Hi guys, I joined the course at the beginning, and found out from Renee I have till December to finish it. I am a bit nervous about keeping on top of it all as the webinars come out. How is everyone else tracking?
I am feeling very far behind, as I put it all aside when I started getting my house ready for sale in the second half of last year - it needed some repairs, and I was thorough and careful about choosing an agent. I chose one based on logic, not liking, which took some self discipline. It seemed more comfortable to go with the one who was "my friend" but I didn't, I went with the one that was more prepared to go all out to get the best possible price - which she did - whoopee! Got four interested offers, in a market where some houses in similar area were not selling at all! We had gone all out on making the house look as lovely as possible - now I know how to keep a home looking lovely!
One little thing that I picked up after the sale was that GST had been added on to the commission. I knew because I had gone through the agreement with the agent and specifically asked, they it was "inclusive" to the commission. I queried it with the head of the agent, but nothing was happening until I sent an email saying "This is starting to look like a SCAM",then I got a refund. So something to beware of. I would still recommend the particular individual agent, as she was head and shoulders above the rest, but I am not going around singing praises and promoting them after the issue with GST. (Canberra)
Then I moved interstate, so my excuse for putting off study was settling in, buying new stuff, etc. Realiaed recently if don't get moving on it right now, I may not be able to catch up. I am at session 30, I answer assignment questions as I go. Still have one question and one research assignment to finish for module 2, and have all the research questions for module 3 to still do. They look daunting, but just will take it one step at a time. Finishing the course has just become a top priority for the next six months.
Yes it easy to get side tracked if you do not set some key dates for keep each modular & keep yourself accountable. Are their any other apprentice that you can buddy up with that can help you stay on track & make it more enjoyable??
Greg
Thanks for feedback, Greg. I am blazing my way through the reading and webinars and questions, by totally focussing on it, and now it seems much less daunting. But then there are all those research assignments to go. There seems a lot for module three, I wonder how everyone else is going with it all.
Eeekkkk....
I had better get my skates on.... Over the past few weeks I have fallen behind on the reading so I am currently up to 35 (out of 43 as I write this). My big headache are the research assignments from module 2 (particularly question 2 of the research assignments). I tried to take photos in a house that was for sale and was quizzed by the REA, which made me rather nervous and as a result I have shut down! I am also finding it difficult to get quotes for renovations from photos and for a project that I know will not go ahead.
The research assignments really bring this course together, however, I have to get over my sheepishness so I can do them properly!
I think I also need someone to keep me accountable....
The enemy of a great life is a good life
Hi Chris,
I know how you feel about feeling awkward trying to get info for things you know you are not going to actually do! I have been lucky enough to tie it to events going in my own life, eg when I did that assignment, I had been getting quotes and talking things over with tradies due to renovating my own house, so I had gotten a pretty good idea of how much things cost to do. I used a four page brochure of the property, and marked it up, pointing out on it things that I had noticed from doing the walk around and which were not super clear in the photo. I also found the real estate agent was a nice friendly bloke and did not mind chatting, even though he knew I was not buying. Have not had my assignment marked yet, but sent in Assignment 2 recently.
Now I have to do the research components of module 3 - I am no good at lying, so just can't see myself ringing up and asking question for something I am not doing - eg selling a property and getting quotes and renting out a property and talking to property managers. I asked via email and got ignored and nothing usefuyl from three major agents in Adelaide!! I have decided to use the info I used when I sold a property late last year, and I have a property rented out so am going to get quotes for that, then I can do it and sound credible.
Good luck, I hope you get it sorted.