Last week a friend asked me what all the letters and abbreviations were after my name after I emailed him. For reference, my email signature looks like this:
Brian block, Esq., REALTOR / Attorney
ABR, CRS, ePRO, GRI, SRES
Block Real Estate Group, LLC
So, here is an explanation of all these designations:
Esq. – It’s short for Esquire. In the US it can generally be assumed that when “Esq.” appears on business cards or stationery, the man or woman thus identified is a member of the bar. I am a Virginia licensed attorney and a member of the Virginia Bar.
APR – abbreviation of accredited buyer’s representative. To achieve this designation, real estate agents must complete and pass a full two-day course exam on all aspects of buyer representation and document a qualified number of buyer transactions. ABRs maintain their membership in the Council of Real Estate Buyers’ Agents and stay updated on important developments in the buyer’s agency.
CRS – abbreviation for Certified Residential Specialist. This is like the real estate industry graduate degree. Less than 4% of real estate agents nationwide have earned the CRS designation through significant experience, rigorous educational requirements (more than 60 hours of class), and demonstrated sales volume. The training involves all aspects of real estate with a strong focus on technology and customer service. CRS real estate agents can attend the annual Sell-a-Bration conference to continue their education and learn from other experienced CRS real estate agents.
e-PRO – indicates a professional internet real estate agent and means that the real estate agent has completed extensive training on the use of the web and is prepared to employ the latest techniques and services for the benefit of clients.
GRI – abbreviation for Graduate Realtor Institute. To earn the GRI designation, real estate agents must complete more than 90 hours of specialized real estate courses. A real estate agent who earns the GRI designation has demonstrated their commitment to the industry and to customer service.
MR – abbreviation for Seniors Real Estate Specialist. This specialized course of study focuses on real estate topics that are important to seniors, including retirement, reverse mortgages, downsizing, healthcare, and IRAs. After completing this course, an SRES real estate agent is especially well suited to helping seniors and their families with their specialized real estate needs.
When choosing a real estate agent to help you with your real estate needs, it is important to look at their designations and ask about their continuing education and commitment to keeping up with the latest news and practices.