in a Junior Role at a Local Agency
This is a traditional route – applying for trainee or admin roles at local estate agencies and working your way up. It can be a good way to learn on the job, but progression and earnings may be limited at first. There’s also less flexibility, and competition for entry-level roles can be high.
2. Set Up as an Independent Agent
Some people choose to start completely independently, setting up their own estate agency from scratch. While this gives you maximum freedom, it also requires a lot of legwork: building a brand, managing compliance, generating leads, and figuring everything out solo. Without experience, this can be overwhelming.
3. Join a Property Franchise
If you’re serious about making a success of your new career – without reinventing the wheel – joining a franchise is often the smartest move.
The Belvoir Franchise Group is one of the UK’s leading names in this space. They offer full support for people starting out in estate agency, with no prior experience needed. Their training, tools, and brand power help new agents hit the ground running – whether you’re looking to work solo from home or eventually grow into a team and open an office.
Franchising gives you the best of both worlds: you run your own business, but with expert guidance, a proven structure, and a trusted name behind you.
What Skills Do You Need to Become an Estate Agent?
You may not realise it, but many of the skills needed for an estate agency are transferable from other roles. You don’t need experience – you just need potential.
Key traits and abilities include:
- Strong communication skills: You’ll be dealing with people constantly – clients, buyers, solicitors – so being confident on the phone and in person helps.
- Organisation: Managing property listings, appointments, and paperwork requires attention to detail.
- Sales and marketing savvy: If you’re comfortable promoting services or selling products (even informally), you’ll likely pick up property marketing quickly.
- Local knowledge: Understanding your area – schools, transport, community – is a huge asset.
- Resilience: The property market has ups and downs. A positive attitude and persistence go a long way.
All of these can be sharpened with the right training, which is exactly what a franchise like Belvoir offers.
Can You Become an Estate Agent Working from Home?
Yes, and it’s more common than you might think.
One of the biggest developments in recent years is the rise of remote and home-based estate agencies. Thanks to digital tools and virtual appointments, it’s now possible to run a professional estate agency business entirely from home.
In fact, Belvoir Franchise Group has specific brands designed for flexible, home-based working. You’ll still have access to the same training, technology, and brand power – but without needing to rent an office or hire staff straight away.
This model appeals to career changers, parents looking for flexibility, and those who want to build a business on their own terms.
What Are the Benefits of Starting with a Franchise?
If you’re new to the property industry, franchising offers significant advantages over going solo:
– Training – Learn everything you need to know from experienced professionals
– Support – Ongoing guidance in compliance, operations, marketing, and more
– Credibility – Leverage a well-known brand from day one
– Tools and systems – Save time with ready-made processes and tech platforms
– Community – Connect with a national network of like-minded franchisees
Many people who start with no experience find the franchise route less risky, less lonely, and more profitable in the long run.
Realistic Expectations: What Can You Earn?
Earnings as an estate agent vary depending on your location, business model, and how much effort you put in. Franchisees often see higher returns because they benefit from lead generation, brand trust, and proven marketing methods.
Some home-based agents start part-time and grow into full-time income over 12 – 18 months. Others go all-in and build six-figure businesses within a few years. Like any business, success comes down to commitment, consistency, and the quality of the support you receive.
Final Thoughts: Starting a New Chapter
If you’re looking for a new challenge, want more flexibility in your career, or feel stuck in your current role, an estate agency might just be your next step – even if you have zero experience today.
With the right mindset and support, you can build a fulfilling business helping people move home, invest in property, and make big life changes.
If you’re ready to take that first step, you can learn more about how to become an estate agent with no experience and explore the opportunities available with Belvoir.
You might be surprised at how quickly you can go from curious to confident – and from zero experience to running your own property business.
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