Procrastination can greatly impede your quality of life, especially regarding the dreams and goals you have in mind for your career. Unexpected issues can arise that temporarily keep you from moving forward toward your goals (such as illness or loss of income). However, more times than not, procrastination is at the center of a delay. If your dream is to earn a real estate license in South Carolina, you’ll want to lay the groundwork for success.

It’s helpful to understand what types of issues typically cause people to procrastinate, so that you can avoid them, or, at least, know how to overcome habits, mindsets or behaviors that are keeping you from achieving your goals. It’s also helpful to speak to others who have successfully forged similar paths ahead of you. Ask them if they struggled with procrastination at some point and what advice or guidance they might have to offer to help you keep moving forward.

Self-doubt can stall your real estate license plans

You must believe that you have what it takes to earn a real estate license to achieve your goals. Many times, it’s simply a lack of confidence that keeps people from pursuing their dreams. If you have a particular weakness that you think would hold you back as a real estate sales agent, such as feeling shy when meeting new people, you can take proactive steps to overcome the problem without letting it prevent you from accomplishing your goals.

Fear is often at the center of procrastination

You might fear failure. Then again, you might even fear success. Either way, fear is an emotion that can spark procrastination and keep you from obtaining your real estate license. Courage is the ability to keep moving forward despite your fears. Take time to analyze where the fear is coming from and determine ways that you can overcome it and keep pursuing your dream.

Money problems can be a real struggle

If you’re going to real estate school, you, of course, must pay for the curriculum you will use to fulfill the pre-license education hours required by state law to become eligible to sit for the South Carolina real estate exam. Financial challenges are not uncommon and shouldn’t necessarily keep you from pursuing your goals.

To overcome procrastination fueled by financial woes, try to think of ways to generate additional cashflow. You might be able to sell things you have on hand or create a side hustle (What skills or talents do you have to create income opportunities?) like a monetized blog or website.

Ask a friend or loved one to help with accountability

If you want to set a goal to earn a real estate license in South Carolina, ask someone you trust to help hold you accountable. Accept support and encouragement, so that when challenges arise or procrastination starts creeping in, the person you have chosen can help you overcome, rise above and keep moving forward toward your goal.

As a South Carolina real estate agent, you play a key role in helping sellers and buyers achieve their goals. When you’re dealing with buyers, you no doubt often have conversations about South Carolina living and all the amenities the state has to offer. Especially if prospective buyers are coming in from out of state, they might be interested in learning more about state history or interesting facts that make the area unique.

That’s why it’s a good idea to do some research to learn as much about South Carolina as you can, especially landmarks, events, people or things that make it stand out from other states. For instance, do you know that this state produces more peaches than any other state, except California? Read on, to learn some more unique and entertaining facts about “The Palmetto State.”

South Carolina was home to the tiniest police station in the country

Imagine getting arrested and being transported to a police station that is the size of an average toll booth. Up until 1990, that would have been possible in Ridgeway, South Carolina, which was then the home of the smallest police station in the United States. When it was first built, it functioned as a water well. It’s now used as an information booth.

Aliens are welcome in South Carolina

In Bowman, there is a special welcome center. A local resident constructed it in his backyard. It’s called the “UFO Welcome Center,” and its purpose is to welcome aliens to earth from outer space. The center is shaped like a flying saucer.

A unique DUI traffic stop law exists in this state

No one wants to get pulled over, especially if the police officer conducting the traffic stop suspects a driver of DUI. Your homebuying clients will want to know that South Carolina is the only state in the country that mandates videotaping for DUI traffic stops. Motorists should be aware that everything they do and say will be recorded if they are pulled over in a DUI stop.

You can’t live on Monkey Island if you’re a human

There’s an island in South Carolina, which is formally known as “Morgan Island.” What makes it so unique is that all its inhabitants (approximately 3,500) are rhesus monkeys. They are the only free-ranging colony of monkeys in the United States.

World class golf courses in Myrtle Beach

If your buyers are golf enthusiasts, they may be looking for a new home in the area because Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is the golf capital of the world! According to many PGA pros, the top three courses in the region include Dunes Golf & Beach Clug, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, and Tidewater Golf Club.

Use your spare time wisely to learn as much as you can about South Carolina

When you become a real estate agent, make it a priority to become a go-to for interesting facts and information about South Carolina, which can help you attract buyers to the area.

If you’ve been working as a real estate agent for several years now, you have hopefully achieved many successful closings. Working full time, you’ve no doubt developed your own style, marketed your business and established a brand that is easily recognizable in your community and online. As time passes, you might want to set new goals, such as focusing on a particular niche or taking your career a step further to become a broker.

The main benefit of becoming a broker is that it enables you to become fully independent in the industry. With your own broker’s license, you no longer must work under another brokerage. Learning more about state requirements to obtain a broker’s license will help you determine if it’s a good fit and if now is the right time to move forward.

You must have 3 active years in real estate sales to qualify

To qualify for a broker’s license, you must have three years of active service in real estate sales. These years of service must have occurred within five years prior to applying for a broker’s license. By fulfilling this requirement, you demonstrate that you have had the real-world experience necessary to work independently as a broker, as well as to lead other agents who might sign on to work under you.

A total of 150 hours of pre-license education is necessary

Every state has its own licensing requirements. In South Carolina, you must complete 60 hours of pre-license education to become eligible to sit for the broker exam, plus the 90 hours you already completed before taking your sales license exam. These hours are split between two separate courses. Once you have completed the course work and have studied well, you can take the state exam.

Similarities between the real estate exam and broker exam

You might recall that the state exam you took to earn your license as a sales agent included a section with national-based questions, as well as questions based on South Carolina laws and regulations. The broker exam is proctored in a similar format. You must correctly answer a total of 85 questions, 60 national-based questions and 25 state-based, to pass the test.

The last step includes a fee and application

A passing grade on the South Carolina broker exam enables you to submit the appropriate fee (it differs for a broker versus a broker-in-charge) and application to obtain your broker license. It’s quite possible to complete the entire process, including the time it takes to become a licensed agent and work in the field for three years, and earn a broker license in less than four years, which is how long it typically takes to earn a college degree.

Not everyone who reads this blog wants to become a licensed South Carolina real estate agent. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the industry has nothing to offer them regarding career options. If you’re interested in working in the real estate industry but not in sales, this post presents an alternative that might be a better fit for you. Have you ever considered becoming a home inspector?

In this state, you must complete a specific number of education hours to become eligible to sit for the license exam. This is similar to the process for becoming a sales agent. If you pass the test, you must then pass a background check. Once all the steps are complete, you may pay a fee and apply for your license.

As a home inspector, your day starts early

If you are not a morning person, a career as a South Carolina home inspector might not be a good fit for you. An inspector’s day typically begins somewhere between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on a regular basis. The usual routine would include reviewing the information for your assignments, then heading out to your first job site for inspections.

A home inspection includes indoor and outdoor work

Each time you conduct a home inspection, you will carefully and thoroughly observe and assess the assigned house. You can begin with the exterior of the home or inspect the inside first, then move to the outside, as long as you inspect both components of every home. If you’re doing your job correctly, a single inspection should take several hours to complete.

With each inspection, you will take photographs and record notes regarding specific issues that have raised your concern. This might include problems with the roof, drywall, air conditioning systems or the infrastructure of the home. Issues like water damage, signs of mildew or mold or electrical problems would also be of concern.

Working long hours with flexibility

If you work independently as a South Carolina home inspector, you can expect to put a lot of hours in each day. However, one of the benefits of this career is that you also have some control over your own schedule. While you do have to work many hours, you can also block out time to take care of personal matters or have vacation time, as well.

One of the first steps to take to become a licensed South Carolina home inspector is to complete the pre-license education portion of the process. Choosing a top-quality real estate school will set you on a path to success.

Some people mistakenly believe that all you have to do to become a real estate agent is to apply for a license to sell homes. In South Carolina, you must complete a total of 90 hours of pre-license education at a state-approved school. You must also take the South Carolina real estate test and score 70% or higher. Once you have done these things, you are then eligible to apply for your license.

While you cannot review the actual test ahead of time, you can (and should) take practice tests. You will also want to get yourself a quality study guide to help you prepare for the exam. If you do not pass the test on your first attempt, you are allowed to re-take it. Talking to your instructors, using a comprehensive study guide and taking practice tests should give you a good idea of what type of questions to expect on your final exam. This post also provides a basic overview.

South Carolina real estate test includes nationally specific questions

When taking your South Carolina real estate test, you will answer various types of questions. Some questions are nationally based. Answering these questions demonstrates your knowledge about the nature and scope of the daily tasks you will perform as a real estate agent.

There will be approximately 80 questions in this section. It will cover all the major concepts you studied in real estate school. Some of the topics this portion of the test might contain include contract issues, title transfers, financing, commercial and industrial properties, and more.

There is also a state-specific section on the real estate exam

In the state-specific section of your state exam, you will answer questions regarding regulations, laws and protocol that are specific to South Carolina. Every state has its own real estate laws. Avoid the mistake of thinking that, because you might have studied real estate laws in one state, you will be ready for the test in another.

Questions in this part of the test might have to do with closings or agency relationships, as well as statutes, licensing requirements and other issues.

Good study habits will help you succeed

Taking the South Carolina real estate test as an adult is not much different than taking a final exam in high school or college. Studying well increases your chances of scoring well on the test. You can study on your own or in a group, use flashcards or a ready-made study guide.

Whatever resources you choose, be diligent, thorough and consistent. And, most importantly, do not hesitate to reach out to an instructor or mentor for additional support if you are struggling to understand a particular concept.

As a buyer’s agent, you, of course, represent the best interests of your clients. You understand that a seller is trying to make as much of a profit as possible in a home sale transaction. However, you want to be able to help your client get the most out of the investment as possible, as well. One of the things you will help your buyers do is to write real estate offers.

Keep in mind that a seller might get several offers at the same time. When this happens, it comes down to quality. A seller will pass right over an offer that is poorly written. On the other hand, a well-written offer will not only attract a seller’s attention, but it might also win a bidding war, too!

Real estate offers should not be vague

The first tip to helping buyers write a quality real estate offer is to instruct them to answer all questions in detail. A seller doesn’t want to have to hunt a buyer down to seek clarification about important information. For instance, if answering whether there are any contingencies to the offer, it would not be a good idea for a buyer to write “not at this time.“ It is a yes or no question.

The same goes for questions about moving day. If a buyer has been asked when they require the sellers to be out of the house, it is much too vague to answer, “whenever it is convenient for them.” If a buyer wants to be in the house by the last day of the month, then make sure that he or she states exactly that in the written offer.

Address the seller by name in the real estate offer

Always advise your buyers to begin their offer letter with the seller’s actual name, instead of using a template or form letter. Especially if there is a bid war going on, this is not the time for “To Whom It May Concern.” It establishes a personal connection when a buyer uses a seller’s name in the salutation of the offer letter.

Demonstrate interest in the home

If a seller has multiple offers to review, it is likely that one that resonates in a particular way will be bumped to the top of the stack. A buyer must convince the seller not only that the offer price is right but also that the house is perfect for him or her.

Tell your client to highlight his or her favorite features about the house in question. Let the seller know how the house is going to fit the buyer’s needs. If the buyer knows that the seller has made some special upgrades, it wouldn’t hurt to include a few compliments about it in the offer letter.

Make sure your buyers grant you the power to negotiate

Once your client has put a real estate offer in writing, ask for permission to negotiate on his or her behalf. Your skills might mean the difference between losing and winning a bid war. Of course, you would discuss any suggested changes with your client before agreeing to them with the seller. However, it is beneficial to your clients if they give you leeway to negotiate a deal.

Regardless how long you have been away from a classroom, when you enroll in real estate school, studying will once again become part of your regular routine. Not only will you be learning many new concepts throughout the required 90 hours of a classes, you'll also need to be as prepared as possible to take the South Carolina real estate exam, when the time comes. Boosting memory skills will help you succeed.

Participating in several brain exercises, which you will learn more about in this post. Neurological experts agree that maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated and getting adequate sleep keeps your brain healthy, as well, which can help improve memory skills.

Ability to recall is one of the most important memory skills

When you take your real estate exam, you'll need to be able to recall certain information that you learned during classes, including various vocabulary terms, as well as state laws and other relevant data. To improve recall ability, try writing out lists and testing yourself on how many items you can remember after setting the list aside for a period of time.

Try not to use a calculator to do math

When you become a licensed real estate agent, a calculator will be an integral tool that you use on a daily basis. However, to boost memory skills and improve overall brain health, try doing mental math as often as you can, meaning calculate basic mathematical operations in your mind, instead of using a calculator.

Learning a foreign language can help boost memory skills

When you learn to speak a foreign language, you have to remember lots of new words and phrases, including how to pronounce them correctly, spell them and use them in a sentence. The process that your brain goes through to learn a new language is an effective way to boost memory skills. The act of remembering words and language rules that you have learned can come in handy when you're trying to remember words and concepts you have learned in real estate class.

Word and number games are always healthy for the brain

From childhood through your elder years, any time you engage in word or number games, you are boosting your brain health. Studies show that regularly participating in such games is beneficial to help prevent neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia or Alzheimer's.

When you're selling homes in South Carolina, you will deal with terminology in contracts, as well as financial formulas and numbers, in the usual course of a work day. Consider trying some of these ideas to boost memory skills and keep your brain as healthy as can be.

If you're working as a listing agent in South Carolina, you may encounter situations where your client has received multiple offers on his or her home. If a house is in a prime location, has been well-maintained, staged well for showings, has a lot of curb appeal, etc., it's possible to get three, four or more offers in a short amount of time. Guiding a home seller through such circumstances is a service you can provide as a quality sales agent.

Of course, every home seller must ultimately choose which offer to accept. However, many clients will ask their listing agents for recommendations. This post shares information that may help a client determine which offer best fits his or her needs and ultimate home-selling goals. 

Dollar amount matters, but it's not the only factor

A seller might be tempted to merely review multiple home offers from a financial standpoint only, then choose the highest amount. However, your client might have additional needs or goals in selling that should be factored in to determine which offer is best in his or her specific circumstances. 

For instance, perhaps your client needs to be able to stay in the house for two or three weeks. On one hand, there might be a full price offer, but the buyer says the seller must vacate the property right away. Another offer might be a little under list price, but the buyer is willing to allow the seller up to 30 days more in the home. While one of the offers generates a higher profit, the other is a better fit for the seller's needs.

Contingencies are another key issue with multiple homes

It's not uncommon for buyers to attach contingencies to an offer. This basically means that they are willing to purchase the home in question if something is done, or not done. For instance, a buyer might place an offer that is contingent upon mortgage loan approval. Someone might offer a list price contingent upon the home appraisal price.

If there are multiple offers on a home with various contingencies, a seller must determine which offer best protects his or her interests. A seller who needs to go to closing quickly, for example, might want to accept an offer from a buyer who is pre-approved for a loan rather than one with a contingency for approval.

Do any of the offers contain an escalation clause?

An escalation clause is a real estate tool that is useful to buyers who are locked in a bid war. When an offer includes such a clause, it means that the buyer is willing to raise his or her offer above the highest offer in the bid war, up to a specific amount.

By providing experienced guidance and strong support to your clients as a listing agent, you not only increase their chances for securing the best deal possible but also the likelihood that your satisfied clients will offer referrals to their friends and family, which can help your business grow.

No matter how great your sales skills are, there are certain issues that tend to make a house that is for sale get stuck on the market for a long time. The good news is that, even in some of the worst cases, there may be solutions available. At least, there might be a way to compensate for a particular problem, so that while it might not be totally resolved, a prospective buyer will make an offer anyway.

As a South Carolina real estate agent, you will encounter challenges. It's just the way it goes. Some houses are easier to sell than others. You will no doubt have plenty of opportunities to put your creative thinking and negotiation skills to good use, especially if any of the issues mentioned in this post are relevant to one of your clients.

A bad location makes a house hard to sell

When a house goes on the market, its location can either be a great selling point or serious downfall. Buyers are always on the lookout for homes in prime locations. If you are helping a client sell a home that is near a factory or major commercial enterprise, such as an airport, you might have your work cut out to find a buyer.

If a house is too close to a highway or has a poor view because of nearby buildings or power lines or a landfill, etc., location is not going to be a highlighted feature. What can you do to compensate for a bad location when selling a house? A low price might be one way to attract a buyer's attention.

Houses where crimes have occurred are also hard to sell

If you're showing a house, a buyer might want to know why it's for sale. It is not uncommon for buyers to inquire about the history of a home, as well. If a violent death or other crime occurred in a particular home, your client might hesitate to make an offer. Many people believe that there is negative energy that lingers on in a place where a serious crime has been committed.

Good luck selling a home with water damage

The best thing you can recommend to a client who is selling a house that contains water damage is to have repairs done before listing the home on the market. If a seller isn't willing to invest in repairs, then he or she might consider selling the property 'as is,' or, at least, lowering the price or offering to cover expenses for repairs.

Contingencies, negotiations and innovative thinking

If a house is hard to sell, consider the reason and determine whether it is a resolvable issue. When there is a solution available, try to have the problem solved before a house is listed on the market. If it is already for sale, try to think of ways that the seller and buyer might compromise. Remember, ''hard to sell'' doesn't necessarily mean ''impossible.''

Whether you are working as a listing agent or are representing a buyer, either way, you want the final walkthrough to go well when your goal is to help a client sell or buy a home. This can be an exciting yet stressful time for everyone involved, including you, the sales agent. An offer has been made and accepted, but don't make the mistake of assuming it's going to be all smooth sailing from there because success hinges on how well the house fares in the final real estate walkthrough.

South Carolina law doesn't require a walkthrough. It isn't wise to skip it, though. A walkthrough can occur up to 48 hours before closing, any time, after the home inspection and usually after the seller has vacated the home. It provides the buyer an opportunity to make sure the house is in the same or better condition as when the initial offer was made. It is also a chance to ensure that any repairs, upgrades or changes agreed upon as a result of the home inspection have been implemented.

Walkthrough problems that no real estate agent want to deal with

As a real estate agent, your whole deal can come crashing down if problems arise during the final walkthrough on a home. The following list includes some of the most common issues that have brought more than a few real estate transactions to a screeching halt:

• The seller moved out and left a bunch of stuff behind.
• The seller moved out and took items that were supposed to convey.
• Agreed-upon changes or repairs were not made.
• The utilities have been shut off.
• Property damage occurred when the sellers moved their belongings out.
• Issues have arisen that didn't exist when the offer was made or inspection occurred, such as a burst water pipe or electrical or plumbing problems.

If any of these issues are encountered during a walkthrough, a buyer has several options available, one of which is to walk away from the whole deal.

Walk away, renegotiate or delay closing

A buyer is free to walk away if the seller has not fulfilled the terms of the purchase agreement. If that happens, everyone loses out. The seller still has a house to sell, the buyer has to start a new home search, and you, the agent (no matter which client you represent) lose the deal.

A buyer can renegotiate, perhaps lowering the offer or asking the seller to cover expenses for repairs. Finally, the buyer may insist that terms of agreement be met and refuse to close until proof of fulfillment is demonstrated, which should include written documentation. As listing agent, it's to your benefit to make sure your client has adhered to all terms. As a buyer's rep, it's a good idea to brush up on your own negotiation skill,  so you'll be ready to help resolve walkthrough problems without losing the sale.