An informational site for CRS members, and candidates for the CRS, in the Southern California CRS Chapter region (from Santa Barbara to San Diego). Members and non-members of the SoCalCRS Chapter are encouraged to ask questions, post comments, and become active in our Chapter. We hope you will enjoy learning more about our CRS Chapter and the value of being a Chapter member.
This program contains new words, dialogues, scripts and methods to separate even the most seasoned agents from the crowd. Gain an edge for your listings and for your
marketing with this one-of-a-kind presentation on new pricing techniques. Learn the difference between "pricing" and "positioning" and the true difference between
"comparables" and "competition." Agents around the country have increased their listing inventory, decreased their days on market and increased their income after attending this powerful, fun and enlightening course.
On July 1, 2009 we will sponsor a 1-day class on Pricing Your Listings in Today's Market. This class is open to all and should be a sell-out. Folks using the methods in this class are having tremendous success, and you can too!
Stay tuned for more information on the LOCATION, PRICE (a great value) and other details.
Social Media 101 – Regular Pace (if new to social media):
Dates: Mondays, February 16 thru May 16, 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. ON-LINE
Cost $49 per month for this SoCal CRS® Sponsored Webinar (normally $99/month)
·Learn about the value of blogging for your business and how to set one up
·Understand what social media marketing is and how it will help you build your business in today’s economy
·Learn effective ways to build massive social networks and create effective referral systems
·Learn how to use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media tools to expand your on-line network
·Learn how to be a “hub” for breaking real estate news in your community and enhance your on-line real estate presence
Social Media 101 – Firehose Pace (for those with Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn experience already):
Dates: Tuesdays, beginning February 17 thru May 17, 9a.m.- 10 a.m. ON-LINE
Cost $49 per month for this SoCal CRS® Sponsored Webinar (normally $99/month)
NOTE: You can attend both classes, or any combination you wish, during the month for the same fee for additional learning or to accommodate your schedule
WHERE:FREE Access ON-LINE from home or office using GoToMeeting.com. Specific logon details will be sent to you each week. Classes are recorded for later review.
Our chapter is pleased to offer a $50 CRS course rebate for all Chapter members in good standing. If you are working towards your designation you may use this for one 2-day course. If you already have the CRS designation you can use this rebate for one-2-day class to refresh/increase your knowledge.
ELIGIBILITY:
You must be a SoCal CRS Chapter member before signing up for and attending a CRS course (rebate cannot be applied to previous courses or the course at which a new member joins the chapter) - so if you are not yet a SoCal CRS member, join NOW then you can use the rebate at your next class.
Rebate is good for one 2-day course per calendar year.
Course must be a SoCal CRS Chapter 2-day sponsored course (NOTE: not ALL 2-day courses are sponsored by the chapter - they may be sponsored by the local Association only). Please contact the SoCal CRS Chapter prior to signing up for a course to insure the course is eligible. Under no circumstances can the SoCal CRS Chapter give a rebate for a course the chapter does not sponsor.
You may verify your membership in the Chapter and course eligibility by calling SoCal CRS at 949-766-2901, 888-277-0818, or by email.
Student's attendance and completion of the CRS course will be verified.
Please allow 4-6 weeks to process your rebate.
There is a special form to use that you can obtain from the SoCal CRS Office. You will need to pay the full amount to the local Association for the class you will be attending since the local Association does not give you the rebate.
I have taken 4 of the CRS classes so far (to complete my CRS) and have found them to be some of the best real estate training I have encountered. Core requirements for the CRS include 2 or 3 2-day classes, depending on the track you choose, plus 4 additional units (e.g., a 2-day course is 2 units) that may be met in a number of ways, such as taking one other course plus having an ABR (2 units), as noted in the CRS website. Keep in mind that while most courses are 2-day on-site, there are alternative methods for some courses, including CRD ROM and On-Line.
I strongly encourage you to take classes, to either start or finish your CRS designation OR continue your education as a CRS. I also recommend taking classes in an area other than where you live and practice real estate. The main reason for this is you will be able to network with, and learn from, others who are either currently CRS members or who are working on their CRS. Plus these relationships will more likely lead to referral possibilities in the future (others in your board area are probably not going to refer buyers and sellers to you, unless your board is quite large and you work distinctly different areas).
With the market changes that have occurred, having the expertise to market and sell a home effectively, and develop a competitive edge over other agents, is critical. Likewise, as buyers become more savvy about their options, and with the market conditions they face, having a well-informed CRS agent is in their best interest. The CRS courses, especially those centered on buyer (CRS 202) and seller (CRS 201) strategies, can help you make you their agent of choice. Check out the course schedule and make the commitment in your 2007 business plan to begin, or complete, YOUR CRS designation.
I decided to earn my CRS designation just a year ago for a number of reasons.
First, education has always been important to me...perhaps instilled by my parents. Guess that's why, in part, I decided to go to graduate school in psychology (that's a story for another time). I had heard great things about the classes that are offered and felt that it could contribute much to my knowledge as a REALTOR. I have found the classes that I took (referral, technology, listing strategies, buyer strategies) to be terrific learning, with great instructors. Our industry has been criticized for a long time about the quality of many of its practitioners, and many agents themselves feel that the licensing process in many states is too simple, and that many who practice real estate are not qualified to do so. I feel the CRS classes go a long way toward advancing the skills and knowledge of those who earn the designation. The classes I have taken provided me with substantial knowledge and techniques to better serve my buyer and seller clients, Adan to further my real estate business. With the changes that have occurred in the market and the use of technology it it critical that our classes continue to be modified and updated, to reflect current conditions and issues.
I also saw a value in the networking potential, among an elite group of practitioners nationally - yet another way to learn more about the business and share ideas with REALTORS from other states, in different markets, and with other issues. The annual Sell-a-Bration Convention is a great example of the networking, and continuing education, possibilities.
Finally, the opportunity to share referrals, in both directions, is enormous, and the many stories of CRS members who have found others to refer to or who have received referrals, is testimony to the success of the CRS referral network. I have a particular interest in relocation, having done so 4 times myself and from assisting many others move around the country.