Baird & Warner, Illinois’ largest family-owned independent real estate services company, has launched its web-based Baird & Warner Empower Learning Center that provides agents and staff with an on-demand training management platform, powered by software company Lessonly.
“In a housing market that’s transformed so much over the past few years, Baird & Warner wanted to make it easier for our nearly 2,500 agents to access important training materials and how-to videos that reflect current market dynamics whenever it’s convenient for them on whatever device they prefer,” said Laura Ellis, president of residential sales and the executive vice president of Baird & Warner. “We wanted to accommodate our agents’ busy lifestyle with a real-time training platform that puts useful information at their fingertips.”
The platform can be accessed via a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer for a virtual clearinghouse of all Baird & Warner-branded training materials, videos and recorded webinars. With a simple click on their preferred device, agents can browse through courses, or search for specific information using keywords, such as how to navigate multiple offers or more nuts-and-bolts questions about contract forms. Videos can range from 2-minute segments explaining new Baird & Warner sales tools to longer-form training webinars. Likewise, Baird & Warner employees of its brokerage, mortgage and title business can use the platform for corporate training. This year alone, Baird & Warner agents viewed more than 31,500 online training sessions, proving the strong demand for on-the-go information.
“During the pandemic, our Learning & Engagement team pivoted from in-person training to customized interactive training webinars that enabled agents to continue to work efficiently in a remote setting,” said Sarah Pelton, vice president of learning and engagement for Baird & Warner. “Now that we’ve developed over 200 new training sessions on current topics, such as navigating multiple offers, the Baird & Warner Empower Learning Center makes it possible for our agents to find what they need 24/7 using an intuitive system.”
The new training system was introduced at a time of robust growth for the firm across its three lines of business: brokerage, mortgage and title insurance. In 2021, Baird & Warner recorded the most successful year in its 167-year history with more than $13 billion in sales and over 40,000 transactions companywide, together with its one-stop-shop partners at Baird & Warner Title Services and Key Mortgage Services. Recruiting numbers also broke records in 2021 with Baird & Warner welcoming over 700 new agents and 156 new employees. To meet this demand, the Learning & Engagement team has continued to grow, adding three new members in 2022.
Visit www.bairdwarner.com today to learn more about joining the firm, or to find a home and an agent who can help make buying and selling an easier and more rewarding experience.
About Baird & Warner Real Estate, Inc.:
Established in 1855, Baird & Warner is Illinois’ largest family-owned independent real estate services company. The Baird & Warner brand has been synonymous with making real estate easier through experience, innovation, and integrity for more than 165 years. Steve Baird, the firm’s fifth-generation owner, has been consistently recognized among the industry’s most influential leaders. Baird & Warner has been named a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace for eight years in a row. With more than 2,500 broker associates in 28 offices and comprehensive mortgage, title, and relocation services, Baird & Warner ranks among the nation’s top real estate firms. Learn more at BairdWarner.com.
