? by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
Almost 200 attended the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors quarterly meeting last month at the Renaissance Resort in World Golf Village.
During the meeting, Kandace Dickover, education director for NEFAR, introduced an interactive web-based training program, “How to Master” that Realtors will be able to access 24-hours a day, seven days a week. It will allow Realtors to take courses that will help them master such topics as Microsoft Word, Palm Pilot usage and other business courses.
“ ‘How to Master’ will help Realtors with technical proficiency,” said Melanie Green, NEFAR’s communication director. “Everything these days revolves around the increasing use of technology, including real estate. To conduct business in today’s environment, Realtors need to know how to use technology to survive and prosper. Clients want more information than ever before and faster. This means that the use of PDAs, e-mail, websites, etc. is paramount. Realtors who don’t possess these skills are likely to be left behind.”
“How To Master” is designed to provide members the opportunity to learn those needed skills, at their convenience.
“E-learning fits the Realtor’s busy schedule because it’s totally Internet-based and can be accessed from any computer, whenever and wherever the Realtor chooses,” said Green.
Green said e-learning also allows the student to learn at their own pace, bookmarking their spot in a course when they exit. In addition, there are three different skill levels contained within every course, so everyone from a novice to the more advanced student is accommodated.
NEFAR is the first Realtor association in Florida to offer an online learning program.
“We’re delighted to provide our members the incredible flexibility that e-learning provides,” said Green. “They can take the courses of their choice, at their pace, whenever it fits into their schedule and in the location of their choice, even at 3 a.m. at home in their pajamas if they choose.”
Lockboxes were also a hot topic during the meeting.
It seems the current mechanical lockbox system NEFAR is using is on its way to becoming obsolete.
Risco and Supra, two different vendors, were brought in to give a presentation featuring electronic lockboxes that are more efficient than the old system.
“A task force has been established to look at all options regarding implementing a new lockbox system,” said Green. “The task force will be soliciting input from individual members and focus groups. The board of directors will have final approval over the selection. We brought in the two vendors to demonstrate their respective lockbox systems to our membership for educational purposes, as the majority of our members have not been exposed to the electronic lockboxes before. At this stage of the game, no decisions have been made. We’re just beginning to weigh the pros and cons of both systems and the ramifications of implementing a new system.”