Clarksville, MD; March 21, 2024 — Northrop Realty is doubling down on education by investing in Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) certification training for all sales agents. These classes will be held in person, and taught by accredited National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Certified Instructor and Real Estate Educators Association (REEA) Gold Standard Instructor, Barbara Maloney. Maloney is a REALTOR®, Associate Broker and has been an Accredited Buyer’s Representative for 25 years.
“We feel very strongly that agents get more out of in-person classes, as agents can bring examples of what they have experienced in the field, and gain perspective from the collective knowledge of their peers, as well as the course material,” said Maloney. “Northrop Realty agents will be fully equipped and fully aware of how to maneuver within today’s real estate landscape. It is our commitment to ensure our agents are compliant and competent.”
“It is essential that agents become ABR certified,” said Creig Northrop, co-CEO and Founder of Northrop Realty. “It is equally essential that agents and anyone in the industry remain knowledgeable about changes to the marketplace and how they may impact our business. Our agents have access to the highest levels of training, and many have already completed their ABR certification.”
Northrop Realty is a full-service real estate brokerage with 400+ agents and staff, and provides weekly training through NorthropU in addition to supporting their agents with in-house client care partners, marketing, and staging teams.
“We are fortunate to have an extraordinary resource with Barbara Maloney, and we are proud to be able to offer the ABR Certification Prep classes,” said Northrop. “It is more important than ever that agents focus their attention on providing a premier level of service and establish their value in protecting their buyer client’s best interests upfront.”
“Historically, brokerages have concentrated most of their attention on listing clients, but half of our business is the buyer controlled sale,” said Maloney. ”As the industry is facing potential changes where the agents have to prove the value they bring to the table, Buyer agents have to be able to answer two questions: ‘What value do I provide a client as their representative, rather than representing themselves?’ and ‘What sets me apart from other agents?’”
A seller traditionally selects one agent to help them list their home on the market. The buyer selects an agent to guide them through their side of the transaction. Having a consultation with a buyer before showing a single house is the same concept as meeting with a listing client. You are responsible for the best interests of your buyer client.
Maloney continued, “In order to protect a Buyer client’s best interests and establish the value of having a representative agent, real estate agents must adjust their process to consistently having a sit down consultation to explain the homebuying process, clearly outline how compensation for the agent’s role will be covered, and review the buyer brokerage agreement. It is imperative that agents ensure their clients are making an informed decision when they sign that agreement,”
Maryland and Delaware are statutory states, which means agents representing buyers and sellers are required to be fair and honest to all parties. Both are also disclosure states, meaning you have to disclose often and quickly. Since 2016, a Maryland buyer client has been required to have a buyer brokerage agreement if they want to be represented by an agent. In Delaware, buyers and sellers have the presumption of agency without needing a buyer brokerage agreement, but we have long encouraged all agents and consumers to use a brokerage agreement that defines the real estate services being provided.
To learn more about Northrop Realty as a premier brokerage for sellers, buyers, or agents, contact us, today.
About Northrop Realty:
Northrop Realty is a full-service brokerage representing buyers and sellers of residential real estate in Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida. As one of the mid-Atlantic premier brokerages, Northrop Realty is comprised of more than 425 licensed real estate professionals and over 60 employees, operating 17 brick-and-mortar office locations in Annapolis, Baltimore, Clarksville, College Park, Columbia, Ellicott City, Fallston, Frederick, Lutherville-Timonium, Phoenix, Sykesville, Maryland, and Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Millsboro, Lewes-Rehoboth, and Newark, Delaware, and Oak Island and SouthPort North Carolina. Anchored in the communities the employees and agents serve, Northrop Realty launched Northrop Realty Cares in 2023. Northrop Realty Cares is a community service and philanthropic program dedicated to addressing housing instability as well as food insecurity, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Since 2000, Northrop Realty's iconic brand and continued success are a result of its best-in-class technology, training, leadership, marketing, and robust network. As a subsidiary of HomeServices of America and a Forbes Global Properties affiliate, Northrop Realty is proud to rank as the No. 1 specialty brokerage in the nation by RealTrends in 2019 based on closed sales volume. Northrop Realty has also been voted as a Top Place to Work in Maryland (2022) and Delaware (2023).
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