NABPOP is often asked “Is a BPO certification required to do BPOs?”
NABPOP’s official response to this question is IT SHOULD BE
NABPOP strongly recommends any BPO customer should demand a BPO certification and strongly recommends agents and brokers to become BPO certified – even if you never do a single BPO, pricing and valuation skills are a good thing in real estate.
If you are asking as a customer, you can and should demand a BPO certification. Why, because it’s a smart thing to do. In any other circumstance where you have nothing else to go on (knowledge of competency, experience etc.) and you are presented with the choice of having work done by a certified person or a non-certified person, who should you pick? If you are presented with competent and experienced choices and the only difference is certified vs non-certified, who should you pick? You have no risk nor obligation whatsoever by asking for a BPO certified agent or broker. If you don’t ask for a certification, you may be getting your valuation work done by a fly by night agent or broker – keep your fingers crossed, it might work out.
If every BPO customer demanded a certification, then the answer is Yes a certification is required – and rightfully so!!!! This would make the world a better place.
If you are a broker or agent asking “Is a BPO certification required to do BPOs?” You are essentially asking “is it a requirement for me to develop myself professionally and go through a training program which teaches me how to do my job more proficiently and have a mechanism to display I have achieved the requisite knowledge to perform in a competent manner”. The answer is No, you don’t have to. It’s not a law, but it’s a very good idea and getting certified will save you a lot of time and frustration.
If you are looking for a way to make a quick buck, performing BPOs is not a good way to make a quick buck. There is a steep learning curve and the industry is relatively a zero tolerance industry. It takes a while to get into the industry and get set up. The NABPOP BPO certification was designed to speed you through the learning curve and NOT make the rookie mistakes. If you never do a single BPO, you will learn how to accurately and efficiently evaluate the market, value houses, and the relevant amenities and render a price opinion. This alone is a highly desirable skill for any real estate professional regardless of their affiliation to the BPO industry.
If you are looking to make a quick buck in the BPO industry, NABPOP invites you to not bother because there are plenty of other quick buck opportunities in real estate. Fly by night agents and brokers bring the BPO industry down. Agents and brokers who are serious enough to go through a certification process are the types of agents and brokers the BPO industry needs and is looking for.
So to answer the question “Is a BPO certification required to do BPOs?”, it SHOULD BE!
