Curious to know what benefits you have received from obtaining your ABR designation. Please post and discuss them.

Thank you,
Joe

That's a touchy subject with me. I attended three (3) solid days of Class for the purpose of obtaining the Certified Buyer Representative Designation back in 1999 when the NAR recognized the CBR Designation. Then they decided to recognize the ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative).

Shortly after that date, Dianna Brouthers sold the rights to the CBR Course to RealNet Learning Services of Virginia. NAR has only one a Buyer Agent Designation that it recognizes which is now the ABR. One of the requirements of carrying the ABR designation is that a REALTOR also maintain membership in REBAC at a cost of $110 a year. I could display an ABR; but to do so legitimately, I'm supposed to pay that $110 per year . . . . which I refuse to do. Others on this Forum may speak to the value to be derived from being a Member of REBAC.

While the training for the CBR was much more extensive than that required for the ABR, I don't display either of those Designations. Luckily, I do have some of that training still in my head where I occasionally put it to use. I find that all of these Designations are mostly recognized only by other REALTORS® while the General Public will more readily recognize my MBA or MALD if I chose to publicize them.

Dale your right about recognition if I had an MBA like yourself I would display that!!!

None that I know of.

it was just easy to get as I had most of the elective classes done and realized that all I had to take was the required course online, took me about 2 hours.

If I were you, I would pursue the CRS designation or your brokers license.

There are marketing materials available, REBAC advertises to educate on the designation, etc. Check out the REBAC site.

The largest benefit of these things are being able to show your clients that you are dedicated to voluntarily pursuing education in your field.

What is MALD?

Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy.

I bristle at the thought of paying $110 / year to have the "right" to display a designation that I worked for and earned and already paid a considerable amount for...on top of my dues and mls fees. This is why I have not pursued it.

I think it's just another gimmick derived to suck more money from REALTORS, and yeah, I doubt that many customers know exactly what all that alphabet soup after people's names mean.

Okay so I may get some leads from other members REBAC. I get leads from Active Rain and Twitter (from other agents who have buyers in my area) and it doesn't cost me a red cent.

Do alumni of universities have to pay a yearly fee to be allowed do display their MBA and BA and BS degrees?

That is such a grand idea. Let's suggest that every College and University Re-Certify its Graduates every 4 years as having retained the "knowledge" that they supposedly had when those Degrees were originally conferred . . . . kind of like a Certified Pre-Owned Acura or Lexus. Or you could just cough up a $5000 "In Lieu Of" Fee to avoid having to be Re-Certified ?

In either case, I would hope that this idea would put an end to these Alumni Associations calling me several times a year demanding contributions. They are as persistent as a Pack of Coyotes; and once you give, you are marked on their data base as "easy prey" with the Scent of Blood. Then they call every month. I am quite thankful for Caller I.D. which now shows right on my TV so I can avoid the calls of the poor students that are put in the Boiler Room to make these calls; but that means they call every two weeks until I pick up the phone ! Thanks for the idea !

You know me, I'm always full of great ideas...

Speaking on Numerous calls from various organization soliciting financial support.

I advise the caller that our Board of Directors are the ones who determine which worthy organization they will support in the forthcoming fiscal year, and for the caller to submit their request on their letterhead and it will be presented to the Board of Directors along with all the other requests.

For some reason, I have never received any of their letters.

Important Notice: This information is provided as basic educational information by the author and is not a substitute for the advice of an expert and/or the advice of a lawyer. There is NO representation as to legality, accuracy, correctness of the herein information and the reader is strongly urged to consult a lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction to ensure accuracy before acting on this information

I know this is an older thread. I too am considering getting my ABR designation. Not so much for the letters after my name, but for the learning. Anyone who has taken the class, did you take away a lot from it that you felt was beneficial?

Check your PM (the little blinking envelope up top next to 'my stuff').

And to add to that, I not only enjoy the benefits you get afterwards (newletters, marketing materials, webinars, etc.) but I really did take alot away from the class that wasn't covered in my state mandated courses - it goes far more in depth and it is ALL good information.

Don't screw up like I did, though, and take an elective that isn't good for another designation. Take one of the ones that gives you credit towards your SRES or Second Home or something

I took it four years ago and found it extremely useful. One particular reason for wanting the designation was that I'd recently struck out on my own as an exclusive buyer broker, which means I now no longer take listings but work solely for buyers.
What the ABR course makes abundantly clear is the essential differences involved in treating potential purchasers as clients as opposed to customers. It's invaluable information if you're simply working as a buyer agent (probably as a member of a team headed by a key listing agent), but if you're on your own (or working for an exclusive buyer brokerage) it's fundamental learning you cannot afford to be without.

When I take an accreditation course, most of the time, I do it for the education and not necessarily if the public understands the designation I carry. It's more for me than my clients. But I do feel that in the end, they (my clients) do get better service because I'm better educated. Win-win situation.

I agree that I dont like the annual fees I have to pay.