Citi Habitats, Inc. to begin intense training program for all employees.

Citi Habitats, Inc. announced the formation of the Citi Habitats Institute for Higher Earning. The institute provides a comprehensive real estate- training program that is offered, free of charge, to all of Citi Habitats' 600 licensed professionals and staff

As part of this innovative campaign, new agent training has been expanded to include five full days of intensive, hands on, and interactive courses.

The nine-year-old company has already invested hundreds of thousands. of dollars into The Citi Habitats Institute for Higher Earning. Included in the state-of-the-art facility is a Rear Projection SMART Board with built-in projector and innovative touch system.

But according to Andrew Heiberger, president and CEO of Citi Habitats, it is worth every penny. "It is simply astounding how many real estate professionals in New York are untrained," says Heiberger. "I am a firm believer in the power of education, and I am happy to offer our agents the opportunity to enhance their skills through such an elaborate and comprehensive program."

As coordinator, of the new Corporate Training Facility, located in Citi Habitats' Corporate Relocation Headquarters at 450 Park Avenue South, Brian Legum, himself a licensed broker and Citi Habitats veteran, has put together advanced rental and sales programs for experienced agents, and he has completely revamped Citi Habitats' new agent training. The advanced sales and rental seminars include topics such as numeric marketing, effective negotiating, commercial property transactions, and preparing co-op and condo board packages. The new agent training now consists of a week-long set of classes and workshops that include building previews, effective ad writing, role playing, and other viable real estate skills.

Each day begins with classroom instruction and is followed by the application of the skills that were learned throughout the morning in the field. In the process, agents observe roughly 6070 apartments, visit all of Citi Habitats' exclusive onsite leasing buildings, and familiarize themselves with all of Citi Habitats' 15 branch offices.

"By the first weekend following training, all agents will be fully armed with the knowledge and experience to close a deal," said Legum, "and I expect at least a handful of them will do so."

Greg Young, director of sales at Citi Habitats, supervises and teaches many of the advanced sales training seminars offered to agents.

"In order for our agents to be a valuable resource to their clients, they must be well versed in the complexities of New York real estate," Young says. "They must excel in both rentals and sales. Our training program gives them the tools to be 'hybrid' agents, and enables them to advise their clients with honesty and confidence."