"EXPERIENCE ISN'T EXPENSIVE....IT'S PRICELESS!"~patricia4realestate.com-Hampton NH Real Estate-Seacoast NH Property4sale-"Experience isn't expensive it's priceless!"

Hi Pat...in general it seems to be "charisma" of sorts. I have the designation info on the back of my business card ....but don't know if they read it?

But last year I did have a Buyer who had a Real Estate for Dummies book and followed it to a "T"

The answer varies on the price range of the sphere in which you work.  Under $2mm, relationships are THE key factor until you get down to around $300k.  You can probably tell that is my market range.  Having had a brokers license, the designations for meaningless to most people, as they have no clue what the designations mean.  I have a 44% market share in listings in my neighborhood and run the top ranked group in Austin.  Any listing that we lose is because of relationships, not designations.  My top ranked agents have only the CLHMS designation.  My agent with every possible designation known to the realtor community is ranked near the bottom.  She has more knowledge than our entire group combined.  So why is she not the top producer?  Those that have the best ability in building and maintaining relationships win. 

When you get in to the high to ultra high end, designations become a factor as the seller are more image consious.  I just had this conversation today with a sphere selling a $2mm home and his main concern with the previous agent was that her sign did not look professional and that she would not put his home in a couple of national magazines.  So I threw it back at him.  Are you more interested in the image of your agent or more interested in selling your home?  I told him that his home will not have a chance of selling as you are 30% outside the radar screen.  I told him that I would not take the listing unless he was willing to deal with the reality of the market.  I knew he would not like that, but someone needs to tell him.  So I will either get the listing or he will end up giving the home to the bank.

Patricia,

I agree totally with Tim about the breakdown in the price points and what the seller is looking for in an agent. Relationships are the key factor from $300,000 to $2 million. Being a dominant agent in a community with proven results will play heavily when choosing the agent. Designations are nice to have but the public doesn't know what they mean or care! It's not about the "agent" it's all about the "seller" and some agents just don't get that!