We’re in this together. No, I don’t mean the current market ... I’m talking about license renewal.
No matter how many houses are for sale, or how low (or high) the interest rates, or whatever schemes have been hatched to screw up the commission system, one thing stays the same: passing the continuing education test to renew your license.
Mine is due this fall and the booklets have started arriving. The “schools” get our names from the state, mail us the whole book and hope we select them. You’ve been through it before; I don’t need to tell you more.
I’m not wedded to any school so I take the first one that arrives. My reasoning may be faulty but here’s my reasoning: if it gets here first, it’s because they’re the best prepared. (This probably is indeed faulty — I checked my checkbook and I’ve used a different school in each of the past three renewals.)
It doesn’t matter, of course. What matters is getting it done.
The easy way: take the test from the back, use the index to find the page that the question is pulled from, and mark the answer sheet.
Like:
“The most appropriate expert to determine market feasibility is a/an:
“a. land planner.
“b. civil engineer.
“c. environmental specialist.
“d. market analyst of consultant.”
(Shuffle, shuffle ... Index. Market feasibility 43, 45, 48 ... shuffle shuffle. Page 43. Nothing. Page 45. Nothing. Page 48. Bingo! “... the developer usually consults a market analyst to determine market feasibility ...”)
One down, 29 to go, and on it goes through various cataclysmic events (flood insurance,) bureaucratic rules (involuntary inactive licenses) and paperwork (“The effective date of a contract is ...”)
That’s the easy — well, the easier — way. The harder way is to treat the book as what it should be: a textbook that you need to study. It’s full of details that every Realtor should know: brokerage relationships, escrow fund rules and the like.
No, it’s not something that you’re going to pore over, nor is it dandy bedside reading. But it’s good stuff that’s written in a reasonably clear manner.
It’s not going to hurt you to look it over. I darn sure know you have some extra time on your hands, given the market these days. I learned something that probably will help down the road and I’m sure some things lodged in the little nooks of my aging brain, ready to pop up when triggered.
You paid $21.95 or so for it. That’s more than you’ll pay amazon.com for the latest Danielle Steele and it’s certainly a lot less racy, but it’s your business.
Your thoughts? I promise; no lectures about continuing education.
Jim Bailey is publisher of Realty/Builder Connection and president of Bailey Publishing & Communications Inc. He can be reached at jbailey @baileypub.com.