We are fast approaching the end of a very busy year and we know for many of you this is bringing fresh opportunities. Likewise that is what is on the horizon at REAL ITO and for the many of you within the industry keen to upskill and stay at the top of your game. We have just finished conference season across the industry and REAL ITO managed to attend and sponsor almost everything on the calendar.

It gave us the opportunity to meet with many industry practitioners and hear your thoughts about qualifications and what our industry really needs. This is a great industry and it was heartening to get the message from so many of you committed to working with us to further the professional development of the industry.

REAL ITO has moved into new premises in Ellerslie.

You may remember from our last update that we talked about REAL ITO being absorbed into ETITO. This has now happened. It's a great move for education in your industry with a stronger better-resourced ITO being able to meet the needs of the real estate community.

ETITO is a large multi- industry training organisation with a clear vision to work with its industries to develop skills to improve how workplaces operate. It was just like moving house as we packed and organised our cartons for the move from Parnell to Ellerslie. Things have gone smoothly; we're transitioning our trainees across to our new systems and we're enrolling new trainees and undertaking assessments as we have before.

We are also taking the opportunity to have a good look at what we deliver and how we deliver it. We want to work alongside you on how we best enable trainees to progress steadily through their programmes in an appropriate time. We want credits to be achieved regularly, and trainees to have assurance about the quality of their learning. Getting in touch with your ITO is exactly the same - all our phone numbers and email addresses have not changed and the team is settling in well here at our new office and getting to know all the friendly staff at ETITO.

Have you got REAL Knowledge?

The REAL Knowledge programme is designed for people with two years' experience who would like to upskill to gain the National Certificate in Real Estate (Salesperson). Getting qualified recognises your existing skill and knowledge and when completed entitles you to display the REAL ITO insignia as a mark of knowledge in your profession.

The programme is predominantly evidence-based, which involves demonstrating your know-how by providing us recent examples of specified work such as a marketing plan, budget etc. There is also a series of questions about your profession and we give you the tools to assist you in completing these. The programme costs $395 incl GST.

We have received numerous enquiries about how to obtain the right to display the salesperson insignia. It is becoming a very powerful marketing tool. The good news is that if you complete the REAL Knowledge programme you will be awarded this mark of your professional status and you will have invested well in your professional development and career.

Residential Property Managers Qualifications are almost here.

We recently attended the Residential Property Managers Conference in Hamilton at which we were promoting the imminent arrival of the new residential property manager qualification. Response to the news of the new qualifications has been overwhelming, with close to 100 delegates registering an interest in taking up the qualification as soon as it is available. A big thank you to Greg Watson from Watson Property Management who gave an excellent overview of the programme on our behalf, emphasising its importance for our industry.

Here's a snapshot of the work that has been going on and what's ahead. REAL ITO is developing two national qualifications for the residential property management sector of the real estate industry. The qualifications await approval from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and we anticipate rolling these programmes out early next year.

National Certificate in
Residential Property Management (Level 3)

This is an entry-level qualification in the residential property management. It meets the needs of the industry and community by recognising the level of skill and knowledge required to work as a letting agent for residential rental property. It includes practical hands-on tasks that can be completed in the workplace.

Graduates of the qualification will be able to inspect a residential property for rental and prepare a report, set up a rental, maintain a tenanted property, and assess and report on the efficiency, comfort and health of a given house for real estate marketing. They will also be able to demonstrate knowledge of time management, the roles of the property manager and letting agent, body corporate, the bond system, the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and the Tenancy Tribunal.

National Certificate in
Residential Property Management (Level 4)

This qualification has been developed to nationally recognise the skill and knowledge required of a residential property manager and includes practical hands-on tasks that can be completed in the workplace. It contains an elective section which allows people to select a paper relevant to their workplace and career objectives.

Graduates of the qualification will be able to demonstrate knowledge of land ownership, transfer of ownership and titles, appraisal and completion of investment analyses, and the Unit Titles Act 2010. They will also be able to market and manage residential rental properties, manage residential tenancy disputes and develop a disaster recovery plan for a residential property management company. These are exciting developments and as soon as we get the go ahead we will let you know.

Train the Trainer

REAL ITO has held its workplace coaching and mentoring skills programme Train the Trainer. This was a one day event, facilitated by Wendy Baker. Participants were introduced to coaching and mentoring values and principles, the 'coach's tool box' and a range of practical coaching and mentoring techniques. These skills are all relevant to the day-to-day needs of a busy real estate agency. The programme was an outstanding success with some participants commenting that it was the most valuable training they had received.

Working together with the REAA and our industry

REAL ITO continues to work with the Real Estate Agents Authority to support the desires of the industry to grow its capability and professionalism on a number of fronts. This includes developing a framework for continuing Education. We were part of the Continuing Education Advisory Group that met in late September to discuss the roles of the REAA, the ITO, education providers, industry bodies, firms and licensees.

Continuing education presents a great opportunity to raise overall industry capability in key areas. It is good news for the industry that through continuing education, licence holders that need additional knowledge or skills to demonstrate competency will need to improve upskill. In this way, good operators can gain assurance that poor performance will no longer be tolerated and that service levels will rise for the benefit of clients and the professionalism of industry participants.

It is good to hear that many people are keen to engage in their professional development now and in early 2012. The continuing education framework and options are being considered for delivery early next year. We will update you when more information becomes available.