Continuing education as a REALTOR is essential. No debate here. I imagine many feel the same.

Many of us have acquired a variety of designations and certifications after obtaining our licenses...there are certainly plenty of them to consider.

There are wonderful opportunities to continue our education in the real estate business, no matter how much experience we have, and especially for those who can benefit from more learning or thirst for it.

There is no lack of classes these days on a myriad of topics. Heck, you can continue to take CRS classes even after achieving that designation - there is new information, a few new classes, or take one you didn't take before (our Chapter offers a $50 rebate on a 2-day class, which reimburses members for the cost of the annual membership in our Southern California CRS Chapter). There are lots of other choices too, including seminars dealing with short sales, risk management, on-line marketing, technology, and investing.

Perhaps the best opportunity for CE, but without credits toward license renewals, are our day to day transactions, and interactions with other agents and with our buyers and sellers.

I find that I always learn something new (usually a number of things) with each transaction - nuances of the contracts that were previously not noticed, better ways to position offers, more effective responses to counter offers, and new ways ofhandling problems.

With each transaction, or even when simply working with a buyer without a successful resolution, I find I have learned new questions to ask buyers and sellers, and can better anticipate situations after a difficult or challenging experience. Each problem to solve provides a new learning for the future, and lessons that will allow me to be a better representative for the next buyer or seller.

It's hard to admit making mistakes, or knowing that you could have handled a situation differently or more effectively. But these situations allow us to grow, if we take the time to consider what we have learned, and to not blame others when things do not go the way we think they should. While it is easy to point fingers, isn't it more productive to consider how we could deal with similar situations in some other way in the future? And can't we learn better ways of dealing with people, responding to their concerns and questions, and frustrations?

Gotta take a break for an errand. Back soon....

Well, I'm back from having to get the washer and dryer out of my seller's (out of state) home that just closed late this afternoon. Buyers didn't want them (we learned last night) and we advertised today but the person who was going to pick it up flaked. Just what I wanted to do at 9 PM. Good lesson there.

No doubt we MUST continually learn new things as the business evolves, and in some ways it is surprising how few additional or or-going learning requirements there are. And that so many agents don't seem to take advatnage of the many educational opportunities that exist.

And we must personally take responsibility to learn from our mistakes, and not repeat them, and continually strive to improve what we do and to gain more knowledge. I know I learn a tremendous amount from each transaction, especially when I seriously think about what happened, how, when and why, or consider what I might have done differently or more effectively.

Some stuff just can't be learned in a classroom or on-line.

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360
or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits