Much like any industry, real estate is populated with individuals who came to the field through self-motivation, raw talent or successful mentoring. But as the competition continues to heat up, real estate professionals across the board are raising the bar even higher through more formalized training programs.
For Adrienne “Abe” Wagner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty in Donegal, Penn., and Rachael Hand of Bay Sotheby’s International Realty in Oakland, Calif., that training came in the form of REALTOR® University’s Master of Real Estate (MRE) Degree Program.
Not only has the Master of Real Estate Degree positioned both Wagner and Hand well ahead of the competition, it’s also provided them with the tools they need to be more successful, as well as insight into best practices from their peers across the country.
“The Master of Real Estate Degree makes you keenly aware of how much our business has evolved and the challenges ahead,” says Wagner, “while providing new tools to position your agents as true experts in your market.”
With a curriculum designed to cater to the needs of real estate professionals on a day-to-day basis, and the opportunities available to them, REALTOR® University’s online Master’s in Real Estate ups the ante to truly help real estate professionals differentiate themselves.
“Studies conducted by the National Association of REALTORS® consistently show that agents who have designations make more money than those who don’t,” adds Wagner. “The MRE has been designed for people interested in real estate, not just in the academic sense, but in the practical sense.”
In fact, Hand notes that the Association Management course and the Performance Metrics and Measurements class have helped her to develop a more well-rounded approach to thinking strategically, which has been a boon when it comes to working with buyers and sellers.
“The MRE course has helped me with my clients by teaching me the 3 L’s: listen, listen, listen,” says Hand, who explains that the course has gone a long way toward reinforcing her professionalism.
For Wagner, one of the biggest benefits in completing the MRE boils down to her competitive advantage. “The knowledge acquired from course content has allowed me to improve upon our existing business plan for our team. Not only have we been able to streamline our marketing, we’ve also been able to reach more qualified clients through the use of new tools while incorporating techniques that have saved a substantial amount of time.”
And it doesn’t end there. Hand, a recruiter within her company’s firm, explains that she’s talked to everyone about the program—and is encouraging them to enroll. “If they want to move their business forward, this will help them do just that.”
“Encouraging agents to enroll at REALTOR® University and take part in other educational offerings out there leads to greater knowledge, and greater knowledge leads to higher professionalism,” concludes Wagner. “Other professional occupations value college and advanced degrees, so why shouldn’t we?”
For more information, please visit www.realtoru.com.
