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Residential sales representative vs direct sales representative

The differences between residential sales representatives and direct sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a residential sales representative and a direct sales representative. Additionally, a residential sales representative has an average salary of $54,919, which is higher than the $43,527 average annual salary of a direct sales representative.

The top three skills for a residential sales representative include data entry, customer relationships and weed control. The most important skills for a direct sales representative are customer service, direct sales, and TV.

Residential sales representative vs direct sales representative overview

Residential Sales RepresentativeDirect Sales Representative
Yearly salary$54,919$43,527
Hourly rate$26.40$20.93
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs148,137159,668
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

What does a residential sales representative do?

The job of a residential sales representative is to sell the products and services to potential customers. Residential sales representatives design effective strategies to generate leads, establish a plan of action, and execute it. They manage all the leads and determine their prospective clients. It is part of their job to take part in different home shows and present the products and services their company offers. Marketing, communications, leadership, and business management are some of the skills they need to develop.

What does a direct sales representative do?

As a direct sales representative, you are responsible for creating customer awareness of a company's products and services and closing sales. You will perform varied tasks that include assisting in developing and executing marketing and sales plans, conducting research on competing products, and identifying opportunities to improve sales. Additionally, you are expected to answer inquiries about product features, availability, benefits, and pricing. Other tasks that you are likely to perform include attending trade shows, preparing sales proposals for prospective buyers, and preparing sales reports.

Residential sales representative vs direct sales representative salary

Residential sales representatives and direct sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Residential Sales RepresentativeDirect Sales Representative
Average salary$54,919$43,527
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $75,000Between $27,000 And $69,000
Highest paying CityColumbia, MDSalem, OR
Highest paying stateNew JerseyMaine
Best paying companyAmerican Residential ServicesGoogle
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between residential sales representative and direct sales representative education

There are a few differences between a residential sales representative and a direct sales representative in terms of educational background:

Residential Sales RepresentativeDirect Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at AlfredSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Residential sales representative vs direct sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between residential sales representatives' and direct sales representatives' demographics:

Residential Sales RepresentativeDirect Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 72.3% Female, 27.7%Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between residential sales representative and direct sales representative duties and responsibilities

Residential sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage a sales team of 8 DSR's, performing as a supervisor and leading role.
  • Follow leads, complete bids, close sales and act as job foreman on all residential and commercial HVAC replacements.
  • Conduct follow-up of leads through means of telemarketing and person-to-person contact to identify customer needs.
  • Sell newspaper subscriptions to designate potential customers in order to achieve circulation sales department goals.
  • Generate sales appointments and insides sales opportunities through outbound telemarketing campaigns, including manual internet leads.
  • Contact medicare eligible recipients to sell medicare advantage plans through in-home meetings, community seminars and direct telesales.
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Direct sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage accounts and create invoices via QuickBooks.
  • Achieve and maintain high-volume sales output, for cell phones and broadband products to stay employ with company.
  • Contact medicare eligible recipients to sell medicare advantage plans through in-home meetings, community seminars and direct telesales.
  • Canvass assigned sales territory and solicit orders for new or upgrade cable, broadband and digital phone services.
  • Generate revenue by selling and upselling services while developing client base throughout territory.
  • Prospect and generate sales revenue by adding new program residential customers and cross selling and upselling current residential customers.
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Residential sales representative vs direct sales representative skills

Common residential sales representative skills
  • Data Entry, 19%
  • Customer Relationships, 17%
  • Weed Control, 12%
  • Telemarketing, 11%
  • Lawn Care, 11%
  • Cross-Selling, 11%
Common direct sales representative skills
  • Customer Service, 33%
  • Direct Sales, 20%
  • TV, 15%
  • Work Ethic, 4%
  • Technical Troubleshooting, 3%
  • Door-To-Door Sales, 3%