With all the new technology available to real estate agents today, it’s extremely important to have the proper training available. Good training makes it easier to learn new technologies and allows agents to get the most benefit from them.

Having been a certified trainer for over 5 years, I have trained more than 600 real estate offices throughout the nation and been privileged to be in front of nearly 50,000 Realtors. With the opportunity to speak to so many real estate professionals, I’ve been able to see how the market has changed and where it is going. Clearly, technology is that end point. In my experience, those agents who have been able to accept and embrace new technology have, by far, had the most success.

One of the first and most important factors in successfully adopting new technology is getting comprehensive training on the tools you’re using. My trainings on our Premier Online Marketing System (which includes virtual home tours, agent and broker websites, email, printable fliers, statistics, and more) usually last three hours each. When most agents hear that, they freak out. Real estate agents are obviously very busy people, and every hour they spend with me is an hour they aren’t spending showing homes or working to gain new clients or listings. Still, by the end of my training just about every one of them comes up and tells me that it was the best training that they have been to. They feel more comfortable with our system, can see its benefits, and are excited about using it to help improve their business.

With that kind of response, it’s clear that proper training is key in having agents embrace and use any new technology. Our company does comprehensive training for every new customer and has added a number of ongoing training and support options including an Online Video Trainer, Live Online Training Sessions, and Online Chat Support.

I’m sure you have all been to training classes at some point, so I’d like to ask what you think works and what doesn’t. First, do you get adequate training on the new tools and technologies that you need or are expected to use? If so, what kind of training do you feel is the most successful? What do you want to see or hear when you have to sit and listen to someone for nearly three hours? Although I have done this for a long time, I am always up for suggestions or feedback on how to make things better. Post a comment and let me know what you think.

Posted by: Nick on November 26th, 2007 | Filed under: Training, General