What are the signs of a Qualified REALTOR? Also, what qualifies a REALTOR to advise you in the sale/ purchase of your home? We know our doctors have to attend medical school and pledge the Hippocratic Oath to treat us and our lawyers have to earn their degree and pass the bar. Even Shelly here can rattle off his impressive credentials. How can you tell when you’ve got a good REALTOR?
Qualified REALTOR
Well… here are the basics. These are things that every REALTOR has to go through/ accomplish to become a REALTOR:
- Attend a 63-Hour pre-licensing class to prepare for state exam.
- Pass the state exam to gain licensing
- Attend a 48-hour post licensing class within two years of obtaining license.
- Every two years obtain 14-Hour continuing education credits.
Then of course there are all of the extras that some REALTORS also do to make themselves top of the line advisors:
- Surrounding themselves with some of the best in the business
- Like the importance of the Jedi Council with their sage advice and mentoring, a Real Estate brokerage is key to an agent. A good broker helps their agents to stay updated, streamline the paperwork, offer training, offer valuable advice, and keep their agents on track.
- Attending extra training
- This just basically means attending any training events the office hosts, signing up for local seminars, seeking out a business coach, or just participating in anything that is educational. (Being a part of a good brokerage means that you will receive frequent invitation to these types of events).
- Seek designations
- In the vast world of Real Estate, each Jedi agent has the option to seek out a designation, or as I like to see them a specialty. REALTORS can specialize in anything from Short Sales to Luxury Properties. Some of the more popular designations are:
- Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS)
- Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR)
- Certified Residential Specialist (CRS).
- Each Designation has its own requirements for some it is attending a course and for others production is a requirement.
- In the vast world of Real Estate, each Jedi agent has the option to seek out a designation, or as I like to see them a specialty. REALTORS can specialize in anything from Short Sales to Luxury Properties. Some of the more popular designations are:
- Constantly reading up on today’s real estate market to stay current
- The world of Real Estate is constantly changing! What with interest rates fluctuating, recessions, economic growth, new technology, and new generations. The reading and updating never ends.
- Marketing
- A great sign of an invested REALTOR is marketing. Do you get those letters in your mail every month from that same persistent REALTOR? Well, guess what…they are doing it right! It may seem like a pest to you, but any good agent is going to market themselves through mail outs, emails, phone calls, notes, pop by gifts, hosting events, coffee outing, lunch meetings, and so much more. It’s just our way of letting you know that when you need us we will be there!
So, Keep any eye out for these things or ask your REALTOR about what they are doing to be the best adviser they can be. Hopefully this will help you to identify a qualified REALTOR and give you greater confidence in who you are working with! If you would like us to assist you in either selling or buying your new home. you can click here and let us know what you are looking for and we can get started.
Article Courtesy of Tabby Russell Rivera Buyers Agent for Nick & Cindy Davis
