Advantages of the Certified Residential Specialist Designation

For more than 30 years, David C. Witt has built a reputation for quality as a licensed Realtor. Currently with Realty Professionals Heartland agency in Blue Springs, Missouri, David C. Witt has been designated a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS).

Since 1977, more that 35,000 agents have earned the CRS credential. Holding a CRS accents one’s professionalism and opens the door to nationwide referrals. The CRS confers several benefits through its sponsor, the Residential Real Estate Council (RRC). 

Those who earn CRS designation can network through their state RRC chapters. In addition, they can subscribe to the Residential Specialist and At Home publications, and join the Qualified Leads Program. All holders appear in the RRC’s print and web directories.

The CRS allows agents to receive discounted insurance from USI Affinity and save as much as 50 percent on RRC webinars and recordings. Other benefits include professionally designed business cards, fact sheets, and sign riders.

To qualify for CRS, agents in the United States have outstanding sales volume and complete several RRC courses. In the 60/30/30 plan, applicants must have made 60 transactions or sold $30 million in three years. For the Pro Program, they must have been a licensed real estate agent for 10 or more years, and have at least 150 total transactions, or have averaged $1 million sold annually with a minimum of 40 transactions. Different criteria apply for other nations.

Why You Should Strongly Consider Avoiding Dual Agency Arrangements

David C. Witt represents both sellers and buyers as a broker sales agent with Realty Professionals Heartland, LLC, in Blue Springs, Missouri. Drawing on more than three decades of experience in the real estate industry, David C. Witt continues to function as a top-rated agent within the local market, exclusively representing repeat clients and referrals.

Dual agency is a real estate term used to describe an agent who is representing both the buyer and seller in a property transaction. From either party’s perspective, particularly the buyer, the concept of dual agency might be somewhat unnerving, as it can seem as if the agent would be motivated to move the property at all costs in order to receive a double commission on the property. While industry bylaws and federal legislation protects buyers and sellers against exploitation, there are a number of factors to consider before entering into such an arrangement.

The drawbacks of dual agency are, in many cases, fairly obvious. Real estate agents in this position are legally prohibited from pushing for the absolute best deal either client can receive, as it would negatively impact the opposing client. While it is advisable to seek out an agent who has extensive experience representing both buyers and sellers, the vast majority of clients are better off working with a real estate professional who is working solely on their behalf.

The benefits of dual agency are relatively minimal and circumstantial by comparison. In some cases, agents may charge a smaller fee for services, as they are already benefiting from dual commission. More notably, a dual agency arrangement can facilitate more direct communication between clients, which can be particularly advantageous for sales occurring between familiar parties, such as family members. With that said, both buyers and sellers are strongly advised to seek out a knowledgeable agent dedicated to their desires, rather than an agent who is attempting to sere conflicting needs at the same time.

Most Americans Believe It's Time to Think About Selling

David C. Witt is a licensed and successful real estate agent with more than three decades of experience, and has served as a broker sales agent with Realty Professionals Heartland LLC, in Blue Springs, Missouri for the past 10 years. Committed to expanding his expertise and keeping up with current trends in the real estate industry, David C. Witt is a long-time member of the National Association of Realtors.

According to a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors in September 2018, more than three quarters of Americans think that now is the time to hit the market and sell a home. In contrast, only 45 percent of Americans think buying is a good idea, down from 49 percent in the second quarter of 2018. The long trend of growth in real estate value and home prices is one of the major factors driving confidence in selling according to NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. He says that consumers may sense that the growth curve could soon become stagnant after such a long upturn, informing their opinion that now is the time to sell.