I was thinking about getting certified through Equator, but now I'm wondering if the expense is justified ($499 annually for platinum). For those who have been certified, did your workload increase significantly? Would you recommend it to others (obviously outside of your market)?

I did not notice any increase in my existing business and have not received any new business from new contacts that resulted from this Certification. In my opinion, the certification process was rather foolish and elementary. Secondly, if one passes the exam the first time, why should you have to take the exam a second time when you renew other than to provide Equator with another $499.00. Once you become certified, you should remain certified as you are with any other professonal certifications. My certification will expire next month and I do not plan to renew.

It's a waste of money. It's just a way for REOTrans to dip their hands into your pockets. The AMC couldn't care less about the certification.

Ok, thanks for the responses. Another person in my area swears by it, but I thought perhaps she had an ulterior motive (to see me waste my money on it). Any other certifications that you would recommend as a worthwhile investment/effort?

I cant think of any. The only ones I've done are the ones Citi required to work for them. Besides that I don't bother with these companies useless certifications.

On my last Five star conference in '09 we were at the lender's open house, there was a AM from a new company I believe he was the owner too,he claimed his father is/was a Realtor and he was telling us how bad he felt about us and the people that are going after our money, he said they assign throughout Reotrans he advised us not to spend money on this certification thing as they are careless about it, they only look for Realtors on the zip code where the property is located and how is the history on the assignments. Que tal!!!

Just a big waste of money. $499 for certification and for that much money they still want .03 a day for every zip code you service. But if you want your picture, add an extra .04 per day to the mix. what a rip off.

I have 2 clients now through Equator, and I've never gotten the certification.

But I'm wondering if they should call their advanced levels "Tropic of Capricorn" and "Tropic of Cancer".

Just thinking out loud here.....

Thanks for the input to all who have contributed. It sure saved me the $499 to get it (and I had planned to do it this week). Forums like this certainly make the experience worthwhile.

What you need to do is put your efforts in trying to get approved with the banks that work on REO Trans, directly.

Here it goes...

$499.00 Training

overall thought- WORTHLESS

DETAILED THOUGHT
The training is 95% how to use the equator platform. 5% rudimentary REO knowledge.

You don't have to even have watch the modules to pass the tests. You can simply take and retake the exams until you pass.

after half a day of watching the videos, i passed all the exams with little to no real educational value, unless you call learning how to upload photos to a website and informative.

upgraded profile 60/year

My profile was viewed a measly 28 times in 9 months, no reos as a result. (it was viewed 18 times the year before with no 499 fee, so yes it was viewed more, but did it really lead to more work...no)

BPO's 50/per month

i get about 20 bpo broadcasted emails monthly. i would compare this to M2M. In that by the time emails are received the bpo's are already accepted. I spent about 6 months actively trying to catch an order. I only ever saw 2, which happened when i randomly checked for bpos, but by the time i hit accept, and entered captcha, they were gone. (i am very good at catching the M2M orders, i would say equator is about 20 times as hard due to increased amount of agents and less amount of orders available. i would say i see about 1-3 broadcasted every few days. now for 50 a month that doesn't make much sense to me...

to recap i was about 900 dollars in before i cut my zip codes back down to just my home town. Its been 9 months into the paid platinum certification, and i have not received a single bpo or reo.

But, I'm sure most of the people that read this are skeptical or stubborn (like me) but at least i can feel good about myself for trying to help out struggling bpo agents. This is definitely not for anyone new to bpo or reo, and even for the experienced agent, beware that you could easily go thousands of dollars in and receive no work like me.

the only other site ive paid for was
FAS 299, i called in biweekly and received 3 bpos over 1 year...i had heard mixed reviews about equator and I'm stubborn so i ponied up the money, and now regret it.

compare this to my free accounts which average 200/bpos a month...and the choice is simple

persistence, quality work, on time reports and i now receive 200 bpos a month

VS
$499 certification fee +60/year for bold and photo + $50 a month for exposure and chances to get bpos and no results

299 FAS fee (maybe this was less i dont remember it was a long time ago. and maybe not even fas... it was my rookie mistake years ago... but point is i paid some company hundreds and recieved only a few bpos.


But hey maybe your experience will be better, i mean 1160 isn't that much right... only takes me about 20 bpos and about 20 hours of work...ugh i hate thinking in bpo terms...

When it comes down to it, im not telling anyone what to do but

All i have to say is

Caveat Emptor

I just changed my account back to the very basic one yesterday. No more paying for my picture, bold title and blurb. I'm saving my money. Never have received a bpo or REO. I think I signed up with them in 2008.

Moneymike, thanks for the detailed info, that's exactly the type of informative account/experience I wanted to know. You made up my mind.

Platinum is a RIPOFF! I never got anything from it and I got the cert last Sept. Save your time and money! Basic is all you need (if you have clients that use the platform). I can't believe that Equator expects us to actually pay this ridiculous fee "annually" to maintain Platnum status!

Just received an e-mail from Equator promoting their Short Sale Certifications. Anyone see any value in this? Mike did an excellent job breaking down the packages but not sure anything has changed.

I saw the short sale cert e-mail and chuckled. I have one rule and that is - when I receive an e-mail about any training or certification I ask myself these questions:
1)do I currently list for this company?
2)do I need the cert or education to keep working for this company?
3) What does this board say about this company?

My thoughts are this:
If I don't work for them - not paying. If I use the platform for listings and they are promoting education, zip codes, certifications - scam. They want my money - but the funny thing is - I want my money more. Just remember - any company can get your e-mail and send out a notice about this or that - and how much it costs. It does not mean you will get new business. They just know you want new business and may pay them something for the "possibility" of new business.
Equator zip codes - pay to play. No, did it for 9 months a couple years ago - cost about $35 a month - but the funny thing is - so does my land line at my home office - and I decided my land line was much more useful. I canceled - I have gotten 4 new companies that use Equator - and here is the kicker - they assigned me listings - way - way outside my office zip. Companies do not care if you are registered in zip codes on Equator - I have a new listing I got last week - the company sent me the notice via Equator - I have never worked for them - I read their broker manual and it said if the property is more then 30 miles from your office - notify the AM. I went onto the company's website thinking when I registered with them I had included that zip on their site - nope. I sent a message to the AM via Equator that it was more then 30 miles from my office - and he replied - if you can service it - take it. So, I do not believe zip codes matter - and I think these companies are looking for fresh agents - I have 3 companies in the last 2 months that have sent me listings and I have been registered with them since '08.
My advice - bust your butt on everything you do - everyday - and business will follow. I do not beleive you buy your way into anything - just work hard - play hard - and have fun. The money will follow.

I havent paid for the certification and my business hasnt changed with them. I think their certification is a waste. I would rather take the money and sign up with additional asset manegement companies.

HERE HERE Ote...I cannot agree more. All the conferences, registration fees, etc. are a money making business, just like anything else in this business. I once worked with a guy when I was new in the business, he bought everything that brought a sales meeting into the office. At one time, he had 3 website, 2 cell phones and I don't know what else...this was 6 or 7 years ago! I teased him one time that there was a salesman up front asking for him specifically. He seemed surprised and asked me really, why? I told him he was at the front desk, knew him by name cause it had gotten in the sales rep pipeline that he worked in that office and would buy ANYTHING. Real estate agents are like that, they will buy anything and we are presented with sales pitches all day and everyday to buy this, go to that conference, get this coaching, etc and we will make you a salesman, you will get more listings, you will get more sales. BS! Work...hit the bricks..ask for the business! That's what makes you more sales and gets you more listings.

Sorry to get on my soap box but another forum has 2 companies BOMBARDING me with emails and hype about their "new" conferences and companies and guaranteeing listings. What a bunch of crap!

I also think it is a waste of time, they know we are all desperate for business and they are feeding on that, I paid, got nothing, and my year will be up in 3 months.

I spent the money last year to get Platinum certified and I agree that it is a total waste of money. If you are considering doing this PLEASE do yourself a favor and just get $500 in small bills and set fire to it. It will waste less time and would be a more productive use of the money

Thanks for the feedback. I have been on the platform since it's inception and haven't seen much business. Like you guys, if I pay to play, I want to make sure my money is going to a good investment. So far, I have made some good pay to play investments.

Platinum Certifications did nothing for my business. I used to get a good amount of business on REOTrans, so i am not in the red yet. but my monthly bill is still $120

I agree with everyone here and hats off to Money Mike for going the extra mile. I will not pay a penny extra to them for ANY THING. I remember contacting them when they were REOTRANS basically complaining about their teaser BPO available postings, when they were already accepted by someone else, or possibly accepted in house, and was told by their Customer Disservice Rep with an obnoxious attitude that I can cancel my subscription at any time. I believe I touched the wrong chord by suggesting that they were completing BPO's in house.

Calif, I think you did hit a bad chord, been feeling the same way lately. I have noticed that they have had the "teaser" BPO's up on the BPO board for a while, some are over 2 months old. On several occasions, I have been actively logged into Equator, que open, and received a BPO availablility notification e-mail. When I go to retrieve it, nothing there. What a blower!

I am very disenchanted with all of the agent gouging that has been happening. Being that I am member of my local board and the corresponding boards (California and National), I would think they would have a vested interest in protecting the interest (fiscal and otherwise) of their membership. They really should take a stand against some of these "educational" or "membership" solicitations because at the end of the day us paying to pay is just taking money away from their bottomline because agents would rather pay for business versus the benefits of their local boards.

In actuality, I would have thought their executive boards and fancy lobbyist would have made some hard stands against bleeding of agents. I would have also assumed that the money that I spend annually would also have them approach the banks and asset management companies to pressure them into consistant alliances for education development in support of agents who will legitimately get business and not hustle us out of our last dime.

I am so over these institutions who are manipulating myself and my fellow agents who at the end of the day would like to do no more then survive to see another day.

Where in the 'eff are my TARP funds to pay for all these pain in the a** requirements that lead to nowhere? I'm stuck in the land of misfit agents.....

REbySB - Oh wow I am so using "the land of misfit agents" as if it were my own. I don't think the websites and AMCs are the only ones hitting us up for "education" certificates. My company R/M offered a "distressed property certification" last year. This was with the promise of listings coming their way because the CEO had negotiated a deal with an AMC to give R/M agents "exclusive" right to their listings. I declined the "opportunity".

I'm still furious that CAR decided we MUST allow AssetPlanUSA to sell our information to their spam partners as a requirement for education.

Equator is a joke. My board shows they've ordered 3 BPO's in the zipcode since 2007!

bratchny,
I was considering the Platinum for Equator, now I'm second thinking it..I really like your sense of humor...(set fire to 500 $1 bills) it's nice to have a good laugh in the middle of the day.

The funny thing is that 2 weeks after I let my $100 in zip code coverage expire I got 8 listings on REOTRANS. I got them from guerilla marketing though and not their system. The company that assigned the lisitngs just uses their system to handle their listings not to assign them.

Bratchny - I have found that to be true as well. I have two new companies that just picked me up as an agent - direct e-mail to assign and Equator to handle the tasks. I have never been very good at guerilla marketing - maybe I just don't have a very good idea as to how to do it. I am willing to dance around in a guerilla suit with pink and purple balloons - but I am pretty sure that is not what you mean.

Resurrecting...

I heard from one of my contacts last week that Equator has modified their BPO assignment process and is now giving priority to Platinum agents. Apparently, they have the ability to accept assignments for one hour before they're available to Gold agents, who then have another hour to accept before being sent to those further down the list. Anyone else that can confirm this?

I'm not certified with them and hadn't seen any BPOs lately...I used to get 3-5 per month. I currently pay about $50/mo for zip codes and am trying to decide whether to shell out more money for the certification or just eliminate the extra zips and put the money into something else.

Anyone here Platinum-certified who has seen an increase in their BPO volume recently?