As a realtor, you act as a bridge between a property seller and buyer, ensuring that all the contracts and transactions are carried out. However, can you pitch yourself to that real estate agency you’ve been eyeing for a while now? Chances are you can, but you’ll need a stellar real estate agent cover letter.
This document gives a recruiter or hiring manager insight into not only your expertise but also your achievements. What they are interested in is how your skills and knowledge can contribute to the growth of their company, and a well-written cover letter answers this question.
If you’re in doubt about how to create yours, we’re here to guide you.
Key Takeaways
Paired with a resume, a real estate agent cover letter tells a complete story of your professional background when you’re applying for a job.
To properly format your cover letter, make sure you use the business letter layout, choose a professional font, and set margins at 1–1.5 inches.
A solid cover letter contains a header with the sender’s contact details, a greeting, an introduction, a summary of qualifications, reasons for applying, and a sign-off with a call to action.
How to Format a Real Estate Agent Cover Letter the Right Way
Despite what many people think, crafting a compelling cover letter is a lot more than a mere listing of your competencies and accomplishments. The key purpose of a cover letter is to tell the full story of your career and ambitions, together with a well-crafted real estate resume.
A nicely structured cover letter will compel a recruiter or hiring manager to keep reading and observe all information. 47% of recruiters prefer candidates who submit cover letters, as it demonstrates their motivation to get that job.
For this reason, it’s essential how you format your cover letter. Believe it or not, even 26% of cover letters have poor formatting, which makes them difficult to read and reduces candidates’ chances of getting the job they applied for.
To do it properly, you should:
Cover Letter Formatting Guidelines
Opt for the business letter format, which consists of a heading, greeting, body, conclusion, and a sign-off
Make sure that the cover letter is not too long—it should have 250–400 words
Select the professional-looking font (Calibri, Cambria, Helvetica, etc.) and set it to 10.5–12 points
Set margins at 1–1.5 inches
Real Estate Agent Cover Letter: Key Elements
Not all cover letters are the same; however, what they do have in common are specific key elements. Before we start explaining each of them, you can see an overview in the graphic below:
#1. Write the Heading
The first thing you should write on your cover letter is a heading. You can treat it as your professional introduction to a recruiter or hiring manager. This section should include:
Your full name
Professional title
Phone number and email
Location
Application date
A recruiter’s or hiring manager’s contact information
Here’s what it should look like:
Cover Letter Heading Example
Samantha Johnson
Real Estate Agent
1287 Lamberts Branch Road
Miami, FL
+13167889385
Miami, November 6, 2023
Jonathan Lee
Hiring Manager
Capital Investments Company
43 Pleasant Hill Road
Miami, FL
#2. Greet the Recruiter/Hiring Manager
The cover letter greeting lets you set the tone of the entire correspondence between you and the recruiter or hiring manager.
Only a while ago, it was quite common to begin a cover letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ or ‘To whom it may concern.’ These greetings, however, are now outdated and too generic. You’ll need a greeting that is more personalized and approachable.
The best way to address members of the hiring staff is by using their name or surname. If you’re not familiar with their name, you can use their title instead.
This means you can use something like this:
Dear Mr. Lee,
Dear Jonathan,
Dear Hiring Manager,
Here’s an example:
Cover Letter Greeting Example
Dear Mr. Lee,
#3. Write the Introduction
The introductory or opening paragraph allows you to provide a short description of yourself as a professional. It should be compelling and tailored to the specific agency you’re applying to.
Highlight your experience, skills, and key accomplishments most relevant to the job description. It’s also vital to show that you are familiar with real estate market trends and developments, as well as that you know how to satisfy a client’s needs.
Cover Letter Introduction Example
I am a Senior Real Estate Agent with a decade of experience in the industry and a track record of exceeding client expectations. The opportunity to join Capital Investments Company aligns perfectly with my career goals and professional aspirations of building a strong presence, providing exceptional customer service, and increasing sales volume.
#4. How to List Your Qualifications
The body is the key segment of your real estate agent cover letter. Here, you will list your skills, qualifications, experiences, and accomplishments you gained in previous companies.
This part should be tailored to the description of the position you’re applying for, so make sure that you emphasize how your professional background complies with the job requirements. Even if you’re crafting a real estate agent cover letter with no experience, you want to persuade the recruiter that you’d be a valuable contribution to the team.
For example, you can write something like this:
Listing of Qualifications Example
Throughout my ten years of experience in the industry, I have successfully closed over 500 transactions, totaling more than $200 million in sales. My ability to connect with clients, understand their unique needs, and provide tailored solutions has led to a high rate of customer satisfaction and repeat business.
My client base has steadily grown over the years. I have developed a strong network of clients who value my expertise and commitment to their success. Plus, I have consistently ranked among the top-performing agents in my previous brokerage, and I am excited about the opportunity to bring my client-focused approach and proven sales record to Capital Investments Company.
#5. Explain the Reasons for Applying
The following section is an excellent opportunity to explain what attracted you to apply for the position. You can focus on your career goals here, explaining why and how this company would help you grow your career.
Don’t be tempted to focus solely on yourself here. In the long run, your potential employer would also like to know how your growth can contribute to their company's growth.
You can phrase this section like this:
Reasons for Applying Example
The reputation of Capital Investments Company for excellence in the real estate industry and its commitment to professional development are precisely what I am looking for to advance my career further. I believe my professional background and achievements align seamlessly with the qualities you seek in your agents, such as persuasion, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
#6. Add a Call to Action
Use the CTA section to let the recruiter know you’re available for the interview and encourage them to schedule it. Don’t be afraid to request the interview directly by highlighting when and how they can contact you. Failing to show initiative will result in a recruiter discarding you as a candidate.
This is how you can inform the hiring staff that you’re ready to move on to the next stage of the hiring process:
Cover Letter CTA Example
I appreciate your time and consideration and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to explore how I can contribute to the success of Capital Investments Company. You can reach out to me anytime to arrange a convenient time for an interview.
#7. Conclude & Sign the Cover Letter
The most convenient way to conclude and sign off your real estate agent cover letter is with phrases such as ‘Kind regards,’ ’Cordially,’ ‘Sincerely,’ or ‘All the best.’
Write your full name in the next line, but mind the comma; don’t forget to add it after the closing phrase.
Cover Letter Sign Off Example
Kind regards,
Samantha Jones
Check out our real estate cover letter example to get a clearer picture of what a well-formatted cover letter should look like.
2 Expert Tips for Writing a Real Estate Agent Cover Letter
Creating a stellar cover letter might seem terrifying at first. However, with the right expert tips we’ve prepared, it’s not as challenging as you may think. Here’s what can help you:
Real Estate Cover Letter Tips
Highlight your real estate agent skills. Knowledge of the real estate market, property marketing, market analysis, negotiation, networking, and client relations are all hard and soft skills that a real estate agent should have. Emphasize them in your cover letter and provide examples of how your former employers benefited from them.
Quantify your achievements. Mention the number of sold properties, the increase in sales in percentage, or the generated revenue to demonstrate your efficiency as a real estate broker.
Final Thoughts
Though dreaded by many, a real estate agent cover letter is necessary if you want to be invited to an interview and possibly land a new job. Even recruiters admit that they read it first before moving on to resumes.
The seniority level doesn’t matter here—you may need a real estate cover letter for an entry-level or a senior role. A cover letter may be required for a real estate sales manager as well. What matters is that once you’ve mastered the key elements and expert tips we’ve provided in our guide, you’ll be ready to craft a stellar real estate agent cover letter and apply for that dream job!
