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Thursday, November 15, 2007

Is Your AZ Realtor® a CRS, SRES, ABR, GRI, ALC or CIPS?

November is Realtor® Designation Awareness Month... I know, I know - as if anybody really cares!  But I have actually received emails in the past from home buyers and sellers who've asked me, "What does the ABR after a REALTOR's name mean?".  So I thought it might be interesting to blog about the different designations and certifications Realtors® can earn.

There are many different designations and certifications awarded by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and its nine affiliated Institutes, Societies and Councils.  Surprisingly, not all Realtor® designations and certifications are for Realtors® - some are for appraisers, brokerage managers and even office assistants.  Here's a summary:

• ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative
• ABRM - Accredited Buyer Representative Manager
• ALC - Accredited Land Consultant
• CCIM - Certified Commercial Investment Member®
• CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist
• CPM - Certified Property Manager®
• CRB - Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager
• CRS® - Certified Residential Specialist®
• CRE - Counselor of Real Estate
• GAA - General Accredited Appraiser
• GRI - Graduate Realtor® Institute
• PMN - Performance Management Network
• RCE - Realtor® association Certified Executive
• RAA - Residential Accredited Appraiser
• SIOR - Society of Industrial and Office Realtors®
• SRES® - Seniors Real Estate Specialist®
• At Home with Diversity Certification
• e-PRO® - Certificate for Internet Professionalism
• REPA^sm - Real Estate Professional Assistant^sm
• RSPS - Resort & Second-Home Markets Certification
• Transnational Referral Certification

The Arizona Association of Realtors® also recently introduced a program to earn the Certified Risk Management Specialist (CRMS) certification.

In addition to the national and local Realtor® associations, there are also other organizations that offer designations and/or certifications for real estate professionals.  For example, RealtyU.com offers the following designations:

• AHS® - Accredited Home-Staging Specialist
• ASR® - Accredited Seller Representative
• ALHS - Accredited Luxury Homes Specialist
• CNS - Certified Neighborhood Specialist
• GHS – Generational Housing Specialist (New)

Some real estate agents and brokers take Realtor® designations very seriously, and are determined to earn as many as possible.  Other real estate agents and brokers never earn any.  So, should you choose a Realtor® based on their designations and certifications?  It certainly doesn't hurt, but I wouldn't make a decision solely on their designations.  I've known many extremely knowledgable and experienced real estate agents with no designations at all.  On the other hand, I've known some very inexperienced agents with many certifications and designations.  Anybody can take a class and pass a test, but there are some tough and important lessons that can only be learned through experience.  So if you're impressed by your real estate agent's designations and certifications, be sure to look at what they actually mean.  Some designations and certifications are very easy to earn by simply paying a fee and taking a class/test, while others are only awarded to those with significant relevant experience.

Now that you understand the meaning of all those 'letters' after your real estate agent's name, I'm sure you'll sleep much better at night ... I know I will!

Written By: Shannon Hubbard Realtor®-Investor Great American Realty, Inc. Cell: (480) 695-6672 Email me

Posted by Shannon Hubbard, AZ Realtor & Computer Guru on November 15, 2007 | Permalink

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