You need to know how to "make hay" with designations. I believe they do if you know how to explain their value to your clients. (Trust me, I may hay with mine like mad and it works!)

no - the public doesn't understand them. The only value from designations is if we possibly learn anything from them - but generally it is just another thing they are selling us - I do like the CRS courses

The only one the public knows is 'broker' and this one builds trust.

NO.... today, it's more of a fund raiser for the NAR.... no one knows what they mean....no one cares what they mean.... I had 9 of them....  but I got them decades ago .....I stopped paying annual dues long ago and stopped using them...

perception becomes reality and they worked for me decades ago when not many agents had any....

No. Those dues are usually difficult to justify.

Around here the only designation that really makes  difference is going from salesperson to broker.  Otherwise, no, no difference at all

Do they increase my value?  I can't answer as I don't have any but I'm always open to learning more.  

NONE, most consumers do not know what they mean and service and experience beats all designations

Don I have often wondered their value. I have been quite successful in my no designation badge-less career.

I don't think most consumers care. Although I know some agents that care. I know of one agent that won't refer to another agent unless they have the GRI. 

Donald - Personally I don't think so. I believe they keep creating more designations to rake in more money for them.

However, I do like to stay educated and up to date on real estate things.

I believe they give you the knowledge.   Years ago I received 18 referrals from CRS agents.   They did not all close that year.   Since then CRS has not been as effective.   

The letters may not but the knowledge may.

People generally do not know what the letters mean.  The education can be useful, depending upon the particular course content.

I don't know, but the education to get those designations increase the value of the agent.

Interesting answers. I hope to get some this year.

Yes if the holder knows how to make them significant.

If that is the only way for you to get the knowledge, skills and attitude to perform certain functions, then yes there is value!  The value comes from taking that knowledge and using it. 

Having the initials and expecting clients to understand them is like taking Egyptian hyroglyphics to an 8 year old and expecting them to read it fluently.  Not going to happen.

Me, I have SEVERAL certifications I can put after my name.  I'd rather prove my abilities instead of relying on "CIMS" (Certified Internet Marketing Specialist) to show I can market online, for example.

I thin that he most valuable designation would be CRS. I have not achieved it yet, but within the next five years I will.

I must be the minority here.  I have the SFR, LMC and SRS designations.  By the end of the week I'll also have the MRP.  When you take these designations or certifications they tell you in the class how to get the word out and get business with said designatiions/certifications.  The SFR -Short Sale & Foreclosure Designation got me A LOT of business over the years with both banks and sellers.  The Loss Mitigation badge got me a steady stream of great additional income from banks doing bpo work.  The new SRS badge immediately got me two listings and a referral from the a fellow agent in class.  Since I do a fair share of relocation and was a military wife with my share of deployments I know that the Military Relocation  badge will be a great addition.

Hi Donald five years later after acquiring quite a few the only one I now looking back feel was worth while, and the one I still continue to promote, was through the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.  If an agent wanted to break into the high end, had no contacts, was not from a HNW family, this is the best place to begin grooming as well as gain confidence.  

I don’t think they do, I feel like Clients are more interested in you knowing the market and having their best interests in mind, not the alphabet soup that come after your name. 

I don't think so, no one has ever asked me for mine

performance / track record wins clients.... I could step out of school yesterday go get a designation.... doesn't mean I have the experience to get the job done 

It could even be possible that a designation could turn away potential clients, if your designation is for a specific type of deal that a client is not interested in.

I believe knowledge of your craft can only be a benefit to a Professional of any industry. If you were a telemarketer, learning to sell over a phone would be necessary to increase your productivity, so attending classes, or watching webinars, and would be an absolute necessity. There are so many Designations and Certifications for us, so random knowledge may not be as beneficial, whereas specialized knowledge, and a firm grasp of the fundamentals, (which so many Agents do not have), are the key to whether they have value or not. Good question. 

To me, yes!

I don't think the public cares.

Hopefully it increases your knowledge.  I don't think most of the public cares.

It depends. In and of themselves, no. The education and discipline to get some of the more difficult ones, yes. The easier it is to obtain a designation, the value is probably inverse. The only designation that was short and sweet and I use is the ABR designation. Too many agents are not risk-conscious enough.

If you learned a new skill or a better way, absolutely. If you're just doing it to have more alphabet soup on your business card, not so much.

It does but only from the learning, the initials mean nothing to the public.

Donald,

No, the public has no idea what those mean, and don't care.  A

Yes, the person who has them has increased value mentally. Now to use them

parked and reading

This is something I've also been wondering as I am considering adding a designation. I'm also curious which ones seem to add the most value. Thank you for the question!

Not really from what I have seen. Anyone can go to classes and buy and renew designations. They might help some agent somewhere a small % of time. Some are worth more than others.

Donald Urschalitz I think they do increase your value by the knowledge you gain by taking the classes. As far as marketing value - No!

If it adds to our knowledge and makes us a better agent then bring it on!

ABR, CRS and SRS to name a few have been helpful.

I do not know your definition of value or that used by other responders.

My value DOES increase in the eyes of other vendors who see that alphabet soup appended to a name clearly indicates I will by shiny things.

My self-value increases because I learned something new (could be I learned to stay away from shiny things)  or added a name or two to my network.

My market value may  increase because I understood how to exploit, in a consumer meaningful way, the value of this designation.

As viewed by most consumers, an alphabet soup of letters appended to a name is confirmation of vanity and a pedantic pursuit of things meaningless.

No, the public has not idea what any of that means.

Depends on how you use the knowledge and the quality of the knowledge. The designations mean little to those who don't understand them! Some just mean very little!