Have you ever seen those funny letters after some Real Estate agents names? They are called designations. They signify that the agent has undergone some extra training related to Real Estate issues. They are like badges of honor for additional classroom work. there is one designation though, that I think stands above the rest. It is the GRI, or Graduate Realtor Institute. School is going on this week in Atlanta for those seeking this designation.
I tell people that this designation is much like getting your MBA in Real Estate. Since I have both an MBA and GRI, I like this distinction. Did you know that only around 20% of all agents ever receive this designation? Did you know that the State of Georgia graduates 10% of all GRI candidates?
Many agents will tell you that designations are mostly for show. I agree with them in some cases, but not with the GRI. I learned much by taking this program. While most designations can be earned in a day or two, the GRI requires 3 separate weeks, 90 hours of classroom work. It generally takes about 18 months to accomplish this task. Here in Georgia, it also qualifies as the Broker pre-license work. With the GRI and a weekend cram course, newly minted GRI's may be able to continue and earn their Broker license, which is what I did.
So the next time you meet an agent and get their business card, check for the funny letters after their name. If you see GRI listed you can bet that agent has done their homework in their field!
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