There are many certifications and designations that Realtors® can earn from a variety of sources like the National Association of Realtors, The Colorado Association of Realtors, The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing and even through national brands like Coldwell Banker. Certifications and designations include Accredited Buyer Representative, Certified Residential Specialist, Graduate Realtor Institute, Quality Service Certified, Senior Real Estate Specialist, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and Recreation and Resort Specialist. I am always striving to improve myself and the skills that I provide for my clients and debated that if there was only one certification that would help educate me and improve the services I offer, what would it be?
The real estate transaction can be very complex starting with just property types alone. It is much different to buy or sell a ranch or farm that it is to sell a single-family home. Vacant ground has many options that must be thought about and worked through and varies widely from condominiums. The roles that Realtors perform are also varied and we are looked upon to be experts in marketing properties for sale, crafting contracts that will best represent our clients, making sure each i is dotted and t is crossed, negotiating with other parties to try to create win/win outcomes and counseling clients to help them gain clarity in what they want and to any material risks or benefits of a transaction.
I have other certifications, but the single most important skill I can master to help my clients is negotiation. That is why I went the extra step to gain the accreditation of a Master Certified Negation Expert (MCNE). The MCNE designation is the premier negotiation designation in real estate. Earning the MCNE designation demonstrates that you have invested considerable effort to bring your negotiation skills to the highest professional level in real estate. In addition to completing the 2-day Certified Negotiation Expert Course you must complete the 1-day Mastering Email Negotiations in Real Estate course, the 1-day Advanced Negotiation Techniques for Listing Agents course and both the Negotiating Across Generations in Real Estate and Cultural Factors in Real Estate Negotiations which are 3-hour classes.
My goal is to add a new certification or designation each year and I will write an article later about what I am currently working on, but the Master Certified Negotiation Expert designation is the one that will offer the greatest benefit to my clients. If you, a friend or family member are thinking about buying or selling a home one of the things you should do is to make sure the Realtor® you choose has the skills necessary to represent your best interests in a real estate transaction.