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I've Officially Run Out of Room on My Business Card

drumroll please First things first.

A big announcement (cue drumroll):

Yesterday, I passed the Virginia Real Estate Broker's Exam!

180 hours of education in Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Appraisal, Real Estate Broker Law, and Real Estate Brokerage Management -- a full day of class every Thursday since August now completed. Volumes and volumes of real estate knowledge now crammed into this Virginian's head.

Filing into the exam center yesterday at noon alongside candidates for General Contractor, HVAC Repair, and Journeyman Electricians, I sat in front of terminal #10 ready and rearing to go as the questions started appearing on the screen. 45 minutes allotted to the Virginia section and 105 minutes were allotted to the National portion of the exam. As I answered question upon question, I realized that there was plenty of time left on the clock. Hey, I knew my stuff. My outstanding teachers, Mary Otis, Diane Quigley, and Jerry Friedlander, had indeed prepared my brain over the last 6 months for the challenge of this exam. Finishing up, I clicked on submit test and waited. On the next screen much to my delight was the following:

Virginia Portion: Result: PASS

National Portion: Result: PASS

Broker Brian I returned to the proctor who then informed me that I may have breezed through and finished the exam in record time -- about 48 minutes total out of the allotted 2.5 hours. He congratulated me, collected my unused scrap paper, handed me the Virginia application for an Associate Broker's license and sent me on my way into the World as a newly minted Broker.

Well, almost. We've got to send the paperwork down to Richmond and get it processed. That could take a few weeks, knowing government bureaucracy.

I'm excited to be a Broker. Though I don't plan on starting up my own brokerage at this point, you never know. At least the option's open. My belief is that you can never have too much education and knowledge.

Now about those business cards...

Squeezing all my licenses and designations on a single card would require font so small you'd need a high powered magnifying lenses to read it.

Just for the record:

Accredited Buyer Representative
Attorney
Certified Residential Specialist
ePRO Certified
Graduate REALTOR Institute
REALTOR
Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Brian Block business card I don't have most of these on my card currently,

and now, Associate Broker.

My new cards will read:

Brian Block, Esq., Attorney
Associate Broker

At your service... 703-626-0715 ... brian@brianblock.com

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Posted by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate on 03/05/2008 02:08 PM

Comments (60)

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60 Comments on I've Officially Run Out of Room on My Business Card

MAR

2008

Hi Brian,

CONGRATULATIONS!

I think the less you have on the card the better. Too much clutter and you don't see anything.

Have a successful week.

Michael A. Caruso

Congrats Brian. A friend of mine is working on his broker licence and its a lot of hard work!

I concur with Michael, less is more. Besides, does a buyer/seller really know what ABR, GRI, ect really means? Do they care? I see agents plaster all their accreditations like they are a PHD and I seriously wonder if anyone has ever experienced a single sell BECAUSE of listing their accreditations? I have seen entire adds devoted to showing off accreditations and I think, what a waste of money! "Attorney" and "Broker" now that is something impressive!

Brian, first Congrats.. You took the prep seriously and were well prepared. Probably like you do everything in our business. Second, I like the simpleness of the new biz card format. Do your clients really understand all the acronyms? Maybe. But what they want is trust in you to give them the best guidance to either find a home or to sell their home. I think they will understand BROKER. AJ

Brian...congratulations on your achievement! Great job.

I have the cure...bigger business cards. You need a business card about the size of a paperback novel.

Congratulations on passing the exam. Since you finished early, you should have asked to take the contractor, electrician and HVAC tests also... what could it have hurt?

Congratulations, Brian!!!! I knew you would do it, but I'm so proud of you! Go Brian, go Brian, go go go Brian :)

Brian,

Congratulations...I love to see people with enthusiasm succeed in business...we'll overlook your attorney credentials, now that you're in a legitimate profession!!! :^) Thanks, Fran

Brian, Congratulations. You have an awesome resume, you are definitely a go getter.

CONGRATULATIONS BRIAN!!!!!!!! We here in the Rain are very proud of you. Keep on the good work and keep doing you. Whew, all that stuff. Your brain must be on overload. Thanks for sharing.

Excellent work Brian!!! I know what you have been through and it is a big undertaking. Now you can put those 4 books on your shelves and use them for reference. No more late night reading!!!

We need to have a Broker Party soon!!!

Congratulations. See, I told you it was easy. You should get your license in a few days. Richmond is pretty good with paperwork.

MICHAEL: Thanks for your comments and congratulations.

JEFF: Thanks for reading and commenting. Taking the broker's classes and studying for the exam was a lot of work, though the exam itself was not too hard. Then again, after taking and passing the Bar Exam 10 years ago, everything pretty much pales in comparison.

ALAN: Thank you very much. I appreciate your comments and congratulations.

JOEY: Sounds like a great idea but that would be rather unwieldy to carry around in my pocket. Would be memorable though, but a bit too egotistical for me. Thanks for the comment and the congrats.

JOSEPH: Thanks for your comments, but I think I have enough licenses at this point. Keeping up with all the continuing ed is enough already.

LISA: You make a great cheerleader. Thanks for the balloons!

FRAN: Thanks for your comment -- it made me smile.

RUTH: I appreciate your kind words.

SONYA: Thanks for the congrats. My brain's going to take a little rest.

CHARLES: Thanks for your comment. A broker party sounds like a great idea. My wife treated me to dinner last night!

LENN: Thanks for your words of encouragement.

Congratulations, Brian! That's terrific! Any consumer or agent who has an opportunity to work with you is very fortunate.

Congratulations, Brian! I love those graphics!

Congrats! I know how much hard work that is. You should be proud!

I am planning on getting my Brokers License this year as I finish my GRI and am working on my CRS.

I also have about 8 other designations. I am a strong believer in education.

I dont put any of this of my business card for it would end up being about the size index card. Now that would make my business card stand out wouldnt it?

Congrats, Brian!

You've done an excellent job at achieving this and in such a short examination time too...wow, I'm impressed!!

CONGRATS !!!!!!!!! Good job Brian. I am glad you are smart enough not to out all that stuff on your business card. I saw a card sitting on the counter the other day. I should have snapped a photo of it. It was crazy.... too many initials after the name!

Great job! You may have to soon print on both sides of your card!

MAR

2008

Brain congrats - that is great having your brokers license. Broker Brian does have a catchy sound to it :)

Brian- Congratulations! When Maryland decided that we as agents had to add to our print advertising the wording sales associate or broker I was furious. 16 years in the business and I had to put sales associate next to my name? So I started the classes for my broker license. Maryland withdrew the need for the wording and I withdrew my quest for my brokers license but now.... you're excitement just may put my quest back on the agenda.

Brian - WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats Brian, as far as the designations the clients don't really care as long as your good, but all those letters will impress other agents.

Congrats, Brian! I remember the day I got my Broker's license a couple years back and it was very exciting. It will pay off

How about...Brian Block, kick a$$ real estate agent, attorney and all around someone who knows a lot more than YOU about real estate!?!?!?!?!

Tina in Virginia

MAR

2008

MARGARET: Thanks for your compliments and comment. I greatly appreciate your support.

NATALIE: Thanks for your comment and congratulations.

URSULA: Congratulations to you for pursuing the additional education. Many agents stop after they get their license. Except for a very few mega-producers, being too busy is really not an excuse these days.

JO: Thanks for your kind comments.

JAMES: Thanks for the congratulations. You should have snapped a photo...

CRISTAL: I thought about that!

BILL: Thanks for your comment and congratulations. I hope you are doing well.

Great News!! I will be taking the GRI 400 series in May and will be able to site for the exam in Maryland. I too will be glad to add Associate Broker to my card as well.

MARTHA: Thanks for your comments and your story. Getting a broker's license certainly can't hurt even if you never want to manage an office or start your own firm. The extra education and credibility can only help, I'd think.

BARBARA JO & BILL: THANKS!

DEE DEE: Thanks for your comments and words of congratulations.

DEREK: Thanks for your comments.

TINA: Thanks for your suggestion, but I wouldn't want to appear pretentious.

Brian,

Congratulations on your accomlishment! I always told me kids that education was the key to all success.

SCOTT: Thanks for your comment. Good luck with your classes and we hope to welcome you to the club soon.

DIANE: Thanks for your words of congratulations. It sounds like you have taught your kids well.

Brian Block - congratulations At the risk of being redundant...

Congratulations, Brian

We can special order 4" x 6" cards for you so you don't run our of room

Perhaps a nice five panel accordian fold...

Congratualtions Brian!...

MAR

2008

Congrats from one Virginia Broker to another!

TED: Thanks for the applause. 4" X 6" cards would be interesting, though they wouldn't fit in my pocket.

SANELA: Thanks for the congrats.

JIM: I'm happy to join the club. Thanks!

Brian, Now we have a little more in common. I too breezed through my Broker's exam. It was before the computer age (paper and pencil) but I was "out of there" in 45 minutes. But it took over a month to find out that I had passed. So congratulations and welcome to the ranks.

As for the card: Have a dozen different cards tailored to the specialty you wish to promote in the instant case.

Good luck.

Bill Roberts

Congratulations!

MAR

2008

BILL: Thanks for your comment and congratulations. Having several different cards for different situations isn't a bad idea.

ANN: Thanks!

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Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate

McLean, VA

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RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President

Address: 6226 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA, 22101

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