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Rainmaker
7,836,623
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Over time, I dropped all of my designations. The knowledge gained is always useful but the cost of the designations is difficult to justify.

Dec 02, 2015 06:57 AM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

I have no acronyms that the public has no idea what the meaning is behind my name Debbie except experience and the kind words of my buyers and sellers.

Dec 02, 2015 06:38 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,303
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Bye bye, so long, farewell...I major in results...that's all I know

Dec 02, 2015 11:10 PM
Rainer
94,105
Val Evans
Scottsdale, AZ

I never understood the reasoning behind designations. The one I get a good laugh about is the "certified negotiation expert" designation. Talk about somebody being sold some snake oil. Am I somehow supposed to believe that in a matter of 2 days, a realtor can all of a sudden be transformed into some sort of a super negotiator? I think not! Being a powerful negotiator is a lifetime learned skill, and is not something you can learn in 2 days from an online course. Give me a break!

Dec 02, 2015 06:38 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Yes, I have... at a certain point it doesn't bring enough value to keep spending the money.

Dec 02, 2015 08:22 PM
Rainmaker
911,448
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

I didn't renew my CDPE or CDRS. No one ever cared what they were or what they meant.

Dec 02, 2015 08:04 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Debbie. I had given up my designations a long time ago, I just didn't see the benefit for the cost. I don't recall ever losing a mortgage client as a result.

Dec 02, 2015 05:07 PM
Rainmaker
530,966
Gary Coles (International Referrals)
Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV
Latin America Real Estate

I think the fees are too high.  I learned lot as I went to the classes  - often more from networking with other students.

Dec 02, 2015 12:01 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Debbie, I have.  While I value the training you get obtaining the designation, I'm not sure they are worth a lot beyond that.

Dec 02, 2015 10:24 AM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

I planned to complete some designations this next year.  Once I found out you had to pay a fee to renew I'm thinking otherwise.  I still will take the classes but I agree if there is no value, why keep them.  Once you learn you have the knowledge.  The general public had no idea. 

Dec 02, 2015 10:05 AM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I avoid the designations where you have to pay a yearly fee. So I haven't had to think about this. 

Dec 02, 2015 10:02 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

I earned a few and let them go. They did nothing for me. I'd rather take the money and apply it to practical training, i.e. negotiation, lead generation, staging.

Dec 02, 2015 09:41 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

I would keep the CRS , because it is the Leader in ROI Referrals !!!

Dec 02, 2015 09:08 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Debbie,

As we spend time with agents, I have not heard any results from the designations or the dues paid...You alread have the knowledge, why do you have to pay dues for the privilege of the letters?  A

Dec 02, 2015 08:59 AM
Rainer
150,416
Michael Thacker - Re/Max Real Estate Center - Louisville
Re/Max Real Estate Center - The Thacker Group - Louisville, KY
Your best friend who just happens to be a Realtor

I will ask a simple question, even before reading other replies....have you seen ROI on having them? 

Dec 02, 2015 08:27 AM
Ambassador
1,453,069
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I don't believe in the alphabet soup that follows a name.  It actually does the reverse for me; it makes me wonder why they're so lacking in confidence that they feel the need to tack that nonsense onto their signature or tagline?

Love the knowledge gained, hate the annual dues!

Dec 02, 2015 07:59 AM
Rainmaker
1,731,203
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

I've thought about this Debbie Reynolds ....just not sure it really helps ....Nice question!

Dec 02, 2015 07:42 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I don't have any and I never knew there was a fee tokeep them.  I never saw the importance and now I see even less

Dec 02, 2015 07:14 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

It depends on the type of designation.  For real estate designations, I have sometimes simply taken the course for the content, had the designation for the included period of time but did not renew it.  A designation needs to have value to you in order to renew it.

Dec 02, 2015 07:14 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Less about the letters than the education and referrals involved, how are they paying off for you?

Dec 10, 2017 10:31 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Debbie Reynolds assess your 2014-2015 transactions and see if any of them materialized because of this designation and see how much you invested for the year. If ROI is good, keep it - or else....

(I did let go a couple....)

Dec 05, 2015 03:57 AM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Debbie - Yes, I have given up several designations because of the annual fees. I don't mind getting the education, but see no reason to have to continue to pay for that year after year.

Dec 04, 2015 01:24 PM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

Yes!

Dec 03, 2015 09:06 AM
Rainmaker
1,503,048
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I don't se any value in obtaining them to begin with.  They look to be primarily about getting your money out of your bank account and into NAR's.

Dec 03, 2015 05:21 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

I have a lot of designations and yes have dropped a few.

Don't know why anyone would think that a consumer must know what the designation means before it will make a difference.  

I don't know what my doctors designations mean but I do know that he has advanced eduction, and that give me more confidence.

NAR studies show that agents with designations do more business and make more money.  I know for a fact that I have been selected over agents with no advanced education.  

I rarely have a problem with a listing agent that has a lot of designations and when I look give a referral, I do prefer agents that have taken the time to learn.

Eve

Dec 03, 2015 02:23 AM
Rainer
45,957
Andy Madrid
Hawaii Coast Realty, LLC - Kailua-Kona, HI
Expertise, Professionalism, and Service

I did not renew my CDPE designation and as most have said, the public doesn't understand or care.  It could be a small value proposition when meeting with a potential seller at a listing presentation but only as a reference.

Dec 03, 2015 01:07 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I would like to do the same. 

Dec 03, 2015 12:35 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Yes - CRS and CRB are "on hiatus"...

Dec 02, 2015 10:54 PM
Rainmaker
1,662,036
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

I honestly don't think the public cares about the ABC's after our names. I am not paying for them. 

Dec 02, 2015 10:33 PM
Rainmaker
4,883,260
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

The ones I have there is no renewal fee.  If there were I would probably drop both of them.

Dec 02, 2015 09:51 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

The fees go to the councils that oversee the designations. Some offer training and others send newsletters. I think you are right the knowledge is what is important and I have that. Keeping the letters is not.

Dec 02, 2015 09:11 PM
Rainmaker
4,334,347
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

The general public has no idea what those designations are and I have only obtained them if it was beneficial to my business.

Dec 02, 2015 08:38 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

I do not have this problem. No fees for mine.

Dec 02, 2015 05:57 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I haven't personally, but my ex-Broker gave them all up.  Said it was too expensive since she was no longer practicing real estate.

Dec 02, 2015 01:28 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I do not see much value, but I'm going to keep them anyway. 

Dec 02, 2015 11:30 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,321
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Yes. I even took em all off the wall, except my CCSS - and my CCIM, when I finally get pinned.

Dec 02, 2015 08:29 AM
Rainer
57,189
Jack Gerbehy
Egg Harbor Township, NJ

 With property management there where hurtles that came with designations that you would need to do said job or to get you to the next level.... going forward and becoming a Realtor, I cant not justify cost and yearly fees  

Dec 02, 2015 07:35 AM