Special offer

What's on Your Designation Diploma ??

By
Real Estate Agent with Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty

 

I'd like to squeeze in some education and study time during December and January.

New Jersey is, if my understanding is correct, the only state that does not require conti nuing education. However, I love to learn, and I feel education is the key to keeping ourselves current in our industry.

Currently I'm halfway through my CRS course work and I was just going to start a GRI course a  few weeks ago but it was cancelled due to lack of participants.  (Hmmm).

I know there are also those who feel designations are just a bunch of letters after your name that clients don't understand or even care about.  You can throw your $.02 in, the more thoughts the merrier!!

My question to the crowd is, of the other popular designations, ABR, SRES, e-PRO, which would you suggest as being important for, or complementing your real estate practice ??

 

 

 

 

 

Are you or is anyone you know considering a move? It would be my pleasure to help you with your real estate needs.

Serving Princeton Boro, Princeton Township, West Windsor, Montgomery Township, Hillsborough, Hopewell Township, Bridgewater, Lawrenceville, Franklin Township, East Windsor, Kingston, and parts of Middlesex County.

Lisa Ryan, REALTOR®

 

 

 

138 Nassau Street, Princeton NJ 08542

908.420.5706 (C)   609.430.1288  ext.554 (O)

 

 

Comments (25)

Allen C. Wright
RealtyU - Aliso Viejo, CA
NS, AHS, REPS

Lisa, I have earned my AHS (Accredited Home-Staging Specialist), CNS (Certified Neighborhood Specialist)and REPS (Real Estate Professional Society) all are off the beaten path from the NAR designations ... because they fill the void in education that I needed and was not supplied by NAR.

I think designations add to the credibility of the agent, it shows that this person was willing to got out and learn more about their profession. 

Nov 08, 2007 02:57 AM
Lisa Ryan
Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty - Montgomery, NJ
Selling Princeton,West Windsor and Montgomery Town
Keith~ you are right, we need to be everything to everyone, and don't forget about therapist!  Thanks for your comments
Nov 08, 2007 02:58 AM
Lisa Ryan
Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty - Montgomery, NJ
Selling Princeton,West Windsor and Montgomery Town
Allen~ you echo my feeling. Is the AHS the next step after the Accredited Staging Professional (ASP)?
Nov 08, 2007 03:00 AM
Chul KIM McGuire
CorpusTV.com - Corpus Christi, TX

Lisa, I carry one designation.... IHP.

My own.... Realtor with Integrity, Honesty, and Perseverance.

And of course, n-PRO = Neighborhood Pro.

All of those other designations are mostly revenue generating mechanisms for the businesses that created them. Learning is great and I do applaud that, but come on.... is a Realtor going to become a Genius Realtor and do better because of a designation? Hell know! I know so many crappy Realtors out there in my area with most of those designations. They are Rude, Mean, Lack Knowledge, Low Levels of Communication Skills, don't return calls in a timely manner, etc! I'm glad that they spent all that money in getting the designations! LOL. I'll use mine on my clients!

Why is it that there's always someone else trying to take our hard earned money by promising this and that?

What's important is the PERSON and the Care and Knowledge that they gain in understanding the state real estate rules, abide by NAR Code of Ethics, have great common sense, good communication skills, and the desire to help people All Out!

Oh Lisa, I want to sell you a "SR" designation. It only costs $399.00 with online tutorial. Just sign up today and get a $75.00 discount. SR is not certified by the local Board of Realtors, but merely a self satisfaction money spending designation. Become a Super Realtor today.

Cheers, KIM, an n-PRO Realtor.   N. Padre Island, TX 

Nov 08, 2007 06:35 AM
Paul Slaybaugh
Homesmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate
The last designation I received was for "Outstanding Achievement in Reading."  I think there are a few that are worthwhile (CRS being one of them), but I think the biggest purpose they serve is for obtaining referrals.  Mant agents will look for initials when trying to place a referral for a location where they don't already have a contact.  There are one or two that I wouldn't mind getting, but I have difficulty committing that time to anything other than my daily practices and my family.  I have yet to lose business (that I am aware of) due to a lack of letters, but I don't begrudge those who seem to spend more time in the classroom than selling Real Estate either.
Nov 08, 2007 07:19 AM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Lisa,

for me by far the best is CRS. Not only for the education, it's also for the referral network. I've been a GRI since 1978 and never once have I received a referral from it. As for CRS just the opposite, (since 1979) it's been a  very valuable resource.

For example, last year 5 out of 6 of my first closings were CRS referrals. This year it's been a little quieter, I've only had a few in the beginning of the year. Although, right now I working with two (CRS referrals) right now, one buyer and one seller.  If you calculate your average commission for your area and do the math you can see if it works for you. For me, it's helped me stay in business through some of our difficult markets.

 

 

Nov 08, 2007 11:01 AM
Catherine Sinocruz
Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate - Reno, NV
Broker-Salesperson, ABR, GRI, CRS

Hi Lisa,

Nice to see another agent from Prudential blogging.  ABR would be worthwile in a buyer's market.  CRS is the best.  You will learn a lot from CRS classes.

Catherine

Nov 08, 2007 04:18 PM
Lisa Ryan
Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty - Montgomery, NJ
Selling Princeton,West Windsor and Montgomery Town
Kim~ why don't you tell us how you really feel about those silly letters!  You know I always look forward to your comments and your unique point of view.  Now, put down the double latte expresso and go read some of my other stuff!!
Nov 09, 2007 07:51 AM
Lisa Ryan
Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty - Montgomery, NJ
Selling Princeton,West Windsor and Montgomery Town
Paul, I agree that's it's hard to squeeze in the time with work and kids.  I've really enjoyed the CRS courses and I'm looking to build my referral base. 
Nov 09, 2007 07:53 AM
Lisa Ryan
Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty - Montgomery, NJ
Selling Princeton,West Windsor and Montgomery Town
Linda~ perfect comment, backing up your position with facts.  Thanks so much!!
Nov 09, 2007 07:54 AM
Lisa Ryan
Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty - Montgomery, NJ
Selling Princeton,West Windsor and Montgomery Town
Catherine~ CRS classes have worth the money.  I'll have to check out the Prudential group here on A/R
Nov 09, 2007 07:56 AM
Tom Plant
WINEormous.com - Murrieta, CA
Lisa - I think e-PRO is a great designation to get. I understand they're incorporating blogging now, too.
Nov 12, 2007 09:11 AM
Brian Block
RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA
Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate

Lisa, I'd have to agree that CRS is the best one I've taken so far.   e-PRO is a good designation too.  I take these courses to further my own designation, not to have the alphabet soup after my name.  Though I do explain to my clients the extra education that I've had.

Nov 13, 2007 12:29 AM
Lisa Ryan
Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty - Montgomery, NJ
Selling Princeton,West Windsor and Montgomery Town
Toma nd Brian~ thanks for your thoughts.  That's great that e-Pro is incorporating blogging as more and more agents are jumping on the bandwagon. Brian, my goal is to show my clients that I value education and staying current.
Nov 13, 2007 03:45 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro
Lisa, I have my own brokerage and as such I like to keep myself educated so I usually do something every year.  I really enjoyed GRI but it sounds like that is out.  I got my e-Pro quite some time ago but for me that was the turning point in technology.  It just made everything jell.  Again it has been a long time so don't know what it is like now but if I come away with one thing then I feel really good.  I got my ABR this last year and it was quite good also.  The only thing with ABR is that you have to pay every year to keep it.  The next I want to go for is CRS.  I know they don't mean anything to anyone else but I love education so will always be continuing to take classes and why not have something to show for it.
Nov 15, 2007 08:41 AM
Lisa Ryan
Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty - Montgomery, NJ
Selling Princeton,West Windsor and Montgomery Town
Marchel~ thanks for your thoughts.  I agree with you in that if we have to take courses why not have something to show for it. 
Nov 16, 2007 01:22 PM
Anonymous
andy capelluto

Hi Lisa - The Power of Staging is the online class you take in order to get the ASH designation.  As the author of the course I'd like assure you of my credentials as a designer, a home stager and most important of all, a teacher.  The course is affordable $199.00 and will teach you all you need to know as an agent who is faced with the job of guiding her seller through the task of preparing a home for sale.  I know absolutely nothing about the ASP designation except that it will cost you a whole lot more.  As the company who features the class offers a full refund, you have nothing to lose.  Do your homework, today it is so easy to research a person or a company.  Good luck Andy Capelluto

Jan 21, 2008 05:31 PM
#22
Adam Waldman
Westcott Group Real Estate Company - Hauppauge, NY
Realtor - Long Island

LISA - I have two of those designations, SRES and e-PRO, and would like to get the ABR at some point.  As far as which one is the most important, it really depends.  Not to take anything away from the e-Pro designation, but at this point, if you're an active blogger, you could make the case for being an e-Pro without actually being one.  I would imagine that very few bloggers are not Internet and e-mail savvy.  The course has its advantages, and it's definitely worth taking, but it most likely won't elevate you higher than blogging.

The choice comes down to what is most important to you.  If you are interested in targeting the growing boomer market, then I would recommend SRES.  If you are more interested in working with buyers, then I would choose ABR. 

The truth of the matter, in my opinion, is that these designations are more about showing that we're educated and increasing our chances for referral business from those with the same designation.  To the consumer, the letters probably mean very little unless you explain what they mean to them.  Otherwise, it's just like alphabet soup.

Finally, I thought that the designations were more important before I found Active Rain.  At this point, I would refer business to those that I trust sooner than I would to those that have the same designation and/or brokerage as me. 

Jan 21, 2008 09:37 PM
Mike Frazier
Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN
Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Lisa,

I have the GRI, ABR and e-PRO designations. I guess I am most proud of the last one because it is the one that helped me get internet savvy,

Jan 21, 2008 10:44 PM
Patrick Burno
CENTURY 21 - Charlotte, NC

My friend told me about a real estate agent she new that used the WGAS Designation after their name in his email signature. He used the desination for years and many people may have been impressed but others not so much. One day she asked what the WGAS Designation represented. His response was it stands for Who Gives A Sh*t. She was laughing for weeks over that story. I still find it amusing to this day.

Mar 18, 2009 04:05 AM