The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Brand Unveils Trendmaker Course to Elevate Agent Knowledge

By: Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC | 0 Shares 42 Reads

August 14, 2025 // Franchising.com // Madison, NJ -- Following a 2024 pilot, the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate brand has officially launched its comprehensive Trendmaker℠ Accreditation program for affiliated brokers and agents. The innovative program leverages the brand’s unique connection to the iconic Better Homes & Gardens® media brand to deliver actionable insights into the evolving consumer behaviors and lifestyle trends that help shape the housing market.

The program formalizes a key BHGRE® brand differentiator by offering agents exclusive access to trend intelligence, psychological insights into buyer behavior, and professional commentary across key real estate-adjacent sectors—including new home construction, smart home technology, and outdoor living. Through the designation course, agents become Home Trend Specialists who have a greater ability to tailor service for their clients based on their design and living preferences.

Led by President Ginger Wilcox, VP of Learning Karrie-Ann Sheppard, and Director of Brand Marketing Leah Wright, the initiative deepens collaboration with People, Inc., the publisher of the Better Homes & Gardens magazine. Curated content from top industry voices equips agents with practical tools to help enhance service and drive their business forward.

“Not only do BHGRE affiliated agents help people find a house, they play a critical role in helping them turn it into their home,” said Wilcox. “By connecting the dots between the trusted Better Homes & Gardens brand and highly engaged BHGRE network of affiliated real estate professionals, we’re delivering unmatched value to today’s lifestyle-driven consumer.”

Featured Industry Leaders in the Trendmaker Program:
- Lauren Bengtson, Senior Home Editor, Better Homes & Gardens
- Caleb Silver, Editor-in-Chief, Investopedia
High-Level Takeaways from the Course:
- Design Trends: Agents gain curated insight into seasonal and emerging home design preferences, sourced from Better Homes & Gardens editors, to help them to advise clients on staging, renovations, and lifestyle fit.
- Consumer Psychology: The course explores how economic shifts, generational values, and behavioral insights shape buying decisions. Affiliated agents can learn to apply this knowledge to better understand client motivations and personalize their approach throughout the transaction.
- Marketing Application: Interactive workshops show agents how to turn trend insights into compelling marketing, from social media content to listing presentations, enhancing client engagement and brand visibility.

Why It Matters to Clients

The TrendmakerSM Accreditation program empowers agents with lifestyle and behavioral insights to better serve today’s buyers and sellers. Buyers benefit from professionals who understand how evolving design preferences impact home selection and long-term value, while sellers gain professional guidance on staging strategies that align with current trends. Trendmaker accredited agents deliver a more personalized, insight-driven experience throughout the real estate journey.

“The Trendmaker class was incredibly informative,” said Nichole Fecteau, real estate agent at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group. “Staying ahead of the curve in style and innovation empowers me to better guide my listing clients in preparing their homes for sale and assist new construction buyers in designing their future homes. I left the class with a deeper understanding of home design and the choices that truly make a difference.”

In addition to the course, the brand has launched bi-monthly snap polls of BHGRE® affiliated agents, providing frontline insights into trends and supporting client engagement.

Since its launch in 2008, the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate brand has empowered affiliated professionals with deep consumer insights into how buyers and sellers design their homes. The Trendmaker Accreditation program builds on this legacy, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to delivering meaningful value at every stage of the real estate journey.

SOURCE Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

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