Five Questions With: Ann Enos

Ann Enos, director of professional development for the Rhode Island Association of Realtors, recently spoke to the Providence Business News about its new education program, called the Real Estate Xpedition Education Program, or REX.

The classes that make up the certificate program can be taken individually or as part of a certificate program. Available to new agents as well as veterans, the education program started in February and the complete certificate would cost about $500.

PBN: Tell me what REX is. Is this the first time the Rhode Island Association of Realtors has put together course offerings in one place?

ENOS: It is a certificate program. It’s our first launch. The first round was in February. What it is, is a completion of courses that we already offer but which have been … put together into a certificate program.

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It started out, really, as something that we could offer our brokers who have new agents coming in but don’t have the wherewithal to invest in high-level training. It’s the rudiments of the business, on the listing side as well as the buyers’ side.

PBN: Does it carry a set number of hours?

ENOS: The actual curriculum has a set definition to it. Once they go through the whole process, then what that enables them to do is get the certificate. It also launches brand-new agents, not only with high-level learning, it also sets them on a career path to get higher-level certificates and designations from the National Association of Realtors.

PBN: What are the basic elements of business being discussed in the program?

ENOS: It’s what a practitioner needs to know about our industry at the root level. So, what is an independent contractor? Because they’re not employees. How do you go on a listing appointment? How do you price property? How do you work with a buyer?

PBN: One of the goals is to instill good habits in new agents. What is that?

ENOS: Let me share some of the bad habits that most of us are subjected to because there is no formalized training. Typically, what happens is someone gets their license. Maybe they have a friend that wants to buy a house or sell a house. And what they kind of do is fly by the seat of their pants. Not knowing how to serve that consumer to their best advantage, and how to manage their time and how to manage their business for the long haul.

PBN: In terms of this program, is it particular to Rhode Island?

ENOS: Yes. Some of it is on a national basis. The National Association of Realtors has a few of these courses. We do have an exclusive partnership with [the R.I. Housing and Mortgage Finance Corp.], where they have written a specific course for this school, that I administer, to know the mechanics of what Rhode Island Housing does. Their homebuyer education seminar is also part of our program.

Mary MacDonald is a staff writer for the PBN. Contact her at macdonald@pbn.com.