At this year’s prestigious Herald Property Awards for Scotland, staff from Cruden Homes West took to the stage to be named Residential Sales Team of the Year.
At the same event, the company also won awards in the Affordable Housing and Regeneration categories.
This means that sales staff with the company don’t just have to be up to speed at selling new homes to well-heeled buyers – they also need the know-how to support first-time-buyers and those on limited incomes get on the first rung.
“In affordable developments, sales staff often have to work with potential buyers for an extended period, helping them put together a package of mortgage offers, help-to-buy initiatives and savings in order to secure a home,” says Andrew McFarlane, chairman of the Awards judging panel.
Good sales staff make it look easy, but showing potential buyers around a glamorous show home, pointing out open plan living areas and multiple en-suites, is only the tip of the iceberg.
Exceptional product knowledge, a profound understanding of customers and a never-give-up attitude is what singles out the sales professionals from those who are just doing a job.
On s1jobs you can find many opportunities to work in sales and, if you fancy using your skills to sell bricks and mortar, you’ve chosen the right time because two organisations have just pumped a whole lot of money into training people for precisely that job.
Homes for Scotland and the Construction Industry Training Board, which usually concerns itself with brickies and plasterers, have set up a £250,000 fund to train the employees who don’t get their hands dirty – and that includes sales staff.
They want to ensure everyone working in show homes and in sales cabins on building sites is every bit as professional as they can be.
They’ve a very good reason for doing this. Every house built in Scotland supports four jobs, so good sales figures are vital for employment and for the economy.
Thankfully, this isn’t a sector likely to run out of steam any time soon.
The number of homes going up in Scotland may be 40% down on pre-recessional levels, but the untapped demand for new homes is huge – and with sites across Scotland once again selling off-plan, now is a prime time to start making a home for yourself in property sales.
For all the latest Sales roles visit s1jobs