With years of experience as a successful real estate agent, I'm still always looking for ways to do more for my clients. There are lots of courses I can take, and I do, to keep up to date. There are plenty of designations that seem like so much Alphabet Soup to most people outside real estate.
But once in a while something really new comes along, and I'm able to offer my clients more choices. That's the whole idea behind the Accredited Consultant in Real Estate (ACRE) designation – choices about what services you receive when buying or selling real estate. And I'm very proud to be the first in Baltimore to earn the ACRE certification.
An experienced real estate professional knows the market, knows what works, and knows how to sell a home. My clients get the benefit of all this experience and knowledge, even and especially if I work with them but we never get to a transaction. That's the way it's been in traditional commission-based real estate.
But sometimes, someone isn't looking to sell their home and just needs some good solid advice - how do I help that person? That's where ACRE allows me to consult on an hourly basis so that the person gets the needed help, and I am compensated for the time and expertise I've spent years developing.
As an Accredited Consultant in Real Estate, I can help with objective advice about:
- Deciding whether to move or improve
- Deciding if someone is ready to buy or sell their home
- What an owner can do to save money when selling a home without using a discount broker and getting discount service.
Or suppose a client wants help selling their home but needs to know exactly what it will cost? An ACRE consultant has the option of setting a flat fee for services no matter how long it takes. And of course the ACRE-certified professional can always offer the traditional commission arrangement if that is the best choice for you.
ACRE is a whole new approach to real estate offering more choices, and that's something everyone can appreciate.
I knew a farmer who stepped on a rake and had a couple of acres
Sounds like an interesting approach. I would be interested in seeing your success curve
Dave
Margaret we need an extra acre to build on out here. Could you come and visit soon?
Jim
Well done Margaret. Diversification is a very good thing. I believe one of the ladies that is involved with ACRE lives in Orlando. She has sent me several emails related to this. Maybe I need to pay attention.
BTW, I'm in the office all day Thursday and Friday if you want to talk.
Dave, Thanks for stopping by. I will keep you posted.
Jim, Ha, I am on my way.
Bryant,
Paula Bean is the ACRE in Orlando.
Will let you know about a Thursday chat.
Margaret - will be curious to hear more about how this works for you. I know a couple of ACREs but they seem to have a hard time doing anything with it or able to specifically address how it helps their business. I would guess being proactive about it is the key.
Jeff
Jeff, I am just getting involved with Acre and the coaching program. Like anything new in RE there is a learning curve. The real benefit is the ACRE council and all its members is the sharing and learning from each other.
You might want to read Mollie Wasserman's Ripping the Roof Off Real Estate
Margaret, Why don't you look into taking the course?
Think you would really enjoy learning more about consulting, just another way of making good use of your vast real estate experience.
The website, like the program, is evolving. Check out www.TheConsultingTimes.com to get an idea of the direction it's headed. Regarding the coaching...It's like anything else in life. We get out of it what we put into it. That's why the program includes a year of coaching with the original course fee. Taking the course and passing the test only gets a "foot in the door". It's the interaction between the participants, their synergy, their questions and challenges and successes that provide much of "the beef" of the program. Between the information on the Coaching Exchange blog, the teleseminars, the new ACRE Game (ala Joeann Fossland), the tools shared in the document library, etc., there is Lots of coaching. You just need to jump in!
JudiB
Gary...Check out the site mentioned above ... www.TheConsultingTimes.com to give you a taste. It has drop downs for Professionals as well as for Consumers, as well as additional information. And as Margaret said, you might want to get Mollie Wasserman's book Ripping the Roof off Real Estate. As provocative as the name sounds, it's really just a very honest look at our profession and it's filled with a ton of details that the consumer doesn't understand about how our "traditional" system actually works. I've been a traditional agent for 25 years, and frankly, I think it should be required reading for agents and consumers alike!
JudiB
Judi, Looks like we both had the same advice for Karen.
Gary, Thanks for stopping by. Judi just gave you great advice.
I would highly advise at least checking into it, it is a peaceful and honest way to make a living and get paid for work that you normally do free.
Since I'm in Orlando (along with BB) I'm doing most of my consulting work now with upside down sellers and short sales.
<b></b>btw - Margaret, beware of BB, have you seen some of his stuff on UTube? LOL, between him and TLW you may end up pinned to a tree and shot at ;-)
Seriously, I LOVE BB's posts and video's, it is what we want to say or do with most of our clients - but don't. Consulting allows you to do this and get paid for all those free cma's, move/improve, tax, pmi, shortsales and reo's that we spend so much time on but make no $$$.
YOU should all definitely check into it, it costs nothing to look at and ponder, and you can sign up for the newsletter to learn more if you are the analytical type. http://www.TheConsultingTimes.com
Since I have still not received my 'not for profit' paperwork as of yet (( sigh, the government works SO slowly!) and can not do charitable work, I switched to consulting years ago. Not that some don't choose to work the traditional model, but it is their choice, and they listen and believe you more.
btw - BB, you still owe me a lunch and if you actually 'pony up' I have a copy of Mollie's Book <Ripping The Roof Off Real Estate" and you'd love it, it's sort of like that contract you pinned to a tree and TLW shot it.
I'll bring one with me for you, but you and TLW have to buy lunch at that place you like so much ;-)
Paula, Sounds like you, BB and TLW will have a wonderful time together! Make sure you post a blog on your get together.
Hi Karen,
You make a good point...we all do LEARN differently. In the next couple of months there are going to be significant changes on ACREs online presence...and these changes may certainly help. We're migrating The Exchange over to http://www.TheConsultingTimes.com. There are changes in the formatting and access to different topics that you may find helpful when they happen. But for now (and so as not to bore everyone else with our exchange) I'll email you off list to see what we can do to help make the resources that we have available to you more responsive to your needs. We really DO want you to get the most out of the coaching portion of your investment!
JudiB
Karen, Thanks for stopping by.. Judi, Thanks for addressing Karen's concern.
Linda, Thanks! You always have the most wonderful things to say!!
Margaret,
The tools and information of ACRE offer options for agents and customers totally recommend checking out the book and designation. I did the course over a year ago and here is a link to my other endorsement of this on Active Rain
Teri Isner ACRE in Orlando
Teri,
Good ACRE presentation . This designation is growing because of statements like yours......." it offers a new insight on just how valuable your knowledge is and why we should stop giving away our services for free."
Interesting credential. I don't think anyone in my neck of the woods has it. CONGRATS.
Accredited Consultant in Real Estate
Casey, That would make it even more valuable to you.
Wow congratulations I guess, but I feel we have too many designations. I always say if you truly want to get rich create something and sell it to Realtors. They will buy anything if they feel like someone else on the food chain is going to be first.
Too many designations...take a look at this post Alphabet Soup - Those Letters After My Name...and the Two Letters You Don't See
As long as we are learning..nothing wrong with another set of letters.
Well said, Margaret!! Thankfully, three are those among us, like YOU, who are gratifield by learning and doing their utmost to elevate our ranks. The more we understand about servicing our clients and respecting our own time, the better for both client and profession. Thank you again for your fine post!
Judi, Were you able to listen in to hear Mollie speak about ACRE on Saturday's seminar? Here is the link just in case. A Waiting List for Clients! Saturday Morning's Teleseminar Was a Hit!
Margaret ~ Great information and a way to help people on a professional platform in consulting!
Carra, You will love ACRE. Wonderful talking with you today. Happy New Year!