ARAI

CONCLUSIONS…

The Conference on real estate agents services, which has been developed by the European Standardisation Institute, CEN, has been hosted by CEI on 26th of November in Brussels. During the Conference, attendants from 18 countries have discussed the latest development of the Standard. It is expected, that the EN 15733 will be published by the CEN during December 2009 or January 2010. The Standard has already been adopted by the 31 member’s countries of CEN.

The topics, which were discussed during the Conference, were the transformation of the Standard into the work of the several real estate agents in Europe, the requirements of education and qualification and the possibilities of certification on the basis of the European Standard.
 
The Conference was opened by Manuel Negrão, President of CEI, and Jan Boruvka, President of EPAG. The chairman of the conference was Andre Groot, who led the discussions between the participants and representatives of the several real estate agents Associations. He made a brief review of the process of concerning to the developing of the Standard. “Finally, and after 4 years, the process is finished, which began in November 2005 in the first session of CEN in Berlin”, said Andre Groot.

Sven Johns, IVD Germany, gave an introduction to the content of the Standard EN 15733 in its version that has been adopted by CEN. The main topics of the standard are: information of clients, agreement between real estate agents and clients, providing of services, education and competencies, insurance and code of ethics.

During the discussion panels it was agreed to make a survey about the educational requirements in all national real estate agents Associations and in some of the universities, which belong to the EUREDOC. The EN 15733 sets as a minimum standard of education an equivalent of 120 ECTS. In the Standard it is recognised that other methods of assessing competencies may be applied. Fintan McNamara, IPAV Ireland, recapitulated the Irish requirements in education for real estate agents and opened the discussion panel about education. Xavier Ortegat from CEPI introduced the idea of EUREDOC to the participants of this Conference.

“The perspective of different associations is very important for the development and improvement of the Standard and of the services of real estate agents in Europe. We are all interested in having a higher level of quality in real estate agents services in Europe”, reviewed Manuel Negrão, President of CEI.

Anton Holzapfel, OVI Austria, explained the certification scheme for real estate agents in Austria and gave the introduction to the following discussion about certifying persons or companies. The existing national certification schemes in The Netherlands and in Germany were discussed as well. Dr. Peter Jonas, Austrian Standardisation Institute, gave an introduction into the certification of companies on the Standard EN 15733 basis.

The participants of this follow-up conference after the CEN process agreed on a survey on all existing national certification schemes as well as on the requirements of the education of real estate agents. After reaching the results of this survey another conference will be accomplished.

                          Manuel Negrão, CEI President

- Opening Adresses:

- Mr. Jan Boruvkca – E.P.A.G. President – click here

- Presentations:

- «Introduction to the content of the Standart EN 15733»

     Sven Johns, CEI/IVD, Germany – click here

- «National Certification of Real Estate Agents based on EN 1733, Austria Ex.»

     Anton Holzapfel, OVI, Austria – click here

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