You may have noticed the "alphabet soup" after some of our agent's names and wondered, "What do they mean?" Well, I did too when I first saw them. Each one is a different certification or designation the agent has achieved – classes or seminars and tests that was taken to further our skills as real estate professionals and members of the National Association of Realtors®. Here are some of the designations I have and what they mean to me, and how they can help you: ABR – Accredited Buyer Representative. This was a two-day class that helped to hone my skills in helping buyers navigate the process of purchasing real estate. To receive the designation I had to successfully represent 5 different buyers, complete 16 hours of class time and take additional certification classes. What this means for both buyers and sellers is that I have gained additional skills and approaches to help successfully negotiate the process. MRP- Military Relocation Professional. This certification was a six-hour class with test, additional webinars and successfully represent a Veteran in a sale. VA loans have lots of in's and out's and do's and don'ts. I have also taken a class with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® for MOM – Military on the Move. I am prepared to help Veterans find homes that will not only meet their wants and needs but also to qualify for the VA loan requirements. PSA – Pricing Strategy Advisor. This class was a six-hour class with a test and webinars. My list to sell ratio for my career has consistently been higher than the state average. This year it was 98.5%. And that means for my sellers I have helped guide them to not only price their property but also to help negotiate to within 1.5% on average of the asking price. This will help me to not only price a property to sell quicker, it will also help guide buyers to negotiate a fair market price or better. RENE – Real Estate Negotiation Expert. This certification was a two-day class. This helps me to successfully negotiate with techniques and options to help either buyers or sellers to get the deal that makes the most sense for them. RSPS – Resort and Second-home Property Specialist certification. This six-hour class required passing a test and taking several webinars. One of my favorite parts of where we live is that there is so much that brings people to our area. And helping them not only learn about why we have such a beautiful place to visit but also to live. Purchasing a second home or a home in a resort area has a special set of things to consider and to navigate. In the end, I believe that by continually furthering my education, and seeing my fellow agents achieving designations as well strengthens what we can offer to both our clients and customers. We have a strong, capable team prepared to assist you!