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Ambassador
1,452,819
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I prefer recorded webinars that I can watch in my own time, in my pjs over a cup of coffee.  I find some people seem to always be at one convention or another to the point that I wonder when they find the time to work, LOL

 

Sep 17, 2015 12:45 PM
Ambassador
2,161,048
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Personally, I do think it's worth it and it's not just for knowledge. Those meetings, conventions, and seminars can result in good referral business through the connections you  make. 

Sep 17, 2015 11:19 AM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

No Debbie, I have ADHD and don't get enough out of it. My brokerage is having a huge national event in Chicago right now and I did not go. I have far exceeded my goals for 2015 so I feel motivated enough.

Sep 17, 2015 10:07 AM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

The last training event out of town was the New Oleans NAR Convention.  We have been too busy since then, but it was definately worth it.

Sep 17, 2015 12:12 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Yes, I would go to the National Convention every year if they were located closer all the time.  I am hoping for Chicago next year.  That would be in my back door!

Sep 17, 2015 11:52 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Debbie,

We do when we are speaking, otherwise when we have gone on behalf or a firm to NAR or Inman, the value relative to cost and time out is negligible.  Everything gets posted Online that same day.  A

Sep 17, 2015 10:48 AM
Rainer
457,996
Malinda Montgomery RSPS AHWD TMS-Realtor
Gaffs Realty - Port Orange, FL

I can't say the cost is worth the gain but I do get a small piece of knowledge out of it if I go. I do go to the Florida Association of Realtors convention every year though. It's always a good time seeing former coworkers, meeting new people to network with and attending classes and the trade show.

Sep 17, 2015 10:46 AM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Depends on the event, I study the agenda and decide if worth the time and money.

Over all most are worth going to, partly for the education and partly for the networking with peers.

I have signed up some very nice projects by running into the right person at a few conventions.

Sep 17, 2015 10:16 AM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Debbie, I pick them very carefully but I do go. Sometimes I get a nugget that is invaluable and other times what I have learned has saved me from going down a path that wouldn’t have worked for me.

Sep 17, 2015 09:50 AM
Rainmaker
699,277
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

The cost is not worth it.  It's done as a write-off vacation.

Sep 17, 2015 09:28 AM
Rainmaker
784,786
The Woodland Team of Texas
The Woodland Companies - Austin, TX
Land Specialists

Bob and Nick generally go to a lot of these things and bring it back to us.

Feb 12, 2019 08:49 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Debbie. I used to go, traveled all over the country, the best part of most events was the people you meet, I accomplish the same thing in AR.

Sep 17, 2015 07:20 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good Friday morning Debbie. Yes, I do. The interaction with others is priceless.

Sep 17, 2015 05:41 PM
Rainmaker
1,543,727
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

I prefer out of town to local; business contacts & networking #1, complete immersion into the event & networking afterwards #2 and I love to travel #3.

Sep 17, 2015 03:01 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

It really depends upon the event.  I've been involved a group of brokers from around the country from several years and I get SO much out of that, it's not typical and not as structured as some events

Sep 17, 2015 01:42 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Been there - done that.  For me, no. Not worth the time, effort of money spent. 

Sep 17, 2015 01:11 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I brought my husband with me on this one. He was even going to attend the seminars today but his phone crashed and he had to spend the day getting a new phone. Thank goodness we had the discussion months ago about him getting a new phone so he knew just what to do.

Sep 17, 2015 01:01 PM
Rainer
71,994
Jack Wickham
Clarksville, TN
Building with Integrity

Generally I find them valuable though many of these have gotten very costly so you need to evaluate whether the agenda/speakers will benefit your business.

Sep 17, 2015 11:47 PM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Debbie Reynolds I would attend a commercial groups annual convention every year. I was also asked to speak on a few occasions over the years. It was worth the cost and had value.

Sep 17, 2015 11:30 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

It depends on where you are in your career.

A newbie will benefit tremendously.

Those who have been to the rodeo before may find a nugget or two.

The goal of all of these is to create (fabricate) a problem the agent does not know exists and selling something to solve it. Newbies have lots of problems. Agents who have plaques on the wall are largely immune to these presentations. 

The opportunity cost of attending can be significant.

If Marco Rubio were giving a training event, and was to share his view candidly regarding 'the land of opportunity," this I would attend. The conveyance of the message of hope is the message we all need to be skilled in delivering.

Another example would be training and workshop teaching and demonstrating online curating, editing and publishing. Something I know I need to do faster, cheaper, better or easier.

No agenda, no attenda.

Sep 17, 2015 10:53 PM
Rainmaker
1,661,936
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Personally I don't think it's worth it.  I've traveled once it was expensive and the class actually turned out to be a joke.

Sep 17, 2015 10:00 PM
Rainmaker
2,362,948
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

I go to the Keller Mega Camp because it is in Austin and I always learn from that. I will go to the KW Family Reunion this year because it in New Orleans but I will skip the luxury meeting - just didn't think I learned anything I could use

Sep 17, 2015 09:44 PM