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The last two words you want to hear before renewing your RE license...

By
Real Estate Agent with Fathom Realty Washington LLC

The last two words you want to hear before renewing your RE license...

 

Continuing education...

It's that time again and I need another 30 clock HRS to keep my real estate brokers license.  This year I have decided to be proactive and not wait till the last minute and scramble to obtain my clock hours.  It has really worked out well as I have taken some very interesting classes as of late.  I decided to take live attendance classes this cycle mainly because I did my classes online last cycle and found I didn't learn as much as I could have.  I find class interaction and networking to be a real plus.


We all seem to be at the mercy of staying on top of our continuing education credit to stay in compliance with state laws.  Only once have I gotten down to taking undesirable classes to retain my license however I still remember sitting through a class on spotted owl sanctuaries and how they affect building codes.  The longest 3 hours of my life with only two other students in attendance.

I applaud our Washington State Board of Realtors for really stepping up the diversity of classes.  Each class I've taken this time has added another tool to my arsenal for buying and selling homes.  I'm down to is last five clock hours and I need to take two mandatory classes in the next six months.  That's far better than where I was two weeks ago.

My advice;

  • Start early.  Don't get stressed out with two weeks remaining to get your classes!
  • Take the classes you want.  Look for classes you need for your business rather than big point classes.  Grab a designation course if need be...
  • Plan to take classes when business is slow.  By taking half day classes or scheduling your classes properly you can still get clock HRS and run your everyday business with ease...

Do you wait a last minute for your clock hours?

This post was authored and picture was taken by Paul Henderson ©2012, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul HendersonRE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.

ClipArt by Microsoft 

Posted by

 and courtesy of 

Paul S. Henderson, Residential Real Estate Broker 

Tacoma Washington 

Realtor ® BPOR, CRS, GRI, CDPE

Fathom Realty WA LLC

Serving

South Puget Sound in Washington State

 

 

 

 

Paul's Service Area


 

 

As a Residential Broker and Relocation Specialist, I sell homes in or around ,Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Steilacoom,  University Place, DuPont and Hartstene Pointe in Washington State.
Please visit my website at http://www.hartstenepointe.com to search for information 

(all information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed or warranted in any way)

Referrals are always welcomed and appreciated, Thank-you!

(As a member of the NWMLS, this blog post is intended to comply with NWMLS rules as pertaining to blogging.)

isspfmtysmily

iaa

 

Comments(12)

Jordon Wheeler
The Jordon Wheeler Group - Fairburn, GA
J W Group Real Estate Sales and Service

Hey Paul,

Reminding everyone about Countinuing Education is always a good thing.  And we have lots of choices here in Georgia as well.  Thanks for the post and best of success to you this year!

Mar 20, 2012 05:40 PM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Paul,

Good advice about starting early. If agents did this they can avoid those one day 15 class hour classes.

Rich

Mar 20, 2012 06:51 PM
Phil Leng
Retired - Kirkland, WA
Phil Leng - Retired

Hi Paul,

It is a long standing joke the panic real estate agents go through to get clock hours at the last minute.

Certainly good practice to get the training you want and need, when you have the time to absorb it the best.

Phil

Mar 20, 2012 07:44 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

As a VA broker, I have some extra management courses to take and I'll start in May and then pick them up via web courses.....the different requirements for categories make it almost impossible to get VALUE and CE from the same course $

Mar 20, 2012 08:22 PM
Lucy E. Thompson
Keller Williams Realty Premier Properties - Summit, NJ

Thank you for this sound advice.  In NJ we are in our first cycle requiring continuing education (it's about time!) and my Assistant and I are trying to get everything done early!

Mar 20, 2012 08:30 PM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Paul, With the day job, online courses is the main way for me to go.  Every now and then I'll squeeze in a live class.  Active Rain easily trumps my classes for teaching me more stuff.  The online course selection is actually pretty limited.  In Ohio, 30 hours every 3 years, and I'm good to go for another 2.5 years.  Bill

Mar 20, 2012 08:51 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Paul....MA requires 12 hours of CE and they offer a round the clock deal from 8:00am to 8:00pm.... it's such a waste of time...I attend a class that's at least entertaining.... it's actually fun.... never learn anything new about real estate, but I stay awake!!!

Mar 20, 2012 09:56 PM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

Online classes for me. They are cheaper, and I can get through the material MUCH faster than the stated time. For my "education", I spend about an hour a day on ActiveRain!

Mar 20, 2012 11:19 PM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I am finding the live, hands on, tech classes to be my favorites. There is something about being able to sit in front of a computer and navigate through a problem with an instructor I really enjoy and at the end I usually can go back to my office and duplicate the process...

Have you ever had the state say you need one more CE credit or you have enough hours but you need this mandatory class with one week before your deadline? Only happened once to me but it will never happen again...

Mar 21, 2012 02:17 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

I did learn this last time and took them months before I had to and it was nice not stressing days before renewal time. 

 

Mar 21, 2012 04:19 AM
Kay Van Kampen
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate

Great advice.  Our Broker's license is due by June 30.  I only lack one class and hope to get it finished by the end of the month.

Mar 21, 2012 12:24 PM
BethAnn Long
RE/MAX of Spokane - Spokane, WA
Realtor, CRS, e-PRO, CLHMS Spokane Wa Real Estate

haha one time my brother scrambled something terrible staying up all night for his renewal, only to realize on his birthday as he was half asleep from cramming- that he actually had another YEAR. LOL!!

Mar 25, 2012 08:36 AM