I know to us in the Real Estate Industry we don’t think twice about throwing
up those letters after our names.  I think we often fail to recognize that
others might not know what those certifications stand for and the training that
we had to take to get those silly letters after our name

I am going to try and give you a brief rundown of those letters and how it
might benefit you as either a Seller or Buyer

ABR- Accredited Buyers Representative:  Education for this includes completion of a 2 day
course, an ABR elective course, and experience representing only a Buyer in a
transaction.

ALC-Accredited Land Consultant: 6 completed courses
of required curriculum, 3 years experience in the sale and lease of vacant
land.  volume requirements of at least 10 million in land sales or 25 separate
land transactions.  Must pass an Exam and also be reviewed by the accreditation
panel.

CCIM-Certified Commercial Investment Member:  these
members are educated in commercial leasing, sale and valuation.  Four classes
are required for this designation, each class lasts 5 days for 8 hours.  You
must also complete a 3 credit elective course.  After this you must attend 3
different Networking events and then submit a portfolio of experience. Finally
you must pass a exam.

CIPS-Certified International Property Specialists:
These members are educated in International Sales.  This requires a multitude of
training on different countries and requirements

CPM-Certified Property Manager:  Education in Property Management

CRB-Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager: These Designees are better able to streamline operations, intergrate new technology and apply new trends and business strategies.  To earn this designation you must apply for admission, hold and maintain membership as a Realtor, have one year management experience, earn 12 credits within the following 4 years after application.

CRS-Council of Residential Specialist: This designation is awarded to experienced Realtors who complete adbvanced training in listing and selling and meet rigorous production requirements.  The requirements for this vary depending on your various sales experience.

CRE-Counselor of Real Estate:  This is a membership that is by invitation only.  These professionals provide objective advice on real property and land-related matters.

GREEN-NAR’s Green Designation:  This designation means that your agent would have the highest level training possible in “green” features within homes.  This includes how to market and understand and target that market that is seeking green properties.  This requires a 12 hour Core Course and a 6 hr Elective Course in residential, commercial, or property management.

To Be Continued….

Here is an interesting article – http://www.ncrealtors.org/uploads/FortheRecord9-09.pdf.  This report says that things are looking up in North Carolina. 

I’m still not so sure that it applies in Charlotte.

Please contact me if you have any questions. www.PropertiesofCharlotte.com.

To achieve the added designation of being a S.T.A.R ( Sustainability Training for Accredited Real Estate Professional)  Earth Advantage Broker, I have completed  a two day course held at the Earth Advantage Institute in Portland. I came away with a deeper understanding of climate change, how it effects us all worldwide, and sustainability. I was moved to learn what green values I can apply personally, in addition to the increased knowledge that  I can now pass on to my buyers and sellers about what a green home is, and how to make the changes necessary to increase comfort, health, and energy savings at the same time.

Having started the class thinking there would be little to learn because I thought that I applied the basic practices everyday, I was pleased to see how wrong I was. Inspired, awed and dismayed by the state of things and what can be done to move us all towards a more equitable balance, I desire to educate my clients to their interest level, and convert those along the way who think of it as a passing marketing trend.

Kelly Karls and Wendy Johnson RECEIVE NEW CERTIFIED NEGOTIATION EXPERT DESIGNATION

Real estate negotiation skills are a must for all home buyers/sellers, especially in today’s current market. Kelly and Wendy have been awarded the Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE®) designation, achieved by real estate professionals who have successfully completed formal training in the art of negotiation. Agents who receive this certification are in the top 1% of all agents nationally. With professional negotiation skills, agents will typically obtain better results for their clients. CNE agents have a powerful competitive edge because of their ability to uncover information effectively, get more and give less during sales/purchase negotiations, and retain control over desired outcomes. Bottom line, CNE® agents know how to influence and persuade others more effectively than agents without professional negotiation training. Negotiation Expertise, LLC, a national negotiation training and coaching company serving the real estate industry and based in Peoria, AZ, provides the certification training. Tom Hayman, the President and owner, is a professional negotiator with 35+ years experience, including 25 years with Procter and Gamble, a Fortune 50 company. Hayman asserts “Any Buyer or Seller who hires a CNE® agent can feel confident that they have the best trained agent in the business. They will get superior results and have better resolution of any issues when hiring a CNE® agent.”

Whether in the market to buy or sell, please contact us.  We will help you acheive the best results, and make the wisest decisions in today’s tough, ever changing real estate marketplace.  Contact us today at kjpremier@atproperties.com.

The National Association of REALTORS® say more than one third of all members now hold some type of professional designation, a number that is increasing despite the fall in the housing market.

NAR said the number of members holding at least one professional designation increased by nearly 21,000 over the past year, reaching a total of more than 428,000. If you are looking for the edge you need to survive and thrive in this business, consider earning the GRI designation. The classes are local and offered in one and two day increments.

If you hold a real estate designation, do you beleive it has helped you do a better job for your clients?

Barbara Freestone
Arizona Association of REALTORS®
VP Professional Development
602-248-7787

P.S. check out David Patterson’s post regarding the value of designations

According to Charlie Bross, President, RE Training Center, “The fact is, there is tremendous opportunity in every market, including today’s.  Sometimes you just have to change the way you think and work in order to see it…”   I’m sure you have all heard that agents are no longer order takers.  Agents are looking to acquire skills to build their business.  Does this describe you? 

According to a 2006 survey by NAR, 85% of all agents coming into the industry have no sales experience.   

Knowledge and skill are partners to success.  There are no shortcuts.  Today’s continuing education classes help increase your knowledge base, but, in my opinion,  today’s c/e classes lack skill training.  Most classes focus on delivering information, but are not delivered in such a way that creates relevance to your day to day practice.  To acquire skills education, I believe classes must be performance-based, incorporate simulated activities and/or provide some type of hands on experience in the forms of scenarios or other student based activities.  You must have an opportunity apply the knowledge, not just receive the knowledge.

The Swanepoel Trends Report 2008 report that a survey conducted with over 1000 real estate salespeople, the following skills were ranked as the most important for agent success:

•Expanded knowledge of the changing market and expertise

•A good listing presentation and CRM system

•Stronger web-based computer skills including blogging, SEO and networks

•Knowledge of financing, foreclosures, short sales and staging

•Good time management

•Enthusiasm and a continued positive attitude

•Good negotiation skills

To reinforce my comments, how many of these topics are covered in ADRE license renewal categories?  None. This is why I believe there should be two components of real estate education:  c/e classes which are required to renew your real estate license AND career development classes which are needed to acquire knowledge and hone your skills leading to success in this business.  I recently read on Jennifer Cummings blog:   ”I absolutely believe that the distance between where you are now and where you want to be is simply 6 inches – the 6 inches between your ears!”  Fill those inches with as much career development education as you possibly can.

Most, if not all, of the above skill topics are covered in Arizona’s GRI (Graduate, REALTORS® Institute) program.  Look around your office and see how many of the top producing agents have earned the GRI or one of the other prestigious designations.  Think back to some of the transactions you have had with agents who hold a designation and agents who do not.  Did the transaction go more smoothly when working with an agent to not only has knowledge, but also has skills?

What are you waiting for?  Make the commitment this year to earn the GRI designation.  Classes are offered locally and in one and two day increments.  Visit our site and find out more about the GRI designation program, the classes, and the class schedule.