Question:
I am a new real estate agent and have noticed that many of the agents in my office advertise their GRI credentials. What exactly is this designation and do I need one?
Answer:
Many real estate agents promote their GRI designation in their advertising and on their personal business cards, and these credentials indicate that an agent has completed the Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) educational training. While this increased level of classroom training is not mandatory for a real estate agent to complete, the  skills and information taught can be very beneficial for a successful career in real estate. GRI courses include such topics as marketing, real estate law, business communications, and risk reduction, and these courses are much more comprehensive than your initial real estate training.
As a new agent, you may want to consider completing the GRI training, as a increased knowledge of the real estate business would be beneficial to you as begin your real estate career. The GRI designation can also be a helpful tool when marketing your skills against other real estate agents in your local area. Not only can the GRI designation show that you have completed an advanced level of study, but also show others that you are serious about your career in a real estate.
The GRI courses are offered by your state Association of Realtors and consist of 90 hours of course time. Most Association boards will let you take a few courses at a time, as opposed to taking a few weeks away from work to complete the entire 90 hours of training.
Tags: Association of Realtors, career in real estate, GRI designation, real estate agent, real estate training