For Tee'd Off Tuesday this week I will stay on topic and discuss Real Estate. May is license renewal month in Connecticut and this year since I have been busy preparing to run the Rock-n-Roll Marathon with the Team in Training I have not yet completed my required continuing education classes.
In past years I have always gone the traditional route and sat through each class but running 5 days a week consumes many hours so I decided to try the on-line course that allows me to fit the hours into my schedule. The first two courses went pretty smooth, Current Issues in Real Estate I and II are required by the state and seemed bug free. Next I have two electives so for my first course I picked Red Flags Property Inspection Guide. That course did bring on a little frustration.
The courses are all laid out the same, a reading assignment followed by a 10 question quiz that requires a score of 100 to pass before moving on to more reading and testing. Getting all questions
right is not as easy as you would expect. Maybe I think differently from the rest of the world but I always seem to stumble into disagreements.
One quiz where my performance was less the 100% was the result of this question. A 50/50 shot with a True or False answer which I thought I confidently knew. Well the WISE ASS that developed the test decided to play games with spelling and that set my attitude in a negative direction for the rest of the course.
During a reading assignment I was struck with another bout of confusion. Seems I am being told that the distance from the top of a slope with a drop greater than 1 vertical unit in 3 horizontal units to the face of a footing can not exceed 40 feet. Fortunately the illustrator was bright enough to know the author was confused and should have said the distance need not exceed 40 feet.
So... As you can see Real Estate Continuing Education is one more of the behind the scenes annoyances that takes our time and money.
This course contained many more questionable errors. One statement on the test read "Tree branches extending over a roof will cause transpiration." I would say an overhanging branch is an indicator that the roots may extend under the foundation and remove moisture but as stated the question is flawed.
Here is another example of a test question I thought was poorly defined. True or False - All retaining walls last at least 10 years. Anyone with a little design knowledge or construction background might consider that statement false. An incorrectly installed wall could easily collapse after a hard rain. Poorly designed drainage might allow water to build up behind the wall causing freeze damage during the winter and failure in the spring. The wizard who decides right and wrong concerning test answers wasn't smart enough to ask a question that could clearly be True or False.
Yes.... Today I'm Tee'd Off because I have to waste my time and money dealing with all the bureaucratic bull that goes with being a Realtor!
I did learn enough to offer a RED FLAG...... Warning.... Beware of the Real Estate Continuing Education Class entitled Red Flags Property Inspection Guide Version 3.0 because it contains plenty of non-sense.
Linda... LOL.... I'm not really the touchy feely type so the on-line course isn't that bad.....
Jason... I recall getting a few questions wrong when I took the final in my Real Estate Course. Since I was curious where I came up short I reviewed the answer sheet and sure enough it was WRONG. Brought it to the attention of the instructor who of course sided with the answer sheet as being the bible... I'm not that easy to satisfy so she suggested I take it up with the school.... After several days the finally conceded I was correct.
Sandra... But my disagreements are always because the outer party is confused......
Bill... We all retain different details.... When I'm on tour and see a bunch of homes I'll have no recollection about the color scheme.
Colleen.... It's not only on-line but text book instructors offer their own brand of closed minds...
Teri... Wow... We don't get lunch! The courses actually work out cheaper if we take them in person but timing didn't fit my schedule this year.
Marc... We are required to continually learn a bunch of bull... Having to go thru the same non-sense every two years is a bit much.
Mana... The on-line course work isn't that bad if it was right.... The pisser for me is paying $35 knowing they exert no effort beyond the minimal development of the course and it isn't even giving correct information.
Jennifer... I have heard that explanation and my response is generally that's Bullshit.... Never did like abbreveations either! :-)
Lindsey... I only have one more class but I will delay that a week or so. How's your training going? Getting to be prime time for a 5k!
Mana... No! No! and Yes!
Teri... Yes... another day another decade....
Sandra, Bake him a German chocolate cake and you have my permission to add your own ingredients (depending on how Dano has been behaving) LOL.
Mana... You know I'm always good..... Don't start pickin' on me or I'll have to turn into a Meanie!
Deb... Now that you mention fingerprinting I do have a vague recollection of that being a requirement. I thought my prints were never put on file so if I wanted to start a life of crime I'd be undetectable... Guess I'll stick to selling homes and staying legit... - Can't fix stupid but I do have fun making a wise ass feel foolish.
George.... I do have an abundence of self-discipline so getting the time in for the course is not that tough.
Bart... The on-line classes are convenient and wind up saving me a few hours instead of going to a traditional classroom.
Judy... I always think less of a course that needs to revert to trick questions. Tells me the instructor/developer of the material was not bright enough to ask anything intelligent...
I must commend you for challenging yourself at renewal time!! I usually go the easy route to get it done with and so I don't get false information and have the ability to spot it with my BS meter. Seems like everyone can get approval from the RED to have a course.
UGH!
Hi Dan - I've been scolling through your Tee'd off Tuesdays series ....hope your tee'd off for only a 5 minute window ( otherwise you may develop an earlobe crease LOL ).
I prefer TEE TIMES on Tuesdays LOL - Golf is a great way to channel energies ( although it can also get one tee'd off until you understand it's purpose...to keep one humble :)
Great series!
Sincerely,
Grace