Back when the EcoBroker designation came out, I was pretty critical of it and then followed up. Not because it isn’t a goof cause but because it is a designation awarded by a third party for taking and paying for some classes. I received a solicitation for the RREIS – Residential Real Estate Investment Specialist today. The classes will cost $1180 to earn the designation.
Neither designation is sanctioned by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Don’t get me wrong, continuing education is great but do we strengthen our industry by adding to the already too long list designations??? Attorneys don’t add anything after JD though they too have continuing education requirements. I feel our industry is too busy trying to impress each other and not the consumer that couldn’t care less (for the most part) about the alphabet soup after our names.
Let me be clear: I think the education is great. I just don’t understand how earning a non-sanctioned designation adds value to the consumer.
Charles, BROT (Best Realtor Out There)
I agree. in addition to the added expense to obtain our continuing ed requirments it cost us addtional money just to hold our desingnations… it already costs just to get our requirments.
thanks
db,ABROT
I’ve often wondered about this, and always thought it was silly since the average consumer doesn’t know what all the designations even stand for anyways.
If the agent is friendly, seems competent enough to find what I’m looking for and not mess up the paperwork, I could care less about their “extra letters” as I’ve always called them.
Good post!
Jeff
I agree with the post, i am a newer realtor and i think i am only going to get the GRI. The main reason for this is that i can combine it with my Advanced Practice requirment. I often wondered if the consumer would have any idea or care what the letters meant.
Great post.
Steve