The discussion on designations came up on a few of my blog posts on professionalism.  My last post: MY GRI Designation talked about my experience in getting the GRI designation.  The post will focus on what I consider an extremely important designation and the one I that is the most meaningful to me the CRS designation.

My experience in getting the CRS designation was positive experience.  I learned a lot, met many top agents, made friends and now belong to an organization that continues to help me in my career.

I selected the CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designation as a goal for a few of reasons:

1. It is the most respected designation in our industry
2. I was told it had the best classes
3. The organization is referral based
4. Most of the top agents in my community that I respect have the CRS Designation
5. The average agent with a CRS designation earns about 4 times the industry average.
6. Only about 4% of all agents have a CRS making it somewhat special.

The CRS designation requires not only taking a series of two day classes, but having transactional experience.

The first 2-day class I took was on real estate investment.  The instructor was Tina Daniels from Arkansas.  The class was excellent!  I learned so much.  There was a CPA and a lawyer in my group from other states.  They learned also indicated that some of the material was new to them also.  At that point I was hooked on CRS.

My next class was in Maui.  The instructor was Ed Hatch, he taught a class on building a referral based business and also covered how to build your business beyond what you can handle yourself.  He put together a business plan on hiring and working with assistants. He has been my inspiration.  I bought his CDs on several other topics and am now in the process of hiring my first assistant and building a team.

Since Ed's class I have taken several others.  The last two day course I took was in Columbia Missouri.  You read that right.  I flew from Hawaii the Branson and drove up with my brother Russ Prothero who attended a great class with me.  That was the last one I needed to earn my designation.

Now that I have gotten my designation, most would think I would move on; not true.  I have taken several other classes since.  I also attended our local Sell-a-bration and the National CRS Sell-a-bration in Las Vegas.  The only complaint I have heard came from a couple of new agents in Las Vegas that felt the classes were a little too advanced for them.

Next year our Hawaii Chapter will be hosting the 2008 CRS Sell-a-bration at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.  I am planning an Active Rain gathering during the same time as the event do to the large number of Active Rain members who will be in town.

Without question the CRS classes and designation is something that has helped my business.  I highly recommend joining the CRS Council, especially to all agents who are planning to make a full time career out of selling real estate.

Before closing I want to mention one more benefit of the CRS designation besides the wonderful training is the referral network.  CRS has a directory of agents across the country, which has their CRS designation.  When looking for an agent in another state I start with the directory.

I will be going after my ABR and e-PRO later this month.  I will write a similar report on each of them as I go through the process.