Annual Commission Update (CREC Update): This is the required one! Description varies by year. (4 hours)
Broker Relationships (3 hours): TB or not TB, that is the question! What is the difference between a Transaction Broker and Agency relationship? Are there differences in services, behavior, the guidance provided? This class dives into the real meaning of both relationships, as well as how we interact with a customer.
Clauses That Kill (3 hours): We’re all busy and in a hurry, but sometimes in the rush, we write bad language. We’ll take some time to outline how a good clause is constructed, not just in the Contract to Buy and Sell, but also in our Counterproposals, Amends/Exdtends, Inspection Objections and Resolutions, not to mention when do we cross that fine line of practicing law. Let’s write Contracts for success instead of failure!
Contracts: Nuts & Bolts (2 hour version): Looking for a quick refresher and overview of some of the Contract hot spots? We will touch on the trouble spots that open us to risk, as well as some “best practice” tips to reduce problems.
Contracts: Back to Basics (3 or 4 hour version): Back to the basics! No matter how long you’ve been in the business, it’s always good to have a refresher. How many Contracts are there? (Hint – more than one!) Do you know all the ways a Buyer can get out of a Contract? How about a Seller? Who’s responsible for those Deadlines? What are the areas of risk? What happens in an Earnest Money Dispute? We will cover these subjects and more!
Contracts: A Detailed Look (6 hours): In this class, we go in great detail through the sections and blanks of the Contract to Buy and Sell, in addition to reviewing the differences in the five types of Contracts available. And what Contracts class would be complete without talking about risk reduction!
Contracts – Keep Your Wallet Out of the Deal and Yourself Out of Trouble (3 hours): Are you tired of everyone looking to you when the numbers don’t add up, or when one party doesn’t perform as they should and you are expected to make it right? Protect your checkbook by writing a better, stronger Contract right from the start! We will discuss the top five hot spots in the Contract that are costing us money….and shouldn’t be. Additionally, we’ll review some “best practice” tips to keep you on the good side of your clients and the Colorado Real Estate Commission! Think you have it under control just because there were no changes this year? Let’s assess: How many ways can a Buyer get out? How many ways can a Seller get out? How many Deadlines self-destruct the Contract? How many Deadlines have built-in remedies if missed? What happens if the lender’s wire isn’t at Closing = DEFAULT! We will cover a number of ways to reduce your risk in the transaction, and better yet, keep your wallet out of the deal! This is an in-depth review of the “hot spots” of the Contract!
Contracts – The Lender’s Lair (3 hours): As Brokers, we complete the Contract, but typically fail to consider some of the other players in the game. Many sections of the Contract directly impact the lender, including the Buyer’s name, Inclusions, Earnest Money, Deadlines, Concessions, and let’s not forget the Inspection Resolution! Let’s write Contracts for success, instead of setting them….and our Buyers….up for problems and/or failure. We will also address our role with the lender, so as a team we can reach the Closing table!
Contracts – Title Tales of Terror (3 hours): As Brokers, we complete the Contract, but typically fail to consider some of the other players in the game. Many sections of the Contract directly impact the Closing Company, including Earnest Money, Association Documents, Record Title, Survey and Prorations. How can we write a Contract for success, instead of a dozen Amend/Extends? What exactly should we look for in a Commitment and Closing docs? What is our responsibility vs. the Closing Company’s? This and much more will be discussed!
D-Day: Dates and Deadlines (2 hours): Line by line in Section 3.1, we’ll review the ‘why’ behind each deadline. Some dates are promises to perform, and some dates are rights of one of the parties. As Brokers, our role is to describe the pros, cons and risks of these dates (especially in a multiple offer scenario), and the impact it may have on the parties involved. We’ll also highlight corresponding Sections of Contract to Buy and Sell, and review Section 3.2 (Deleted, Not Applicable and blank means corresponding section is omitted).
Disclosures – Forms, Fights and Fraud (3 hours): Failure to disclose has become a big concern. Brokers have an obligation to disclose all known material facts regarding a property, brokerage relationships, and more! Keep yourself out of trouble by taking this course!
How to Play With Other People’s Money….You Don’t! (2 hours): Learn the ins and outs and everything in between when it comes to Earnest Money. We’ll take an in-depth look at Section 4.3 of the Contract to Buy and Sell, review delivery of Earnest Money, discuss pros, cons and risks in regard to the handling of Earnest Money and the Earnest Money Holder, requirements of the Earnest Money Holder (e.g. timeframe to deposit, records, bookkeeping), and of course, the exciting Earnest Money Dispute process in Section 24.
Inspection Objections and Resolutions that Kill the Deal (2 hours): Write your Inspections Resolutions for success instead of failure! Commission Position Statement #43 addresses the proper way to handle Inspection objections. Besides the importance of wording the agreement carefully, equally critical is addressing any issues with the lender. And don’t forget, the lender gets a copy!
Listing Contracts: Let’s fill out our Listing Contracts for success instead of additional problems and risk! We’ll do an in-depth review of both the Exclusive Right to Sell and the Exclusive Right to Buy Listing Contracts, and we’ll highlight numerous risk-reducing tips. (3 hours)
Listing Contracts and Forms from Head to Toe (6 hours): We’ll dive into both the Exclusive Right to Sell and Exclusive Right to Buy Listing Contracts line-by-line, in addition to reviewing the various disclosures that accompany a real estate transaction. The Listing process and “best practice” tips will also be discussed.
Multiple Offers (3 hours): In a market experiencing multiple offers, Brokers need to be on top of their game! It may seem great for Sellers, but there is also great risk and stress. For Buyers, there are many strategies that they may choose to utilize, but they too involve tremendous risk. We will review the pros and cons of the strategies that Sellers may employ (eg: Coming Soon, showing windows), as well as those strategies that Buyer may use (eg: Deadlines, escalation clauses). Our role as the Broker is to educate the decision maker so they may make an informed decision….that they hopefully feel good about.
Myths of Real Estate (3 hours): Over the decades, we’ve created all kinds of myths in our business! Ever heard the “threshold rule” equals procuring cause? How about that you can’t help a customer in a transaction because you have no relationship? No need to mention an issue on a property if it’s already been fixed? Or how about that you can’t mention commissions in the Contract?
NAR Ethics Update (4 hours): The National Association of Realtors along with the local association require all REALTORS to attend an Ethics Update. We’ll review any changes to the Code of Ethics, review some of the “most abused” Articles of the Code, and best of all – we’ll learn from those who have volunteered to be case studies!
Open Houses – Safety + Smarts = Success (1 hr CE, 2 hr class): There’s much more to open houses than networking! When is it necessary to provide the Brokerage Disclosure of relationships? What about disclosures regarding material defects? And let’s not forget the importance of following safety tips while you’re there.
Procuring Cause – Whose Money Is It Anyway? (2 hours): Procuring cause is perhaps one of the most complex, misunderstood subjects in our industry. It MAY or may NOT be – who showed the home, who informed the Buyer of the home, who has the Exclusive Right to Buy Listing Contract, who wrote the Contract…..getting an idea for how complicated it is? In this class, we will dive into examples and case studies examining the mysterious topic of procuring cause!
Risk Reduction (3 hours): Real estate = risk, no doubt about it. So as a Broker, how can we reduce our risk and liability? Often times, Brokers bring on additional risk and liability without even realizing it! We will review what a Broker’s responsibilities are, as well as some important strategies we can employ to avoid and reduce our risk.
What’s New In Forms and Contracts? (3 hours): The latest and greatest! Are you familiar with the changes to the Contract to Buy and Sell and Closing Instructions that came out July 1, 2019? And 2020 changes (including new forms) are BIG and ready to roll out as well, so let’s cover it all in one class! The Colorado forms committee reviews CREC approved Contracts, Disclosures and Forms every year to ensure they are in the public’s best interest. As Brokers, part of our realm of expertise includes knowing all of these documents, so let’s make a habit of taking a Contracts class at least once a year! You can count on changes and/or new forms every year, so get prepared for 2020. We’ll not only review what’s new, but we’ll also address methods to reduce risk.
