Why You Should Keep Current With Real Estate Continuing Education

Posted by Premier Commission on October 08, 2015 in Real Estate Agent

Think you know everything you’ll ever need to know as a real estate agent? Savvy agents know that the answer to that question is, and always will be, ‘No’. There’s always something new worth learning in real estate—new technology to learn about, new laws to navigate, new accreditations and licenses to acquire. Continually updating your education and qualifications as a real estate agent should be part of your work right alongside your day-to-day responsibilities. Still not convinced? Consider these five reasons to make real estate continuing education one of your highest priorities:

1. Licensure requirements. Putting aside for a moment the inherent benefits of real estate continuing education to any agent looking to excel, you’ll likely require at least some amount of annual or biannual education in order to maintain licensure. This is the bare minimum you’ll want to put in as a real estate agent—look at it as an incentive to get you started, not as an ordeal to be overcome each year. If you’re looking to pick up more credentials, additional licenses, then this becomes even more important. Why settle for the bare minimum credentials, when you can boast a long list of qualifications to potential clients?
2. Picking up new skills and tools. The tools real estate agents use to do their jobs have changed greatly over the years, and will only continue to do so in years to come. By maintaining your knowledge of the field via regular training, you can be certain that you’re not falling behind your peers—your competitors—in terms of technology and methodology. Even core techniques of personal interaction can be improved upon, so don’t think you have nothing left to learn in terms of courting new clients and buyers (or that what pleased people yesteryear won’t annoy them next year).
3. Staying abreast of important developments. If you’re only getting in to continuing education once a year for your bare minimum licensing requirements, you might find yourself surprised by big changes in legislation, shifts in the market, and other important developments in the real estate industry. Even the slightest change can reshape a local housing market—and being the last agent in town to learn about a development can prove disastrous.
4. Networking. Classes, even most online classes, provide an opportunity to network with professionals in your industry without the competitive antagonism that sometimes mars such interactions. Whether it’s your teacher or fellow students you get connected with, you always have an opportunity to gain vital industry connections when you’re stuck together and learning. Don’t hesitate to seize the opportunity!
5. Maintaining your edge. It’s all too easy as a real estate agent to fall into a rut, to use the same tactics and strategies without innovation or deep thought. And while the right rut might be perfectly comfortable, it’s not going to make you a major player—it’s not going to help you reach your maximum potential. Real estate continuing education gives you a reason to really think about what you’re doing as an agent, to put deep consideration into how you’re buying, selling, marketing, etc. The incentive to think instead of just acting can be a major benefit to any agent.

Convinced yet? If you’re on the fence about real estate continuing education because of financial concerns, consider taking advantage of Premier Commission’s commission advance offerings to get funds in your pocket sooner—after all, a thorough education pays high dividends, even for an old hand at the real estate game. Contact us today to find out more about what we can do for you.

Comments are closed.