Not all real estate professionals have the same level of experience or dedication.

Realtors who go to the extra effort of putting in the time and experience and expense to acquire designations are not only showing special interest in their business, they are demonstrating a desire to achieve a higher professional image in the eyes of the public. It is these Realtors who have more experience in real estate specialties such as buyers' agency, relocation, property management, and more.

That is not to say that you wouldn't be as well served by someone who is new to the field, or a veteran who doesn't have extra credentials, but the chances are greater that a higher degree of professionalism will be demonstrated by someone who has gone the extra mile.

For one thing, people such as the members of the RS Council (CRS) tend to make more money, have more years of experience, experience fewer complaints and get higher prices for sellers than other agents.

The members of the Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council have special expertise in buyer's agency through educational and networking programs sponsored by the organization.

Members of NAR affiliate organizations and real estate industry trade organizations are able to bring networking skills to each other which are invaluable to consumers. With a quick e-mail, a CRS can contact another CRS and get the exact information you may need for your transaction. They refer clients to each other in relocation situations, as "insurance" that the client will be cared for by the same standard as the agent would him/herself.

The following list is provided courtesy of RE/MAX International, and it will help you understand which agents have the special education to best suit your needs.

Published: March 15, 1999

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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.