Upskilling Made Easier With The REIQ
Changing careers can be a daunting prospect, especially if it means spending time and money skilling up or becoming certified. The REIQ sat down with Daniel Brisblat, a residential agent who jumped into real estate on the back of a 20-year career in retail, to discuss career change and training with the REIQ.
Scroll to the bottom for a video of the interview.
After a two-decades-long career with Eureka Street Furniture, Brisblat made the leap into a successful career as a real estate agent. He took to property sales like a duck to water, and is now the lead sales agent at Place Estate Agents Graceville. He’s also just upgraded to a full real estate licence, giving him the know-how to start his own agency one day. Like most success stories, Brisblat’s has humble beginnings. For him, it all started with a registration course at the REIQ.
“I hadn’t studied in a classroom for 22 years,” says Brisblat, who walked in not knowing a module from a unit or a short answer question from a case study. That lack of experience never proved a problem though, as Brisblat and his fellow students were guided through every turn. “It can be daunting for people, but I always had plenty of help, plenty of support, and options for things like private tutoring,” he says. “.”
As well as excellent support, Brisblat says the course content was up-to-date and relevant enough to start working effectively from day one. “I was equipped to hit the ground running right away – in fact, in my second week my manager was out and asked me to do two contracts of sale for him and, well, obviously I’d learned enough in my training to be able to handle that,” he laughed. “I suppose that gives you an idea of whether the training’s adequate.”
Just recently, the REIQ welcomed Brisblat back through its (virtual) doors to complete a full licence course. The full licence offers a fully comprehensive education on the ins and outs for real estate practitioners, including everything one needs to know to successfully open and run their own business. While Brisblat isn’t looking to start his own agency right now, he wanted to expand his real estate knowledge and broaden his options for the future. “Once you do the full licence and see all the time, complications and stresses an owner has to deal with on the day-to-day, you get a better understanding and appreciation for the challenges they’re faced with,” he says. “I wanted to skill myself up as best I possibly can, and also have options down the track if opportunities come my way.
Brisblat chose to study the first time around with the REIQ because according to him, it’s “the most professional and recognised brand for real estate training in Queensland.” But it was the REIQ’s supportive atmosphere and accommodating instructors that brought him back a second time. “The classes are good, they’re small, they’re intimate, so it’s not intimidating when you arrive,” he says. “Everything came through quickly, the staff were supportive – I even became friends with a couple of my teachers and we’re still in touch today. It’s personalised service, which is great.”
If you’re looking to upskill or take the plunge into a self-driven and rewarding career, register for training with the REIQ here. Unsure if real estate is right for you? Speak to one of our career coaches today.
Dec 2021 update: Daniel Brisblat is now a Property Partner at The Agency.