Real Estate Agent Education
Real Estate Education or lack of it. Real estate agents typically help guide the consumers through what is often the largest financial decision of their life. The responsibilities are enormous and being a real estate agent is not a job you can fake your way through. Unfortunately, real estate agent education is all over the place. Meaning that there is no consistent new agent training program…no uniform program that every agent must complete. Training a new agent is often up to the skills and resources that a firm has available. Some firms depend on outside programs like CEU classes being offered at local associations and/or having the new agent tag along or shadow a more experienced agent.
Being a Real Estate Agent is so easy
Many people think that being a real estate agent is so easy…. after all you just open a door and talk “up” a house and the buyer immediately wants to make an offer on it…easy! Not True! Many of us in the business know that is so far from reality that it’s laughable. But, sadly that is the perception many outside the industry have. To over come that perception is very hard and almost impossible without quality on going training and coaching.
Your new career and real estate agent education
So you just passed your test…. you are now a licensed NH real estate agent! Congratulations… that real estate test is not easy and many folks do not pass the 1st time! However, the real estate test also does not prepare you for “real life” real estate! So Now what??? That “Now What” question, is a very very important question to ask. Training will make or break you and that’s the blunt truth.
What a real estate training program should look like
It should be on going as you can NEVER Close the book to real estate education. There should be a new agent orientation or on-boarding program, as well as real estate modules that cover all the topics and skills a new agent must master. At Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty, we have an orientation/on boarding program that new agents take as soon as they join the firm. Our new agent training program Verani U (Verani University) is an intense 3+ week long with 11+ sessions/modules that covers all the skills needed to be successful. Beyond that we have skill sessions and multiple continuing education credit courses. Our training classes are all posted on a company wide calendar and you can look and see what we have offered this past year and beyond.
Interviewing a Real Estate Firm
Ask to see their company policy manual and their training schedule. While they may not have an upcoming schedule of training for you they should be able to show you past months. This will give you a solid idea as to how much training they really offer. Be sure to ask about skill sessions and continuing education credit classes. Better yet give me a call at 603-548-7728 before you decide to join a firm. Being a trainer and a REALTOR , I can answer all your questions and share with you the resources available to all Verani Agents. Interviewing a Real Estate Firm is an important, probably the most important part of becoming a real estate agent so don’t short change yourself.
About Monika McGillicuddy