There are so many property courses out there it can be just as overwhelming as property investing itself. This week, we’re going to let you know what you should be looking for and what to avoid - cue Jaws theme music.

The honest answer is we can't, because we haven't been on many – but we've heard enough stories from members of The Property Hub community to know how to identify the right property course, and which flashing red warning lights you should look out for!

One thing we strongly recommend before handing over any money, is having a look at the resources available for free and a great place to start is at The Property Hub.

In this episode we run through a framework for choosing a course – as well as some steps you can take first to maximise the value you get, and some additional ways to build your knowledge.

It's a packed podcast, so we've picked out the main points for you to refer back to whenever you're looking for a property course…

How to choose a property course:

Learn enough about the basics (for free) to determine what you specifically want to learn more about
Look for cheap or inexpensive ways to build that knowledge (books, podcasts, talking to someone who's already done it)
Find a course if you still want to develop that knowledge further: you'll now be in a better position to identify the right course, and get more from it

Steps to take before booking onto a course:

Google the name of the company and the name of the instructor, to see if there are good or bad reviews
Ask for an itinerary of what you'll learn on the day, to make sure it covers topics you're interested in
Ask who will be teaching the course, and what their experience is – then verify this using social media

If you spot one or more of these, be careful:

Big claims about how much money you can make – and especially that you can make money quickly
Courses that are free – this means it will largely be a sales pitch for something else
Celebrity endorsements attached to lend it credibility
Scarcity and high-pressure sales tactics
"The credit card trick" (listen to the podcast for more!)

What a good course looks like:

Priced between £100 and £2,000
Teaching a specific technique or strategy, not generally "how to make money in property"
No up-sell: the course should be an end in itself, not an excuse to sell you more
No bad news on Google

How you can learn as well as going on courses:

Invest! Experience is better than any course (or even podcast!)
Go to networking events
Look for free or low-cost alternatives
Work with someone who's already done what you want to do (they won't necessarily want to be paid)

NEWS THIS WEEK

On The Market has made some pretty bold claims this week. Are we seeing the rise of a new titan in property search sites or is it all a bit of smoke and mirrors?

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Sticking with the education theme of the week, our resource is very handy indeed. Magic Whiteboard is a more versatile (and from our recent experience way less expensive) alternative to a traditional white board. To say we’ve found this useful would be an understatement!

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