I was reading a blog on another site about agent training. I thought that I would blog here to new agents in particular about training. When I got my license, the first brokerage that I worked at was run by a great lady. She was interested in our success and provided a lot of the little things that can really cost new agents a lot of money. The training however consisted of: you got your license, great!, now go and sell houses.
The great blessing to me, was that Darcy, my wife, had started at another brokerage and had gone through new agent training there. In fact, she had started at the front desk, so she was familiar with all of the paperwork required in a Real Estate transaction in our state. The other great blessing was that there was a great agent at that office that wanted to help me succeed in any way that she could. Her training was limited to the school of hard knocks, but she imparted all that she knew willingly and without reserve.
In time we moved, gas prices went through the roof, so Darcy returned to the brokerage where she began, and I started there as an agent with a couple years experience. I began with new agent training because I hadn't been through it before. There were 3 other agents going through it with me, and it didn't cost us anything. It was great, the Broker, as well as some of the top producing agents in our Board of Realtors, trained us on setting goals, setting business plans, managing our time, and really gave us a good base to meet the goals and plans that we had set.
In addition to that, my broker has an annual retreat, usually at a nice hotel near one of the nearby National Parks. He pays for the whole time, room and all. He then brings someone in to train us. One year we had the attorney for the Utah Board of Realtors come and train us why to use, and what forms to use in order for use to stay out of legal issues. He has also brought in sales trainers etc. I am greatly blessed to have had such a great broker. That spirit of training permeates through the office and it is easy to ask a more experienced agent how they would do something, and they willing give advice and help.
Training is a good thing, and I think that once a new agent can afford it, they should get as much training as possible from reputable sources. Knowledge is always a good thing. I would caution a new agent, that waiting until it is something that you can afford may be the most important aspect of it. There is a lot of pressure on a new agent, and adding more costs will only add to that. I would advise the agent to interview the agents at any brokerage they are considering, and find out what kind of training is available and at what cost.
We are blessed with sites like this one, where good people share wisdom, and encouragement. I think that they're great! I learn something everytime that I read through the blogs, I don't always comment, but I usually learn something. The agents that impart wisdom and encouragement here remind me of the senior agents in my office, they are great people, as well as great agents
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