KEY POINTS:
Real estate agents should be required to have a business diploma or university degree, says one agency boss.
Rotorua Harcourts chief operations officer David Martin says the qualification would ensure they were up to the job.
Other experts agree more education is needed, but say a person doesn't need to be an intellectual to sell real estate.
Mr Martin said his idea would go a long way towards building credibility, as agents tended to be tarred with the same brush if something unethical occurred.
He welcomed the recent shake-up of the industry, but said it should start with better educated real estate agents.
The recent drop in house sales has resulted in some leaving the industry.
"The gap between educated, knowledgeable and ethical operators becomes very clear."
Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Rotorua spokesman Ian McDowell supported ongoing training, but questioned the need for higher tertiary education.
He said someone with a law degree might be "hopeless" at selling real estate.
LJ Hooker licensee Malcolm Forsyth said the idea was "a little over the top".
"Some people are not in a position to go for degrees but I am in favour of education."
- DAILY POST
