• Legal and Legislative Update in Real Estate

An update of key issues in the five high-risk areas of real estate—property disclosure, agency disclosure, fair housing, and antitrust and RESPA coupled with a federal law component, this timely course gives four hours of continuing education core credit. A welcomed outcome is the ability of the student to remain current in areas of high exposure and to acquire this information in a fun and interactive setting.    Using the latest in audiovisual techniques, implementation exercises, skill-development training, and supplemented with Internet references and case law updates, this course should be a must-take refresher for every professional practitioner.   

• Rules of the Road

This updated program incorporates state-specific license laws, current legal issues and their case outcomes, and the Realtor® Code of Ethics into a 100% interactive program.  Taught through a case-studies approach, the student works through these three parameters of behavior in order to determine his or her own behavior in select scenarios.    This qualifies for continuing education core credit and has been adapted to meet Realtor® Code of Ethics Quadrennial Ethics requirements.  

• Consumer and Agent Protection Through Property Disclosure

This course focuses on the high-risk area of property disclosure issues and the agent’s role under license law.  An examination of case law relating to the issues of misrepresentation,  fraud, and negligence round out the information needed to give the student the knowledge to protect the consumers he or she serves.  The course covers topics ranging from wetlands to sexual offenders and has a special section on environmental considerations.  Supplemented with both video and Internet resources.      

• Risk-Reduction Procedures for the In-House Sale

A state-specific course that works great for company customization.  Issues such as customer and client-level service, gaining informed consent, representation options when showing in-house listings, and risk-reduction procedures for dual and designated agency are thoroughly discussed.   The student develops the tools necessary to explain his or her company’s alternatives to a consumer and to adhere to a disciplined course of action.  This is one of our most popular courses.    

• Agency 2006

This course starts with an overview of allowable agency relationships through a review of license law and ends with the ability to explain the company office policy on agency to potential customers and clients in a manner designed to gain informed consent.  Covering single, dual, and designated agency relationships as well as customer and client service, the student will gain the confidence that the agency presentation was both thorough and practical.  A special emphasis is placed on the forms and timing used to document the agency relationship as required by state law.      

• Real-World Fair Housing

This course is a great refresher on fair-housing and has been updated for 2006.  Focusing on “real-world” issues such as fair-housing advertising and provisions of service, the course uses a scenario approach to give the agent the skills and confidence needed to meet any fair housing challenge.

• South Carolina Real Estate Contracts

This core course is a review of contract law coupled with an in-depth look at local and state real estate contracts.  Included are the listing agreement, the buyer agency agreement, and the purchase and sales agreement. 

• Legal and Ethical Issues in Alternative Services

As the real estate market changes, so does the level of service available to customers and clients.  This program is designed to give an overview of the federal and state laws involved in offering “alternative” services to buyers and sellers, as well as options for incorporating new ideas into daily business practice.

• 3D Disclosure

This course was first offered at the Triple Play Convention in Atlantic City NJ in 2005 and has become one of the most requested of our courses.  It focuses on disclosure issues such as :

Agency relationships, property disclosures, disclosure of personal interest, disclosure of fees, and other relevant disclosures.  Sure to assist the agent in risk reduction.

• Don’t Be A Case Study

First offered at the South Carolina Association of REALTORS® Annual Convention in 2006, this course focuses on recent case law in the area of property disclosure, fair housing, antitrust, and RESPA.  It’s a risk reduction course without agency and is chock full of updates.

• Ethics for Success

New for 2006, this course gives an overview of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics along with case studies.  A focus is placed on procuring cause and multiple-offer situations.  Incorporates the NAR Quadrennial ethics requirements.

• Making Value-Based Presentations

First offered in 2005 in West Chester County, NY, this course meets the needs of today’s buyer and seller agent by focusing on making listing and buyer agency presentations that are based on the value the agent brings to the transaction.  Common objections are role played throughout the program.  This course also contains a look at “alternative” business models and how a professional agent might incorporate these options into daily real estate practice.

• 7 Rules of Risk Reduction

Updated in 2006, this course reviews the seven high-risk areas of real estate practice and identifies policies and procedures designed to reduce the risk of the agent.

• Making Winners Out of Sellers

A pure seller-agency class designed to assist agents in meeting seller’s goals through proper pricing, merchandising, marketing, and negotiating skills.  Heavily video and Internet based.

• Advanced Buyer Agency Skills

Pre-requisite training in buyer agency recommended.  Expanding on basic skills, this course is designed for the seasoned buyer agent who has a need for skill refinement.  In addition, recent liability issues involving buyer agency will be discussed as well as enhanced skill training in listing the buyer and discussing required agreements and fees involved.    This course has recently been enhanced with internet references, and the student will be developing a presentation designed to inform the consumer of his or her rights and responsibilities as a client.    

• Negotiating for Your Buyer or Seller Client

Skill training in negotiating customized for the real estate professional, this program will aid the student in working to establish a set of non-adversarial negotiating tools in order to gain their clients the terms and conditions they need to make the transaction work.   Many real estate agents are not comfortable negotiating an offer to purchase due to their lack of confidence that they have a negotiating plan in place.  This program focuses on assisting clients in developing targets they want to achieve and in determining the flexibility they have in each.  Negotiating ability is a highly desired skills in an agent and this course will assist the student in meeting that need.    

• Housing Opportunity Specialist

This is a 12-hour program designed to assist the buyer agent in working with “special needs” buyers.  Components include making an effective presentation, counseling buyers, financing, locating assistance programs, and making money as an agent who works entry-level buyers.

Certificate of completion is presented at the end following an exit exam.  

Non-Continuing Education Courses and Keynotes    

• Baby Boomers:  78 Million Opportunities

Our hottest course ever!  This program is completely customizable in 90-minute-to-three-hour format and makes it perfect for retreats and conventions. With an overview of the demographics of the baby boom generation and how it is expected to impact the real estate industry over the next 15 years, the material leads to asking the student to develop a specific marketing plan to meet his or her specific needs in customized products and services.  Niche marketing focus makes this course one that can show immediate financial results to the student when implemented.  

• Generational Marketing
  
  Identify the major population subsets that will purchase over the next 10 years. Define the characteristics, needs, and motivations of each generation. Identify buzz words, “hot buttons”, and methods to reach each group. Create a plan designed to target each generation for specific properties. Locate Web sites for further study of each generation.  

• Polishing the Real Estate Professional

This course can be customized into whatever timeframe you wish.  Perfect for retreats and conventions.  Gives a real-world look at the levels of “polish” an agent needs to be successful, including dress, tools, handshakes, introductions, communications, and dealing with diverse customers and clients.

• Stressed Is Just Desserts Spelled Backwards

This has been our most popular keynote ever.  The program can be customized from 60-120 minutes and works great for keynote presentations.  It examines the items that cause stress in a real estate agent’s professional work day and ends with a review of how stress can be removed through effective planning and preparation.  Taught in a slap-stick, hilarious manner, “Stressed” is sure to get a great reaction as the attendees laugh their way to success.

• Taking Care of Business

Whether a new or seasoned agent, business planning is one of the most critical (and neglected) areas of professional development.  This 2-4 hour workshop will assist the agent in developing long and short term goals, action plans, and budgets to give guidance to daily business decisions.

Leadership Training

• Your Role As An Association Leader

Perfect for leadership training or retreats, this program can be customized from 2-6 hours and covers the role a volunteer accepts as association leader and identifies methods to make that role achieve success.  Can be combined with a strategic-planning session for maximum results.

• Professional Standards Administration

This course is designed to meet the needs of REALTOR® Associations in training their professional standards administrators.  It can be customized from 3-6 hours to meet association needs.  Focusing on application and interpretation of the Code of Ethics, in addition to due process, attendees will leave the program with a new awareness of their responsibilities and of the diligence necessary when serving on the Professional Standards Committee.

• Making Meetings Work

Most volunteer leaders have only basic meeting management skills.  This course was written to give the leader the confidence necessary to implement Robert’s Rules of Order while focusing on meeting the goals of the volunteer group.  3-4 hours.

Instructor Training 

• Adult Learning That Makes Sense

This program has been taught to more than 1,000 instructors nationwide with rave reviews.  With a focus on adult learning theory and its practical application, the course covers topics such as creating effective visuals, presentation skills, working the classroom, handling difficult students, and incorporating fun and interactivity into any program.  6-12 hour workshop.

• Presentation Skills A to Z

Focusing purely on presentation skills, this course will refine the skills of a seasoned instructor.  Topics covered include voice management, body positioning, gesturing, interacting with students, and how to meet the presentations goals.  6 hour workshop.

• Student-Centered Instructional Design

Utilizing the skills gained from creating two award-winning courses, this program teaches the course author to identify student needs and anticipated outcomes and to couple that information with an instructional design template that will keep the student at the center of the learning that is taking place.  6 hour workshop delivers a workable content outline to the student.