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The REINSW president supports the call for better education standards in real estate, labelling most of the standards across Australia as “grossly inadequate”.
Queensland real estate agent Ben Smith took it upon himself to call for a higher standard for people who want to become real estate agents.
“There are no other jobs or industries out there where you can have no qualification and earn half a million dollars a year,” Mr Smith told Real Estate Business. “I think real estate needs more education around it.”
REINSW president Leanne Pilkington backs Mr Smith’s call to lift education standards in the industry.
“The current standard of education required in most states across Australia is grossly inadequate,” Ms Pilkington said.
“For too long in New South Wales, agents have been able to operate with no restraints, following as little as a week’s training.”
Education standards are one of the reasons Ms Pilkington joined the REINSW board, to lift the training standards set out by New South Wales Fair Trading.
“I was appalled people who had no history in real estate could obtain their real estate licence and open up an agency with no practical experience.”
She is thrilled the NSW government and Fair Trading have moved to increase the base education requirements for agents across the state.
As a result, from March 2020, the standards to be a real estate agent in NSW will increase by 600 per cent.
Ms Pilkington believes these changes are a fantastic step for the industry, although it did not come easy.
“It took successive REINSW boards over a decade to push this agenda through government.
“This result demonstrates what can be achieved with hard work and an incredible amount of determination.”
Recent data shows agents with a higher education level tend to boost their sales results, Ms Pilkington said.
“I am confident these changes will have a positive impact on the entire industry, as well as consumers, and I implore Ben to continue fighting for change in Queensland.”
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