The Value of Designations

Those letters after your real estate agent’s name (his or her designation) can be telling. They indicate what sort of accreditation they’ve gone through on their path to becoming your agent. Often, they also mean that you’re getting someone who knows what they’re doing. About 400,000 agents in the U.S. have designations, and these people account for the 6–7 million residential real estate transactions each year. Some of these designations come after just a few hours of online training. Others can only be had after years of experience, big-time qualifications and a large fee. Some of them are geared toward different areas, like relocation, diversity or technology.
Here are a few of the common ones you might see if you were looking to buy or sell this home (below) in San Francisco, according to California Associaton of Realtors (CAR).

Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) – This designation comes after a two-day course that prepares real estate professionals to represent clients looking to buy.
e-Pro Certification – For real estate pros who can tell their clients everything they need to know about the business technology tools for buying or selling. It comes after a 7-hour course.
Graduate REALTOR Institute (GRI) – The foundation course for all further advanced real estate designations. It’s considered the most comprehensive training course in the country.
Green Designation – Covers green building principles, and makes the professional the expert on what’s good for the environment, and the financial benefits of green property. It comes after two days of live lecture and a six-hour online elective.
Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) –  This course trains pros to meet the needs of older clients, whether in refinancing, relocating or selling.
Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource (SFR) Certification – This is for agents looking to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales and to help buyers see opportunities in foreclosures and short sales.
 
And here are a few others you might find:
At Home with Diversity (AHWD) – For agents who have been trained in sensitivity to a wide range of cultural issues. It opens them up to business with people across different cultures and backgrounds.
Counselor of Real Estate (CRE) –  A designation awarded to a real estate pro by his or her peers for an exemplary level of knowledge and expertise.
Master Sales Professional (MSP) – This comes from the Master Sales Association only after a pro completes a variety of courses, hits milestones in sales performance and completes mentoring requirements.
Property Marketing Expert (PME) – For agents who have passed the test as property marketing gurus.