Lindsay Weston – Technical Award in the Sale of Residential Property

What is your background?

'I was a sales negotiator for 18 months and was promoted after achieving the Technical Award to Client Liaison Manager.'

How did you find time to study?

'I studied mostly in the evenings and made sure I set aside the time; I locked myself in my room for maybe two nights a week and a Sunday afternoon. This increased during the run up to exams.'

Can you offer any tips to our students on how you studied?

'I found MOL’s mock tests most useful. I’d read through the whole unit then go back, read through again and answer the self check questions with pencil. I’d then rub these out and redo them again. I kept going back over the material and had work colleagues ask me questions from the workbook.'

Now that you have the qualification, how has it benefited you?

'I used the Technical Award to become a full member of NAEA and made sure I have those letters on my business cards! I am quite young, so the qualification helped me to be taken more seriously, both in the profession and by the public. Passing it also helped me secure a promotion in my company from negotiator to Client Liaison Manager.'

Why did you decide to enrol on MOL’s Technical Award course?

'Anyone can read the book, but it's all about interpretation, and I needed the tutors at MOL because they knew the actual material and what standards to expect for the exams. The tutor kept me on track and all the way through, I felt I could call them at any time and ask questions.'

Was there a particular part of the qualification you found more challenging? How did you overcome the difficulties?

'I really struggled with unit 4 (property appraisal and defects); it just wouldn’t sink in because it tackled matters I don't do on a daily basis. I followed the advice from my tutor, and borrowed some DVDs from MOL’s library.'

What are you studying now?

'Once I passed the Technical Award I started the Diploma in Residential Estate Agency. I was glad I did the former first as it gave me the background needed before moving onto more in-depth information. I would also add that I found all the tutor support invaluable; knowing that there was someone always there gave me confidence and the necessary knowledge to pass.'