I just finished attending the C. R. S. Conference today.  I even arrived a couple of days early in order to attend an extra course put on by an acclaimed instructor who operates the largest Brokerage in Colorado. 

C. R. S. stands for Certified Residential Specialist.  The C. R. S. program is a program administered by the Council of Residential Specialists and is available to all REALTORS.  Upon completion of the program, which has both educational and performance requirements, one becomes a Certified Residential Specialist.  Only the most dedicated REALTORS earn the Certified Residential Specialist designation.  I will finish the requirements of this program by the end of March.

This year's Conference brought people from all over the country to Honolulu to share ideas, methods, and practices in an intensive two day program.  Fortunately the weather was cool and wet, which made it that much easier to spend time indoors.  I am eager to get home and implement what I learned.

Next year's conference, which Sharnee and I both plan to attend, will be held in San Francisco.  Next up for us is the RE/MAX International Conference in early March in Las Vegas, which is always a great educational opportunity.

Education is an ongoing process throughout life. 

Sharnee and I completed a 20 hour course required by the Real Estate Commission related to our Broker and Associate Broker licenses this week.  This is in addition to a 20 hour course we completed at the end of 2007 required of all Licensees in Alaska by the Commission.

Earlier this month I completed a 16 hour course from the Institute For Luxury Home Marketing and successfully passed the exam with a score of 97.2%.  In the last twelve months I completed the Institute's performance requirements and I have been awarded the designation of Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (C. L. H. M. S.).

For the past several months I have been working towards the Certified Residential Specialist (C. R. S.) designation and am now two courses away from completion and expect to earn this designation by the end of February.  I head off to a five day educational conference a week from today put on by the Council of Residential Specialists.

Only the very top few real estate professionals take the time to put forth the effort and money in education to improve themselves for the sake of their clients by investing in advanced education courses and training.  Not by accident we are more successful and have more repeat business than others in our profession.

• Site selection. Prefer infill development instead of a new subdivision in a far-flung new suburb that gobbles wetlands and displaces animals.
• Energy-efficient products. Choose Energy Star appliances, double-paned windows, low-flush toilets, and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Spray foam insulation. Seal the home with insulation that doesn’t let the heat or cooled air leak out.
• Sustainable wood flooring. Select flooring certified by Forest Stewardship Council, which protects forests by managing the amount of wood harvested annually.
• Locally made products. Buy products made less than 250 miles away to reduce transportation costs. Granite, for instance, is generally imported from afar.
• Nontoxic paint. Use paint that is low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — chemicals that evaporate into the atmosphere. Look for Green Seal certified brands.

The Gratitude Campaign