Realtor Designations - What do they mean?

Not much really. I don't go around advertising it or putting the initials after my name like a Doctor, but I do possess the accredited buyer representative designation, or ABR (See flashy logo).

I am a big believer in continuing education for Realtors. Real Estate is a profession and I am a professional. As such, I feel it's very important for me to continually update my knowledge regarding my business.
If your Realtor doesn't have some kind of designation, they're either so doggone busy buying and selling that they can't update their classroom knowledge or they're just plain too lazy to care. Where do you stop though? CRS? SRES? CIPS? GRI?
You take some classes, you pay some money, you get some more letters to add to the alphabet soup. I am proud of my Masters Degree in Marketing and Communication though. That took two years and a whole lot of time. I consider it a major differentiator too. I don't think anyone else has a post-graduate marketing degree. I have seen some MBAs though, kudos to them.
So if you are looking to buy a home this year, call me. I am an Accredited Buyer Representative. I have given the extra effort to educate myself and insure that I am representing your best interests as effectively as possible.
Obviously I think outside the box more than the next guy, that's why I have these websites and blogs. My saavy could save you money and hopefully put you at ease that you're working with a true professional.

Brewery District Kroger

I checked out the new Kroger off Front Street in the Brewery District recently. It's convenient for me to get to as a regular stop so I did my entire 'real' grocery shopping there. The total wasn't bad for the monthly big grocery bill. They had so many great specials that I bought more than I normally would have.I was impressed with the structure - it looks great outside and feels fine inside.I liked the wine selection and the beer selection was decent.I liked the market section that had everyday household and kitchen needs like pots and pans and utensils and essential furnishings--things you can't pick up just anywhere downtown except maybe a city center department store.The donatos was a good touch, especially the take and bake aspect. I like that they incorporated a few local food items but overall, it's a typical Kroger food selection. I will say that they had a very decent selection of Latino food items, especially by Goya. I can now pick up my arepa corn meal mix there.The other thing I liked is the parking -- almost all spots are convenient to the front entrance.In the end, it's not the Nirvana of all shopping experiences and until they deliver groceries from online orders, it's not the fix for downtown grocery shopping either. It's closer though.

Home Inspectors Identify Top 4 Repair Problems

I ran across this tidbit today. Any Realtor will tell you the same thing. At Least One of These four issues turn up in nearly every home inspection. Almost nobody has their home properly graded. That's sort of funny because almost everybody has a home inspector who tells them how important it is when they buy the home.


Home Inspectors Identify Top 4 Repair Problems( February 9, 2006) --
Half of the resale homes on the market today have at least one significant defect, says the National Association of Home Inspectors.
The trade association surveyed its members and identified these four most common major problems found in older homes on the market:

1. Improper grading and drainage around the house, leading to actual or potential water penetration and foundation problems.
2. Insufficient electrical service to the house, inadequate overload protection and amateur, often dangerous, wiring connections.
3. Roof damage, including worn and improper roof flashing.
4. Faulty heating and air conditioning systems, including controls with mechanical problems.

Source: The Kansas City Star (02/05/06)