Realtor Certifications - Should Your Realtor Have One?
July 6, 2008 by
Filed under Home And Family
Often in real estate ads, you will see a series of letters listed after their name. These letters are realtor designations that indicate the certifications those particular realtors have. Following are more of the common abbreviations.
? ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative. This certification means the realtor specializes in representing buyers.
? ALC - Accredited Land Consultant. This realtor specializes in land brokerage transactions.
? CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist. This indicates that the realtor will have more knowledge of the international real estate market.
? CRB - Certified Real Estate Broker. Realtors with this certification have specialized knowledge in brokerage and real estate business management.
? CRE - Counselor of Real Estate. This certification is given by invitation only. They give seasoned advice on real estate and land-related matters.
? CRS - Council of Residential Specialist. This means the realtor concentrates on the buying and selling of residential homes.
? GRI - Graduate Realtors Institute. This is a special certification that indicates the realtor has attained what the industry considers to be the highest professional standing for a residential realtor.
? SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist. These realtors have specialized knowledge for working with seniors, who probably have not sold a home for many years. These realtors can explain new terms and procedures to seniors and assist with any property transactions, while helping them understand their buyer and seller rights.
Why Get Designations?
Realtors with these designations have advanced knowledge in areas that take a lot of classroom time, testing and learning. In fact, some of these designations require up to eight months of study. Not only do they give the realtor more knowledge, but also add to the realtor’s professionalism. This can give any client the confidence in their ability, and are especially valuable to new realtors, so that they may learn more quickly through hands-on experience.
Each state requires their realtors to have a certain level of knowledge in order to be licensed. To keep this license, realtors must take coursework once every four years, with certification coursework being entirely optional.
What Does This Mean to the Buyer or Seller?
It depends on the realtor, and how aggressively he or she chooses to promote them. There are trends, however, in having designations that are listed below.
? The coursework improved their knowledge and ability to sell
? The designations attracted more clients
? Many firms’ top insurance agents held designations
? Yet many of the top agents held no designations
? In fact, one of the most successful agents in a particular firm had no designations. Despite this, he topped the list in sales each year, had his own private secretary, and had clients who respected him and his abilities.
While a designation does indicate extensive study in a particular part of real estate, it does not mean they are more knowledge able than a realtor without the same designation. In fact, the latter realtor may have more actual experience than the person with the certification.
Rather that just accepting a realtor based on his or her designations, be sure to conduct an interview and see if they are the right fit for you.
? ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative. This certification means the realtor specializes in representing buyers.
? ALC - Accredited Land Consultant. This realtor specializes in land brokerage transactions.
? CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist. This indicates that the realtor will have more knowledge of the international real estate market.
? CRB - Certified Real Estate Broker. Realtors with this certification have specialized knowledge in brokerage and real estate business management.
? CRE - Counselor of Real Estate. This certification is given by invitation only. They give seasoned advice on real estate and land-related matters.
? CRS - Council of Residential Specialist. This means the realtor concentrates on the buying and selling of residential homes.
? GRI - Graduate Realtors Institute. This is a special certification that indicates the realtor has attained what the industry considers to be the highest professional standing for a residential realtor.
? SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist. These realtors have specialized knowledge for working with seniors, who probably have not sold a home for many years. These realtors can explain new terms and procedures to seniors and assist with any property transactions, while helping them understand their buyer and seller rights.
Why Get Designations?
Realtors with these designations have advanced knowledge in areas that take a lot of classroom time, testing and learning. In fact, some of these designations require up to eight months of study. Not only do they give the realtor more knowledge, but also add to the realtor’s professionalism. This can give any client the confidence in their ability, and are especially valuable to new realtors, so that they may learn more quickly through hands-on experience.
Each state requires their realtors to have a certain level of knowledge in order to be licensed. To keep this license, realtors must take coursework once every four years, with certification coursework being entirely optional.
What Does This Mean to the Buyer or Seller?
It depends on the realtor, and how aggressively he or she chooses to promote them. There are trends, however, in having designations that are listed below.
? The coursework improved their knowledge and ability to sell
? The designations attracted more clients
? Many firms’ top insurance agents held designations
? Yet many of the top agents held no designations
? In fact, one of the most successful agents in a particular firm had no designations. Despite this, he topped the list in sales each year, had his own private secretary, and had clients who respected him and his abilities.
While a designation does indicate extensive study in a particular part of real estate, it does not mean they are more knowledge able than a realtor without the same designation. In fact, the latter realtor may have more actual experience than the person with the certification.
Rather that just accepting a realtor based on his or her designations, be sure to conduct an interview and see if they are the right fit for you.
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