NEW DIRECTIONS IN 2025

Our education and events teams are riding the high energy coming out of the wildly successful ENGAGE Conference hosted by RHAWA earlier this year, and getting a jump start on planning more great things for 2025. Our newly formed and expanded committee are providing great feedback and ideas to improve our forms, resources and educational offerings across the board. Following are some changes you’ll see in our Calendar of events this year.

FRESH LOOK FOR CLASS MATERIALS

Our class materials have pretty much looked the same since the Rental Housing Academy was first formed in 2016. RHAWA’s talented Creative Director, Sisi Mereness went above and beyond in redesigning the Rental Housing Academy graphics and layout designs. The new look is fresh, easy to read and adds interest to the information we provide with each class. Our regular attendees will notice the difference immediately with our first 2025 class on disaster preparedness on January 16. In addition to the fresh look, we have several new instructors lined up to deliver new, relevant content designed to help you develop your business acumen.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERIES REVAMP

We reviewed the feedback and made a few changes to our Property Management series designed as basic training for front-line property managers. We expanded the harassment prevention training beyond employment issues to include tenant on tenant harassment and domestic violence. We’re also adding a new class that takes a deep dive into move-out damage assessment and handling of the security deposit. This year’s live ONLINE presentation of the series will begin on February 13 and end on May 1. The sessions are offered via Zoom every Thursday from Noon to 1 PM. Discounted full-series tickets are available now. The new updated series will become part of the free ONDEMAND education package for Property Management Company members on June 1, 2025.

MORE CONTINUING EDUCATION CLOCK-HOUR COURSES

Once each quarter, we will offer a three-hour advanced course eligible for Washington State real estate license continuing education clock hours. We plan to offer the first three ONLINE and the last will be offered ONSITE at the ENGAGE Conference on October 22nd. Additionally, this year we will be licensing our 12-part Property Management Series for clock hour credit. Real estate brokers will be able to gain certificates after completion of the full live series for $160 or the ONDEMAND version for $120. With other ONDEMAND clock-hour courses already available, real estate brokers can easily meet their full license renewal requirements with education specifically designed for the property manager in Washington State.

EXPANDED AND IMPROVED SPECIAL EVENTS

Over the years, we have hosted many types of ONSITE events – usually where our members are mostly densely populated, around the Puget Sound area. As we have expanded and gained membership across the state, we are adapting to meet the needs and desires of our members far and wide. This year, we will be taking our Housing Provider Workshop on the road, offering the same program but with local speakers in different parts of the state. We will begin with three locations: Federal Way, Lynnwood and Spokane on three consecutive Thursdays starting on May 8th. The program and some of the speakers will be the same, but most of the speakers will be recruited from the local area. This way you can hear from expert service providers and industry leaders in your community.

In addition to these three new workshops in May, we will as always host our Legislative Day on the Hill in January, our 2nd annual ENGAGE Conference – now expanded to two days on October 22 and 23, and annual Winter Gala on December 13. We’re already getting a jump on planning these events, and we’re looking forward to exceeding your expectations. Check our calendar at RHAwa.org/events often and order tickets early. We anticipate these events will sell out fast!

MORE LINK MEETINGS ACROSS THE STATE

LINK meetings (yes, there is a hidden meaning… Landlords Information, Networking, and Knowledge… or something like that!) have been running for decades in one form or another. These are informal regional meetings led by member volunteers with support from RHAWA staff. Meeting mostly in the evenings, once per month, the groups have a rotating schedule for discussions ranging from government affairs to rental maintenance. Area industry service providers are often invited to join the conversation and share their expertise.

For many years LINK meetings have been limited to Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties. Now supported by our Grassroots Organizer, Daniel Bannon and Membership Development & Government Affairs Specialist, Daniel Klemme, we have recently added three new meeting locations: North King County, Spokane City, and Spokane Valley. Would you like to see a LINK meeting in your area? Reach out to us at (206) 283-0816 and let’s figure it out!