The discussion on designations came up on a few of my blog posts on professionalism. My last post: MY GRI Designation talked about my experience in getting the GRI designation. The post will focus on what I consider an extremely important designation and the one I that is the most meaningful to me the CRS designation.
My experience in getting the CRS designation was positive experience. I learned a lot, met many top agents, made friends and now belong to an organization that continues to help me in my career.
I selected the CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designation as a goal for a few of reasons:
- It is the most respected designation in our industry
- I was told it had the best classes
- The organization is referral based
- Most of the top agents in my community that I respect have the CRS Designation
- The average agent with a CRS designation earns about 4 times the industry average.
- Only about 4% of all agents have a CRS making it somewhat special.
The CRS designation requires not only taking a series of two day classes, but having transactional experience.
The first 2-day class I took was on real estate investment. The instructor was Tina Daniels from Arkansas. The class was excellent! I learned so much. There was a CPA and a lawyer in my group from other states. They learned also indicated that some of the material was new to them also. At that point I was hooked on CRS.
My next class was in Maui. The instructor was Ed Hatch, he taught a class on building a referral based business and also covered how to build your business beyond what you can handle yourself. He put together a business plan on hiring and working with assistants. He has been my inspiration. I bought his CDs on several other topics and am now in the process of hiring my first assistant and building a team.
Since Ed's class I have taken several others. The last two day course I took was in Columbia Missouri. You read that right. I flew from Hawaii the Branson and drove up with my brother Russ Prothero who attended a great class with me. That was the last one I needed to earn my designation.
Now that I have gotten my designation, most would think I would move on; not true. I have taken several other classes since. I also attended our local Sell-a-bration and the National CRS Sell-a-bration in Las Vegas. The only complaint I have heard came from a couple of new agents in Las Vegas that felt the classes were a little too advanced for them.
Next year our Hawaii Chapter will be hosting the 2008 CRS Sell-a-bration at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. I am planning an Active Rain gathering during the same time as the event do to the large number of Active Rain members who will be in town.
Without question the CRS classes and designation is something that has helped my business. I highly recommend joining the CRS Council, especially to all agents who are planning to make a full time career out of selling real estate.
Before closing I want to mention one more benefit of the CRS designation besides the wonderful training is the referral network. CRS has a directory of agents across the country, which has their CRS designation. When looking for an agent in another state I start with the directory.
I will be going after my ABR and e-PRO later this month. I will write a similar report on each of them as I go through the process.
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Randy L. Prothero, REALTOR®, ABR, AHWD, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR
Century 21 Liberty Homes
Randy Prothero is well established as an expert in working with military / VA clients and first time home buyers. His home seller's (listing) campaign is one of the most aggressive marketing programs in the area.
Based out of Mililani, Hawaii. Randy services the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and the Leeward Regional Chairman of the Honolulu Board of Realtors. To improve overall professionalism in his area Randy also offers classes for real estate agents.
www.HawaiiRandy.com * Oahu (Honolulu County) Property Search * Hawaii Military Relocations
Chris - I had skipped the ABR and e-PRO until now, because I thought they would be too basic. I decided to take the ABR because of some of the distasteful business practices of others have me thinking I am to go to a buyers agency agreement
Maggie - There are two programs, one with more education and less transactions (25) and one with less education and more transactions (75) http://www.crs.com/File/PDF/designation_requirements.pdf
Hey Great Randy, I am planning them to take the GRI and the CRS
in the near future :)
Randy,
I just finished a CRS course two months ago and I enjoyed it tremendously. I especially like the options they offer, more education-less production and vice versa, as you mentioned. It gives newer agents opportunity to earn the designation. That Sell-a-bration sounds like a lot of fun, but maybe next year.
Yolanda - Sell-a-bration was really good this year, I am looking forward to the 2008 one.
David - Both classes were really good when I took them.
Yvonne - You are welcome.
Lisa - The classes are long.
Hey Randy,
I just got confirmation last night that i passed the never ending CRS204 so I should now have completed the requirements..just have to send in my app fee and my affidavit. So hopefully I will be in the book with you very soon! WEW!
Excuse my plagiarism below but....
Neal Bloom,
Congratulations! You have successfully passed the exam for the Wealth Building Course (CRS 204) course you attended. Credit for completion of this course has been posted to your Council record.
Continuing education is important; it tells the public you are serious about your career. Keep learning and earning more designations and you will find your income growing with your knowledge.]
Congratulations on your hard work to earn the designations. I wish you continued success with earning the others.
Neal - very cool, welcome to the fraternity.
Steven - Thank you
Randy, my heart is beating as I read your blog. It sounds like a good challenge for me. Not sure if it's up for it.
Loreena - It has been a couple of years since I wrote this post. Since then I have benefited from CRS. Every event I have attended has been great.
Randy - I'm back, so many months later. I just finished my first CRS class. The instructor was Ed Hatch. I tell ya - that guy is something, isn't it? For the first time, I constantly put into lessons (and role playing) what Ed taught in the class. I will continue to support and go for the CRS designation. It's been an awesome experience. Not just the class materials. I will have to wait until March next year before I take another one of Ed's class.
Loreena - I bought all of Ed Hatch's CDs and listened to them in my car. He is a great motivator!
Hi Randy!
Loved your blog. When I studied my 2009 numbers last year and created my 2010 business plan, I realized of the 25% of my revenue was generated by Broker to Broker referrals, and 3/4 of those referrals were from CRS designated agents!
Whenever you know of someone in need of outstanding real estate service in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina, please send me their name and phone number. It will be our pleasure to help them!
-Judy
The Judy Weinstock Team
Keller Williams Realty
Chapel Hill, NC
www.seejudy.com
CRS is the most relevant designation to conducting business in real estate, and one of the most demanding. Randy P. is one of the gurus here to take guidance from.
Judy - I definitely have you on my list. I enjoy receiving your cards in the mail. Please remember HawaiiRandy if you have someone moving this direction.
Tony - Thank you for the kind words. I hope to see you at one of the conferences this year. I am planning to attend the CRS Sell-a-bration if I can.