Is it Better to Be a Real Estate Agent or an Energy Sales Representative?

What Is the Difference Between a Real Estate Agent and an Energy Sales Representative?

Both real estate professionals and energy sales representatives are characterized by their commercial roles and negotiation skills. However, each has more specific tasks that are worth exploring.

Real Estate Agent

On one hand, a real estate agent focuses on acquiring properties, expanding their client portfolio, and closing purchase and sale transactions.

Additionally, they advise and guide clients through the processes, manage all the necessary paperwork and documentation, and analyze the real estate market to understand the factors that influence the sector’s conditions, among many other tasks.

To become a real estate agent at Engel & Völkers, no prior training is required, although it is appreciated. In fact, we provide the necessary knowledge through our academy and ongoing seminars.

Energy Sales Representative

On the other hand, an energy sales representative specializes in expanding their client portfolio and managing and closing contracts for electricity, gas, or renewable energies, primarily over the phone. This role can involve working with individual clients or businesses, but advising on energy efficiency is not part of their responsibilities.

In other words, they only handle the sales aspect. A different role — one requiring more training and responsibilities — is tasked with advising and creating reports on energy efficiency improvements for buildings or homes.

Thus, it’s clear that the energy sales professional’s role is more focused on sales compared to the real estate agent.

Commission Comparison: Real Estate Sector vs Energy Sector

Beyond the type of product, sector, and functions, there are other differences worth mentioning to determine which profession is more financially rewarding. In this case, we will focus on commissions.

Real Estate Commissions for Luxury Agents

A real estate agent typically earns a salary ranging from €1,500 to €3,000, which is complemented by the real estate commissions they receive for each completed transaction.

Real estate transactions are often significant because, in general, they are calculated as a percentage of the sale price. These commissions depend not only on the professional's negotiation skills but also on the property's location and type.

In other words, the property's value plays a key role. That’s why working with a luxury real estate agency like Engel & Völkers offers you higher real estate commissions. Additionally, with offices in over 34 countries, you’ll have the opportunity to close high-value transactions thanks to international investors.

Commissions for Energy Sales Representatives

On the other hand, an energy sales representative also receives a base salary, plus commissions for completed sales. This means they earn additional income for each sale, which is further supplemented by residual commissions or recurring fees for each renewed transaction or contract.

While these commissions can be numerous, they are smaller compared to those of a real estate agent. As a result, an energy sales representative would need to make many transactions — and maintain them over time — to achieve high earnings.

Regarding the value of these commissions, they can depend on factors such as the contracted power, the client’s consumption, or a combination of both. However, they are consistently lower than the additional income earned by a real estate advisor.

Is Professional Growth as a Real Estate Agent Worth It, or Is It Better as an Energy Sales Representative?

When choosing a career sector, it’s important to consider the type of professional growth each position offers, as this can influence your future and career trajectory. Let’s compare:

Professional Growth as a Luxury Real Estate Agent

In the real estate sector, the outlook for professional growth and development is broad. Beyond specializing in a type of property, sector, or segment, real estate professionals can progress into higher-responsibility roles, becoming success stories or regional directors.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that in real estate, growth is possible even at an individual level, though it requires significant effort. For instance, professionals can establish themselves independently or even create their own real estate agency or personal brand, opening up a world of new possibilities.

Professional Growth as an Energy Sales Representative

In the energy sector, however, the opportunities for professional growth are more limited compared to real estate. In this case, energy sales roles tend to be more specialized, and the business structure is often more hierarchical.

It’s also important to note that, to grow—and even to maintain your position—in the sales sector, it’s common to have to meet monthly targets, making it a highly stressful profession. Only those who consistently meet or significantly exceed their targets are likely to advance.

Additionally, establishing your own business in this sector is much more challenging unless you have the capital required to provide energy services directly to clients.

How Do Sales in the Real Estate Sector Compare to the Energy Sector?

Finally, to determine which profession offers greater financial benefits, it’s essential to understand how sales work in both the real estate and energy sectors.

Real Estate Sales

Real estate transactions are tangible sales, meaning the experience is more emotional for the client. This creates a closer relationship between both parties, as real estate agents gain a better understanding of their clients’ needs, leading to greater trust.

In this sector, sales typically take longer to finalize. However, this closer and more personal relationship often results in recommendations or repeat business in the future when clients decide to make another transaction.

It’s worth noting that these connections make the profession warmer and more emotionally fulfilling, as agents align with clients on a personal level to meet their needs.

Energy Sales

In the energy sector, client relationships tend to be more distant since the product is a service rather than a tangible item, making the interaction less emotionally engaging. Moreover, most sales are conducted over the phone, which limits the ability to form closer connections with clients.

In fact, due to the nature of the service, clients usually seek and select the option that offers them the greatest savings. This means energy sales representatives must put in more effort to close deals.

Additionally, customer support is often handled by a different department, which further distances the sales representative from the client. This makes it more likely for clients to switch to competing offers without forming a loyal relationship.

As a result, sales in the energy sector are generally more stressful than in real estate, as representatives face challenges beyond their control that make their job harder.

This sales role is characterized by being more aggressive and competitive, as it lacks emotional engagement. Moreover, the pressure to complete as many sales as possible within a given timeframe makes it more demanding. Both professionals require strong negotiation skills to maximize transactions and commissions.

However, is it more profitable to be a real estate agent than an energy sales representative? Energy sales representatives earn more frequent commissions but require constant effort due to the nature of their client relationships. In contrast, real estate agents complete fewer transactions, but these are of much higher value and conducted in a more pleasant environment.

That’s why many people choose to become real estate agents, aiming to truly enjoy their profession. At Engel & Völkers, you also experience the luxury of having a supportive team and continuous training.

If you want not only to enjoy high commissions but also benefits that allow you to grow professionally, join our team as a luxury real estate agent and start your career in the sector.