716,049
Any education is relevant if YOU keep it relevant. Any educational designation is simply the base, for you to keep doing and improve upon it. Don't expect that it will do anything for you on its own.
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Jennifer Mackay
Panama City, FL
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Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
-
Greg Large
Grove City, OH
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Bruce Kunz
Howell, NJ
-
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
-
Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
-
Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
-
Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
5,230,079
I believe that one or two are relevant (MBA & CRS) but, you often have to explain how the designations can serve THEM. My explanation always includes more education.
As I'm sure you know, CRS is now requiring us to take classes annually to keep our designation. For me, it's something that I 'require' of myself - furthering my education, especially when we are in such an ever-changing business.
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Valeria Mola
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Francine Viola
Olympia, WA
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Bruce Kunz
Howell, NJ
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Margaret Rome Baltimor...
Pikesville, MD
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
2,684,109
MBA matters. So does Broker.
The rest of them, meh. Save the money.
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Francine Viola
Olympia, WA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
5,583,278
I had 9 of them.... I cared.... education was for ME....
my clients always noticed I had "letters" and no one else had them!!!! did it matter.... yes... but I did it for ME.....
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
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Francine Viola
Olympia, WA
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Bruce Kunz
Howell, NJ
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
-
Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
1,052,211
They're relevant if YOU are!
The value is always in you!
The certs and designations are to empower you.
PS happy birthday this week!
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
-
Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
4,572,183
Designation-free? Likely not.
Important to some in the industry. Unimportant to others.
The "controversy" continues. Amazingly life goes on.
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Valeria Mola
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
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Violetta Polyakov
Boynton Beach, FL
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
5,216,398
I am a big fan of the education but have never used the alphbet after my name. You have the education so why pay for the alphabet?
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Valeria Mola
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
-
Violetta Polyakov
Boynton Beach, FL
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
-
Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
953,617
Thankfully no yearly designation fees on your GRI or your MBA. Normally the CRS is a good one to keep, known of many effective networkers who have made good use of their CRS designation and CRS referral data base. If sufficient business is coming your way without the need, than drop it like a hot potato.
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Valeria Mola
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
-
Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
3,345,091
I concur with your thoughts and experience. Consumers don't really care. If the designations are important to us ... then we get them.
I would think your Masters is all you need. I am a BIG fan and advocate of higher education and training that extends far beyond what we get with designations.
Here's to an incredible 2019!!!!
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
-
Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
1,197,152
Designations are not as important as learning and applying knowledge.
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Francine Viola
Olympia, WA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
1,844,301
Seems like a great way to save quick money. I've done this eons ago & it was amazing on how much $ I was spending.
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Francine Viola
Olympia, WA
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
2,781,173
Its like E=MC2 I recognize it means something but what? Dennis Swartz
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
1,712,676
I have always cared about CRS and it is the only one I pay.
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
911,338
I've let some go. Most people didn't care what they meant. i still see agents advertiving that they have the E-Pro designation, but seems like those same agents don't know how to send a text message or email, and some still use hotmail for their business email.
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
3,416,038
The bottom lines are most consumers have no clue what all the letters mean. I am saving a ton or money and there no affect to me on sales
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Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
5,104,931
I have found that you can make people care. What charges do you have with an MBA? I have an MBA in finance and my last charge was when I paid my last tuition bill for it some four decades ago.
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Richard Bazinet /MBA, ...
Scottsdale, AZ
5,772,575
Education is never wasted. Designations mean nothing. It is what you do with them. A
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Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
3,854,909
I can put alphabet soup after my name but it is just a show of education over the years. I have taken some really good courses over the years and have written about them.
My favorite designation is still BROKER
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
679,404
I don't have as many as you ... but it does add up to a big investment ... and honestly can not think of any clients who were impressed with my designations. The average consumer doesn't know what those acronyms mean. So my thoughts are, I don't think I will be adding anymore. IMHO
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
1,598,452
Wow, that is so impressive, Dennis!
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Valeria Mola
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
1,502,998
I've never thought the designations mattered to the public. I don't think you'll lose anything and you can always say you specilaize in X, Y and Z. No need for the alphabet soup. I don't even know what the first five acroynms mean and I'm in the industry! I wouldn't even know where to look up that you actually had them.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Dennis Swartz
Columbus, OH
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
3,383,334
The only reason to get a designation, IMO, is because you want the associated education. I was happy to earn my GRI, but more excited to learn so many things that helped me grow my business. If you are getting them to impress a potential client, it's a waste.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
482,547
I take classes and 'join' organizations so I can learn I don't find it to be a huge expense for what I get out of them - which allows me to better serve my clients & community.
That said, people may not know what individual designations mean, but they do seem to appreciate my having the continuing education they provide.
Bruce.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bruce Kunz
Howell, NJ
2,178,603
I agree with those who say education is always a good thing. Cutting back on my education budget was NEVER a consideration for me. I still spend quite a bit of money on learning opportunities and I'm retired. It is still a category in my budget. Spend money on what will be relevant to YOUR business. It doesn't need to be in the form of collecting designations.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
809,258
I am in the same boat. I let SRS go last month and will do the same with ABR this month. I am debating on the CRS still. -K
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
921,504
No. those letters are expessions of real estate agent vanity. Yes, people notice vanity, however they only place value on ONE earned designation.
Now, don't get me wrong, designations are Very Important to those who sell the letters. They know real estate agents will buy ANYTHING.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
1,239,901
In our area realtor with JD, esq gets the juice. Rest are often disregarded.....
Have a MD in the trade. He gets lots of people asking medical questions as free consultant....
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
175,886
I agree with Richard Bazinet. Noone seems to care about the designations just the service they receive & my results.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Kasey & John Boles
Boise, ID
4,800,082
I think it's a good idea.
Gabe Sanders ND NOC (No Designations, No One Cares)
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
4,882,355
Just the ones that don't require yearly renewal, like the GRI.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
213,263
Thanks to all for tthe answers and viewpoints!
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
2,071,025
Amazing, Dennis.
For sure, your customers care.
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Valeria Mola
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
6,393,404
Education is important, meaningless letters on your business card are not.
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Valeria Mola
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
2,390,620
Dennis Swartz I never gained or lost a client because of a designation. When I have sought after one it was solely because I wanted to learn more about the subject, not to gain business but to gain knowledge.
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Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
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Valeria Mola
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
711,852
The education you received through these certifications have probably taught you a lot. However, the general public has no idea what those letters mean and whether or not that makes you a better agent.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
931,002
I had lots and lots of letters also. Not tempted to renew any of them.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
1,311,397
I have earned some designations. I valued the education that was required in the process. I still value education. Our business is always changing. That said, there is one that I am planning not to pay to continue.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
900,128
155,337
If you are targeting a specific group, it does help you stand out if you have a designation for that group and can convey that the desgination means you have specialized training that other agents don't have in that particular discipline.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
3,986,258
I have never had anyone ask for mine. I quit them 15 years ago
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
989,652
IMO - education is always of value
The posting the initials behind your name (ego/pride/marketing) ?
Not so much since no one ever knows what they mean anyway.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
4,434,127
2,436,099
Clients don't care about designations. The only benefit I can see is that we learn stuff when we get them. That's always a worthwhile effort.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
427,257
I wrestle with this each year. Luckily, I only have to pay for the CRS. I think I may go for the two year option this time for the discount and to prevent having to ponder it next year.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
3,164,294
I did that a few years ago. In fact I also withdrew from BOR which has become a people go play at conventions and not at all about helping the agents anymore. I don't think it affected my business at all. (our local MLS is broker owned vs. association owned)
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
7,836,134
I stopped paying those annual dues many years ago.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
5,868,554
The public doesn't care, but your education will shine through when interviewing with a new client. My CRS has been very valuable.