Real Estate Agent Education

Real Estate Agent EducationReal 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.

Call me at 603-548-7728

Now What?

Real Estate Agent Education

So You Want To Be A Real Estate Agent

So You Want To Be A Real Estate Agent

So You Want Be A Real EstateAgentSo You Want To Be A Real Estate Agent

Everyone knows it’s easy money and that the market is hot- hot -hot in most areas…. right????   Well, not really!  Yes, it’s hot and yes you can make good money but no it’s not easy money at all!

Real Estate sales suffers from a misleading reputation and many new agents decide to become a real estate agent with little pre-planning, with no goals and no clear understanding what the business actually entails. So you want to be a real estate agent??? If so, do yourself a big favor and investigate before you jump in!

There are cost$ involved, time spent without direct compensation and building your business won’t happen over night. Also, and most importantly not every one or every personality is suited for the business.  Be honest….  Are you a self motivating person, do you give up easily, are your feelings easily hurt, do you have at least 6 months of sustainable funds, do you have a large sphere of influence????   There are a lot of questions you should be asking and many things to think about before you jump in.

Call me !!!

Are you still curious about a career in real estate? If so please reach out to me for a no obligation discussion about real life real estate!

Monika McGillicuddy 603-548- 7728 – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty office 603-43-2377

So You Want Be A Real Estate Agent

 

Social Media BeAwareness Approved for 3 NH and Maine CE Credits

New Class Social Media BeAwarenessNew CE Class!

Social Media BeAwareness NH #E1882 – Maine LL557C005LE

3 Hours NH and Maine Continuing Education Credits (CE)

The Internet is not going away and more and more agents have discovered that a strong social media presence can help attract both buyer and seller clients and has become a powerful CRM tool. At the same time more and more agents are inadvertently jeopardizing their client’s positions, violating regulatory body rules and regulations, license laws, REALTOR Code of Ethics and office policies. This class explores best practice and raises the awareness of preserving  and protecting client confidentiality in the digital space.

On-Line Ethics & Unintentional Unethical Behavior

UnintentionalFile Feb 21, 7 53 15 AM Unethical Behavior …is it inadvertently created by encouraging our “new” real estate agents to take an on-line ethics orientation class?  My take on the issue in the era of  the “raise the bar” “clean house”  “raise the entry requirement” mind set that so many on-line groups and even Inman News, probably the most popular real estate news site, is pushing.  Real Estate Brokers “Clean Your House” seems to be the new mantra.   The National Association of REALTORS has a fabulous On-Line Ethics class both for new agents and an ethics quadrennial class for experienced agents but I seriously have an issue with sending new agents to an on-line ethics orientation….. watch the video below and find out why.

Video thoughts on On-Line Ethics

New Agent Training

Monika New Agent Training

There is so much more to real estate than meets the eye. Many folks enter the business with unrealistic expectations, no budget and no clue how much work it takes to “make it” in this industry.

Passing the test is one big first step but the interview process is the next big hurdle. Asking questions about training and support is crucial. Feeling comfortable in the office environment is important as well. Let’s face it, nobody looks forward to the 1st day on a new job but being sure that the culture of the office you pick matches what you’re looking for, is a make or break.   Don’t be afraid to ask questions, walk around the office, talk to agents who are there but most importantly  understand that you need to be willing to put in the time required to learn all the new skills and be open to doing things outside your comfort zone.  The “real estate closing fairy” is not going to come and just sprinkle commissions your way … you need to be proactive and make that happen.  Don’t ever close the “book” to learning…. as there will always be more pages to add.

If you are curious about a career in real estate call me for a confidential meeting to explore your options @ 603-548-7728.

 

Nuts and Bolts of Real Estate

New Hampshire REALTORS Convention #NHAR 2015

IMG_5293New Hampshire REALTORS Convention #NHAR 2015

Jay and I attended the annual New Hampshire REALTORS Convention 2015 in Manchester NH. While I wasn’t thrilled that it was being held in Manchester, sorry to my Manchester peeps, I thought the agenda was pretty good.

I was a featured speaker along with a fellow Verani agent from our commercial division, Tom Duffy, and my only regret was not being there for Chris Smiths presentation. Chris and Jay and I go way back to our early RE Bar Camp days!

The 2015 REALTOR of the Year was a well deserving honor for a Seacoast REALTOR Marion Cheney and the YPN Rookie of the Year went to our very own Verani Agent Angela Sullivan, who shined even as a newly minted real estate agent in our new associate traiIMG_5281ning classes- love seeing the success my students have been able to achieve!  So very proud of Angela IMG_5260!

The Affiliate of the Year was Carol Jordon and I even won a $50.00 gift certificate!   It was great to network and connect up with our peers throughout the state!

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Convention Video highlights

The Has Been Club #NHAR2015 Honored all the past state presidents

NARTechEdge Burlington Vermont

IMG_0146NARTechEdge was recently held in Burlington Vermont.  There were over a hundred participants and about 80% of those were from Vermont. I meet folks from all over Mass,NH,Maine and beyond the borders of New England.  The event brought back fond memories of the REBarCamps that I have attended.  TechEdge was more organized with an agenda and set speakers where as BarCamps the agenda is set by the participants the morning of the event as are the speakers.  Both events are on my “Not To Miss” list of events when held within a reasonable distance.  That said we, my hubby Jay, fellow REALTOR and friend Ann Cummings and I drove to Virginia to attend a REBarCamp and I have flown to Philadelphia along with Ann just to attend one.

Back in the day, Bar Camps were full of cutting edge information and I loved the sharing of tech tips, tools and best practice that I gained form fellow attendees and session leaders.

I think it’s time to bring one of these events to NH….what say you?

 

 

BarCampNH

Skill Based Real Estate Training

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Skill Based Real Estate Training

I love skill building workshops, small groups or large, the joy of seeing the light shine in new agents eyes as they “get it” and feeling their excitement just totally makes my day.

We just finished the January session of BHHS Verani University and are in the middle of our on going skill building sessions with a fantastic group of newly licensed agents.

If you are new agent please don’t under estimate the importance of on-going training and mentoring. I would be more than happy to discuss the reason why that is so important with you before you make the decision to affiliate with a firm.  You’ve worked so hard to get your license, so don’t take a short cut to success.

Call me at 603-548-7728 or stop by and visit me at BHHS Verani Realty at One Verani Way Londonderry NH.

Don’t just take my word for it…listen to what some of our newly licensed agents are saying.

Verani U Real Estate Training

 

Real Estate Video and Youtube Workshop

Verani Realty Lakes RegionReal Estate Video and Youtube workshop

Jay and I conducted a wonderful day long workshop on the use of video for real estate in our Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty’s Moutonboro office for the Lakes Region agents. The group all created or fine tuned and existing Youtube Chanel and learned best practices for shooting videos with their cell phones and editing on YouTube.  The workshop was informative and everyone left with new idea and excited about showcasing their area and their skill using video.

 

Professional Standards Workshop

IMG_8797Professional Standards Workshop

Recently I taught the Professional Standards workshop for the Vermont Association of REALTORS.  I’ve done this workshop for the Vermont group a number of times and each time I am amazed at just how much I enjoy doing them and how welcome the Vermont agents make me feel!  We had a great group of state directors and professional standards members and the day just flew by for me! Thank you to VAR for continuing to promote and offer professional level courses!