Wow, I am finding no fewer than four, no five, organizations with REVA-specific training/certification/memberships - and I wouldn't be surprised if a couple missed this list. Here is my break down thus far...

• Realtor.org 's REPA certification - new but deserving of attention due to it's sponsorship by the premiere RE organization Realtor.org
• REVAinstitute 's Real Estate Virtual Assistant Certification - brand new but impressive website
• The International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA) Certified Real Estate Support Specialists (CRESS) - seems like they've been around a good spell
• REVAnetwork.com which provides MEMBERSHIP and also provides a very private and inaccessible message board - is it even an active message board?? This site is rather primitive and uninviting, imho... I'd have to be convinced there was some real "MEAT" to that site & benefits to membership before I would consider joining... the "virtual convention" the site is promoting is, well, kind of LAME in my opinion. Bottom line, the REVAnetwork.com site quite simply turns off - which is NOT good when you are purposing to build a business and make a living doing this career!
• The Unlicensed Real Estate Assistant Training Center - UREATC designations: * Real Estate Support Specialist, * Real Estate Transaction Coordinator, * Real Estate Listing Coordinator .... I just found this after I started this post, so I don't know much about them as of yet.
  

And we also have REVAonline - which provides coaching for would-be REVAs... and if we start getting into all the REVAs who provide REVA coaching... ya, there's a few - and then some. ;-)

My question... as an aspiring REVA, which organizations offer worthwhile memberships/certifications/training, etc. etc???

Are any of these worth pursuing? If so, in what order??? TIA

Humor Break: All these certification designations got me thinking of .... The Alphabet Soup Song

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Susan Davis ~ EcoGreenREVA

Susan, great question. I have been wondering the same thing. So I am looking forward to some input from others.

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Tracy Jones

Yes, I too would love to hear some feedback, lately I've been really considering going this route.

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Edna

same here. i looked at all of them but to do them all at once is so steep in the pockets. i am not sure which one to go for first.

I'm looking forward to the responses also.

Great song! Started my day with a bigggg smile. It's going to be running through my mind all day now.

Thanks!!!

Hi Susan and all! I am a member of several of these groups and have received certifications from IVAA.org as a certified real estate assistant, studied webography to assist realtors with the latest technology for marketing, contact management etc online for coordination and keeping track of time sensitive items etc, I am a member of Reva-Roundtable and most recently Reva-Institute. And lets not forget my National Association of Realtors (NAR) Professional Real Estate Virtual Assistant certification!

Sometimes I think I am collecting these certifications and by no means believe that you have to take each one of these to get the information that you need. I can only tell you what I picked up from these and let you decide on your own. If you have questions you may certainly ask away and I can answer them because I doubt I will answer them in this post.

For me, the NAR certification was a good one. Although it covered a lot of basic administrative support job duties it also gives information on supporting real estate sales people specifically like putting together their packets and managing their tasks to keep them on the go for getting clients, managing schedules etc. The slide show was easy to follow and take notes.

I liked the Webographer course because it not only gives you the slide show and tests but also the option to use the product samples online to see how they work. I haven't found that anywhere else so that I could actually use an online tool to see how it works. Instructions are good, notes help but actually doing helps me to relate and remember what I've learned.

I am going to take the certification with Reva Institute even though it appears that many of the courses are repetitive of what is covered in the other courses I missed getting certified with IREAA and I have such respect for Pam Ivey and Anna Baron that I know they are experts in the real estate VA support roles so I want to see what I can pick up from them.

Lastly, the book that Kim Hughes wrote The First Real Estate Virtual Assistant Handbook! I found that book very interesting and good information in there for how to get started and how VA tasks are done for the real estate person.

I hope this helps and I'm sure I left things out but if you have questions let me know.

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Nancy Cunningham
Desert Valley VA

Nancy ~

THANK YOU !!

I didn't even have the Webographer Course on my radar, but that now looks to be one of the very first trainings / certs I seek to obtain.

It isn't even mentioned in Kim Hughes' book "The First Real Estate Virtual Assistant Handbook"... I wonder why it wasn't even mentioned in that book?? Any ideas about that??

I am thinking the NAR cert is also a priority, since the NAR is the largest trade organization, for ANY field, in the nation, thus just about every RE agent is going to recognize and trust a cert from the NAR.

From there? I guess my next step would be to concentrate on through whom I could possibly get clients. The REVA Roundtable is yet another organization I need to consider - so many to choose from - ugh!

BTW, Kim's book is EXPENSIVE, I haven't quite made up my mind if it's worth the cost as of yet, especially since after paying for the e-bay I had to also print it out - well, I didn't HAVE TO print it out, but I thought I should to better facilitate using it as a resource and to try and get my money's worth out of it.... since I already shelled out the moola for Kim's book, I'm going to use it as much as possible.

Thanks for your sage advice!

~ Susan

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Susan Davis ~ EcoGreenREVA

Hi gang,

I can't help but pipe in here.

I'd like to give a little clearer picture of our REVA Institute Certificate Program. I really need to add to the description of those courses but have been busy writing them and man, business is booming on the My Creative Assistant front these days!

The courses offered are quite different from what we believe is available currently. For instance, in the Listing Coordination module, we have created a mock up of an MLS system, where students can get some 'hands-on' exposure to this mysterious process (it sure was mysterious to me when I first joined the REVA ranks!). We also have assignments which include creating property flyers with a sample listing, and a number of other practical exercises to increase knowledge and confidence.

I remember when I first started working with clients in the real estate industry - I'd never worked in that field before becoming a VA and I wanted to learn all I could but there wasn't much available - and what was, was theoretical and pretty much basic administration-centered. That's why we've added the practical aspects to the program.

On a sidenote, a book that really helped me understand the online marketing side of the business is Real Estate Rainmaker's Guide to Online Marketing by Dan Gooder Richard. A terrific resource!

I hope that helps and welcome any direct questions to pam@revainstitute.com.

Cheers!
Pam

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I'm going to pipe in real quick as well...

Nancy had a great review of the various certifications and organizations out there. One of the programs Nancy mentioned was Webographers - which truly is a wonderful program on Real Estate Technology.

REVA Institute is currently finalizing a partnership with Webographers to provide their certification as our Real Estate Technology course! This partnership will come at no extra cost to our members taking the certification test.

If you've checked out the Webographers course, it runs $199 for assistants. Our certification program is currently at a reduced price of $199 during our launch of the certification (available until July 15th) so you're practically getting it for free!

We hope to see you at REVA Institute!

Virtually yours...
Anna

Thank you Anna and Pam ~

You are both making the REVA Institute looking to be a no-brainier. Thank you! ;-)

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Susan Davis ~ EcoGreenREVA