“ABR®” stands for Accredited Buyer’s Representative. This is a designation offered by the National Association of Realtors®. Members can complete a 12-hour course along with other requirements to obtain this designation demonstrating that they have completed requirements that show they have an elevated level of knowledge and proficiency in working with home buyers.
NAR is currently subsidizing the cost of the ABR course through the end of 2024 so that any member can take this course at no cost (there are other costs associated with obtaining the designation).
As we move into an environment where more discussion is being held around buyers agents we must demonstrate our professionalism, expertise, and skill in guiding clients through the home-buying process. Potential clients are asking several questions such as:
- Is a buyer’s agent even necessary?
- What will they actually do for me?
- As a buyer do I have to pay my agent?
- As a seller do I have to pay the buyer’s agent?
- Why should I pay a buyer’s agent? Why is the fee so high?
We need to be able to address the questions, fears, and concerns with confidence. The ABR designation not only gives you a way to show that you have completed training and education above and beyond the basic licensing requirements, it will also give you the knowledge and tools to address these questions with confidence.
To get the most out of the course, you want an instructor who is not only a successful Realtor® but who is also a talented trainer. The curriculum is written and provided by NAR so there is a high level of consistency across classes, but the instructor’s job is to make it engaging.
A good instructor can motivate and inspire you to use the tools and paint a picture of how you can implement the information and resources into your real estate business. It is also a 12-hour class, and nobody wants to listen to a boring instructor for 12 hours. The instructor needs to know how to flex the curriculum, as allowed, to fit the needs of the audience.
Be sure to research the instructor whose class you plan to attend a little bit. See what their real estate business looks like (or looked like before if they have moved into full-time training), what other designations, certifications, or other professional development titles they hold, and what reviews are available.
The ABR® course (as with most NAR designations and certifications) is available in a few different formats. The main options are self-paced directly through NAR, in person, or live virtual (through Zoom in real-time). There are pros and cons to each option.
Self-paced courses allow you to take the course from anywhere and in any time arrangement that works for you (it does not need to be completed in one sitting and the time available for completion is usually very generous).
The virtual options offer location flexibility but not time flexibility. The benefit of virtual over self-paced is there are opportunities to ask questions, discuss the content, and collaborate with other students - albeit in a limited capacity.
In-person offers the advantage of maximum discussion and collaboration but also offers the least flexibility in time and location. One additional advantage of the scheduled (virtual or in-person) classes is that blocking it off in your calendar will often result in completing it quicker.
With the self-paced option, it is easy to push it to the bottom of your list until close to the deadline.
Ultimately all of the options will get you to the goal of obtaining your ABR Designation and will provide you with the same information, resources, and tools. You have to decide which option matches your learning style, schedule, and location or travel options.
The ABR® course is not the only requirement to obtain the ABR® designation. You will also need to complete an “elective” course as well as conduct five transactions as a buyer’s agent.
You can see the full details of the requirements to get the designation
here.
LeadingLane is offering several ABR® courses (in-person and virtual) between now and the end of 2024. All at no cost to NAR members.
Click the link for the course you would like below to register. If you would like to discuss scheduling a training for your office, association, or another group you can reach out to our Director of Training at
sabrina@leadinglaneco.com
