What is a Realtor?
A Realtor is a person who is licensed and trained to list and sell real estate, and is also a member of a local Board of Realtors, the State Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. A real estate agent is different. An agent is an individual licensed by their state to work in real estate and is not a member of a Realtor association. As a member of these three trade associations, a Realtor is bound by a strict code of ethics, the canons of professional behavior that guide daily activities in the real estate business.
About online Realtor classes
Each state has an association of Realtors. Some state associations, such as Wisconsin, offer members the option of taking online Realtor classes. These can be either pre-licensing agent or broker classes. The individual, in order to take the class, needs to have access to a computer with Windows Media Player or QuickTime Player, Adobe Acrobat, and a broadband connection to the Internet. In an online Realtor class, the student receives a comprehensive textbook along with video reviews that support the material. The course is made up of 14 modules that can be completed in the comfort of your own home. Students can test their knowledge with online quizzes and a mock exam before taking the state exam. Online Realtor classes cover subjects including; ownership and transfer of property, land use controls and regulations, valuing and financing property, agency, disclosures, contract law and approval forms, business ethics, fair housing, federal antitrust law and trust accounts. In Wisconsin, taking a pre-licensing online Realtor class would cost $325.00 with an additional $72.95 for textbook materials.
An online Realtor class in continuing education
Other state associations, such as California’s, do not offer pre-licensing courses but do offer members the option of continuing education classes. These continuing education classes offered by California to members are online, interactive and the only cost is for the mandatory exam. The purpose of organizing courses in this manner is so that individuals may fulfill their state continuing education requirements at a time most convenient for them. Courses offered include agency relationships, ethics, how to deal with being sued, and key points to a successful transaction.
What Realtors do for their clients
An online Realtor class, or a number of classes, should prepare Realtors for a multitude of situations they might encounter. Realtors should have many resources to help buyers or renters find their ideal living space. Some residential properties are not advertised when they are vacant or placed for sale. This happens when the house is worth a significant amount of money or the owner is a celebrity, and the owners do not want the home to be open for nosy people who have no intention of buying to stroll through. Realtors should help their clients negotiate with a buyer, seller, or lender, and this involves the price, financing, terms, date of possession and repairs. Depending on the home area and the property, the Realtor should assist the buyer in finding professionals to perform inspections of a home, and this may include inspection for termites, dry rot, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank, and well tests.
By Virginia Zignego