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John Novak, Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace)

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Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

John,

In our experience none of the above.  The best real estate designation is having a flow of referrals and being top of mind in their community.  A

May 24, 2015 02:33 AM
Rainmaker
657,208
Martin E. Kalisker, Esq.
Natick, MA
Real Estate Law From A Practical Perspective

None of these designations, including earning a broker license will amount to anything unless you learn how to market and differentiate yourself from the competition by holding these designations. I would bet $1,000 that those who poo poo the ABR do not take advantage of any of the resources that REBAC has for its members to use for branding, presentations, and other tools. CRS provides a great referral network. Big deal. If that's what you use it for, it's a pretty expensive lead generation system with ongoing dues.

For me, the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB) has been very beneficial because they have great management level education. However, by far, the best designation in real estate is the CRP - certified relocation professional offered by the Worldwide Employee Relocation Council (ERC)

May 24, 2015 10:24 AM
Ambassador
1,452,769
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I don't see the public knowing, or caring , about the alphabet soup that many insist upon using.  Learning something useful that can be applied to your day to day business is another story. 

May 24, 2015 08:30 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I've got them all--CRS, GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, SPS, SRES and have learned something in all of my classes. But the most useful has been the CRS.

May 24, 2015 03:38 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

I get the most out of my BROKER license...way more useful than a designation.

May 24, 2015 09:41 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I really can't answer as I don't have these designations.  Though in my observations some take these classes only to have the designations and learn little, while others make some excellent use of what they learn.

May 24, 2015 04:51 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,472
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

CRS most definitely --- one year I got 18 referrals of which some did go to closing.

May 24, 2015 04:13 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

It is nice to pay for the training. Nothing beats being out in front of people getting asked and ans questions professionally. 

May 24, 2015 02:39 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

None, having a brokers license would be better than any of these.

May 24, 2015 02:37 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

By far the GRI and CRS have been the most beneficial. They help an agent become an all round better agent and more skilled.

May 24, 2015 12:36 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I have SFR and ABR. I never use SFR, I already was heavy in working them when I got the designation.  I use the ABR all the time. It is a great designation.

May 24, 2015 12:30 PM
Rainmaker
1,711,988
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

I have four but don't even advertise them as they don't mean absolutely nothing to public but for further education only. 

May 24, 2015 08:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

None. I have 4 of them and going to take international and e-pro, but just for my own education. Clients never care, they just care how much you sold and how well. If we could get MBA in RE , then they might notice, all other abbreviations are pointless for them.

May 24, 2015 08:35 AM
Rainer
305,560
Tammy Adams ~ Realtor / Podcaster
Maricopa Real Estate Co - Maricopa, AZ
A Maricopa Agent who Works, Lives & Loves Maricopa

I have earned my ABR and SRS so I can say both buyer and sellers. I am only 3 classes from my GRI. From what I have seen these 3 are the most liked by successful agents. 

May 24, 2015 07:00 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I had 9 of them at one time, and the only one that's worthwhile is the CRS....in my opinion,....

May 24, 2015 06:15 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Martin nailed this one!

Jan 21, 2018 05:22 AM
Rainer
4,601
Debbie Tuttle,ABR,CRS,GRI,SFR,CSP,CDRS,CDPE
Keller Williams Realty - Las Vegas, NV
Dedicated to Customer Service for our Clients

Your most useful designation that will bring the most business & out of state referrals is the CRS designation. You do nto realize how impactful it is on your business and how other agents choose you over another agent due to having the CRS designation. The classes are well worth the business you will derive n the future due to having this level of education.

May 26, 2015 05:07 AM
Rainer
8,623
Barbara Schmal,GRI,RSPS,PSA
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Everything I Touch Turns To SOLD!!

I have GRI and RSPS, trust me potential buyers/sellers will look up these designations and certification to find out what they mean.  I have had several buyers work with me because of the GRI and RSPS.  I always ask how they found me and they would say on the internet and we looked up what GRI and RSPS meant.  The other important information you can provide is have your BIO on your website.  People can relate to you if you include the areas you live the high school or college you went to people feel a commonality with you.  Today people will do their research on professionals to make sure they are getting someone that has the knowledge and experience.

May 25, 2015 12:30 AM
Rainmaker
699,277
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

None.  We stopped playing the game years ago.

May 24, 2015 11:43 PM
Rainmaker
4,572,117
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi John --- I don't have any of the ones you mention.  I'd say my real estate license is the most beneficial as it allows me to do my job.   

May 24, 2015 11:19 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Anything that gives you expertise is valuable to you. What I found was that CCIM was a college education equivalent. 

May 24, 2015 10:26 PM
Rainer
273,237
Richard Robibero, e-Pro, ABR, SRS
Panorama R.E. Limited - Toronto, ON
Selling Your Home as if it were My Own!

I find the ABR to be the most effective. Granted I have not, nor do I expect, someone calling me and saying "Hey I found your name on the ABR list of Realtors".

However, I find that they send out a lot of material as well as organize some very useful webinars in which I have gained valuable insight into new technologies. I also notify Buyers and Sellers during my presentations which helps in securing the lising or Buyer representation agreement.

For the measly $100 a year I have received information that helps me in my business many times over.

I have a Broker's License, ABR, and SRS. I plan on taking e-Pro and possibly another. My marketing material makes mention of Broker, ABR and SRS and I don't plan on advertising the others.

Finally, here's a section of my bookshelf. I have walked in on clients looking at the certificates and asking about them. I have signed those clients to agreements. Was it solely because of the designations? Of course not. But it didn't hurt that's for sure.

May 24, 2015 09:36 PM
Rainmaker
2,362,701
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

The best is CRS for knowledge. Probably the ABR makes buyers feel comfortable

May 24, 2015 09:17 PM
Rainmaker
504,270
Sonja Patterson
Keller Williams - BV - College Station, TX
Texas Monthly 5-Star Realtor Recipient for the Hou

AR  :)  Couldn't resist.  Let it rain!

May 24, 2015 01:37 PM
Ambassador
3,854,886
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

I have "alphabet soup" and more designations than I care to count. The one that is useful to me is BROKER !

May 24, 2015 01:24 PM
Rainer
25,344
Mari Armstrong
ArmsLink Realty - Murrells Inlet, SC
Offering You Honesty, Sincerity and Integrity

I believe it depends on your market, your clients and what you do with the knowledge you obtained in the classes. Clients really have no clue what all those letters mean and aren't impressed by them at all. Do it to increase your own skill sets, not to impress.

May 24, 2015 12:08 PM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

I learned the most from getting my Broker license.

May 24, 2015 10:53 AM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I found the GRI a great learning experience. I found the e-pro course very helpful with online information. I take the classes and get the designations for my own benefit. I love learning. 

May 24, 2015 10:13 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

I also got the Ecobroker designation, which took quite a bit of work and time.  Can't say that it resulted in any direct earnings, although the education was  worthwhile.

May 24, 2015 10:07 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

John Novak Although not a designation, being a Broker has given me the most benefits.

May 24, 2015 05:32 AM
Rainmaker
7,835,619
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

The best for me was CPM but I gave it up after we sold our property management portfolio.

May 24, 2015 04:26 AM