Realtor Designation : What Does “e-Pro” Mean?

The Emergence of the internet in the 20th century altered the future of the real estate marketplace and created a niche for real estate professionals who can navigate in cyberspace. The National Association of Realtors recognized this need and became the first major trade group to offer certification for online professionals.

The e-Pro logo that follows a realtor’s name provides a unique competitive advantage and professional distinction that consumers can easily recognize. The National Association of Realtors, founded in 1908 and now boasting more than a million members, understands that the real estate marketplace is evolving and has established a revolutionary program that provides exhaustive Internet training to realtors interested in maintaining a relationship with our computer-savvy society. The course is taught entirely online, and, once completed, agents and brokers are certified as Internet professionals.

The World Wide Web has changed the relationship between consumers and agents. According to Kim Adamof of Progressive Real Estate in Raleigh, North Carolina, “The Internet has created a paradigm shift. Realtors once had all of the information and now the consumers have it.”

People interested in buying or selling are armed with an abundance of knowledge, and brokers have had to adjust by becoming a provider and sorter of information linked with the real estate market. Adamof explains that an e-Pro’s Web site “should be a portal for all the resources you need in a community.”

Angie Sesti of Weichert Realors Coastal Properties on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, agrees: “Specialists make life easier and more convenient for the consumer. I do the research for them. They can simply visit my Web page for reliable links instead of navigating blindly.”

If you are in the market to buy or sell on the Internet and need the help of an e-Pro specialist, “Find one who can utilize technology such as texting, e-mailing and faxing,” says Sesti. “It helps protect the confidentiality people want.”

According to Sesti, the computer consumer has arrived. She says 80 percent of her clients now come from the Internet, but she warns that if you are new to the world of technology, you should exercise caution. The Internet is awash with outdated and incorrect information, so you should stick with reputable sites and utilize an e-Pro specialists’ Web site to find the facts you need. The work they do for you is both helpful and timesaving, she says.