Tip: Obtain market knowledge by researching properties and trends in your area.
So what do you do with a sociology degree? If you’re sales associate Scott Desbiens, you use it to read people. His 1995 degree from the University of Oregon has helped him become a good judge of people, he says. He can quickly figure out what clients or customers want and the best way to talk with them.
Desbiens, a salesperson with RE/MAX Equity Group Inc. in Clackamas, Ore., combines real estate sales with development and construction of new homes. The combo helped him rack up $7.4 million in sales in 2001.
The two vocations complement one another, Desbiens says. It’s not unusual for him to first oversee the construction of a house and then find the home’s buyers. Buyers appreciate his building knowledge. “I’m a one-stop shop,” he says. “I can deal with questions about construction and buying and selling. I don’t have to make multiple calls to get answers.”
Sellers can benefit from Desbien’s knowledge, too. He can give them a leg up on the competition when it comes to the latest home design trends and consumer desires.