Some people still own typewriters. Many more have mastered the new-fangled intricacies of e-mail. There are folks who even continue to put pen to paper. And you could swear a rare few haven’t progressed beyond beating sticks and banging drums. Thus we communicate.
This is in response to your column last Sunday (Aug. 13).
I have been a broker since 1987. It is true that until recently I was forced to endure an entire 12-hour day in some garish hotel banquet room in Oak Brook, with a speaker droning on about the material in front of my rapidly closing eyes. However, I never had to go for two separate sessions. It is now possible to take home-study courses and read as much or as little as you wish on any given day.
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Much of the material concerns arcane matter you don’t really need to know at all, such as the date the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was passed (1890) or how many acres are in a hectare (2.47).
The all-multiple-choice tests are really quite easy. A question from my 1998 exam asked what a paper trail was. One possible answer read “a little pile of torn-up scraps of paper that an agent leaves at every property he or she visits.” The 2000 test had a question about redlining. One possible answer was “making red lines on properties with a red pen.”
People who were licensed prior to 1978 are exempt from testing. It would seem that they are the ones who would need continuing education most. However, my principal impression is that it exists to extract dollars from brokers’ pockets.
— Donna Joyce
Dear Steve,
I hope you were being facetious in your column (Aug. 13) saying that real estate salespeople and brokers should not have to take continuing education. Other professions have to keep current or learn new procedures and real estate people are no different.
You have written about selling your current property and buying something new. Would you have trust in an agent who got his or her license, say, 20 years ago and has not been updated on current laws and procedures since?
I worked in a real estate office for 10 years. It is not that much of a problem to take four half-day classes over a period of two years. Also, to get a license 45 hours is not a lot–someone must think it’s necessary. Most classes are for three hours at a time. Everyone needs continuing education. How else would we keep up on our chosen profession? Most people have to be forced into it.
I can’t believe that real estate people are busier than doctors, teachers, bankers, computer people, repair men, etc.
— Linda Lavigne
I was, in a lame imitation of Cicero (the orator not the suburb), being facetious. I think there is way too little training and education required of those in the real estate profession. But I do sympathize when it comes to the garish ballrooms in Oak Brook.
I think the Tribune’s trash magazine section today (Upper Bracket, July 19) regarding the rich (crooks) and famous (phony) stunk to high heaven. I’m not a phony nor do I reside in a mansion. And every time I read this affluent crap I go ballistic. These pictures of extravagant homes are B. S. Why are you always focusing on money?
All we hear and see any more is this materialistic crap. Our country is so spoiled and demanding that it stinks. The SUV craze is pure proof of this. The real people you should be concentrating on are the humble and good, hard-working mothers/fathers of this country. Not these jerks that you people in the media call rich and famous. Famous of what?
— Jerry [email protected]
Made ya look, though, didn’t we?
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