Real Estate Mentor: Joe Kennedy Company: Seller Agency Council Location: Atlanta, GA, US

As the president of the Kennedy Center for Real Estate Education, Inc. and the founder of the ASR® Designation Program, Joe Kennedy can’t help but admit, “The business is in my blood.” A licensed REALTOR® since he was 18 years old, Joe’s role as an instructor began in the mid-1970’s when he assumed recruiting and training duties for his brokerage firm. Since that time, he has developed into one of the true masters of real estate education.

“I’ve always wanted to do my part to raise professional standards,” Kennedy says, and his record demonstrates that he’s certainly achieving and surpassing his goal. Joe served as revision author of “Real Estate Dynamics”, Georgia’s most widely used textbook for the real estate salesperson and brokers pre-licensing exam, and was also one of the first to recognize the potential of computer-based training by writing and developing the ProStar® pre-license salesperson training system.

Kennedy’s latest innovation is the Accredited Seller Representative® (ASR®) designation. The first program of its kind, the ASR® designation was created in response to the success of the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®) designation. Kennedy discovered that, since the introduction of Buyer Agency into the industry over a decade ago, educational programming for REALTORS® has been proportionately unbalanced in favor of the buyer. “My goal through the implementation of the ASR® designation program is to raise the level of professional service delivered to the seller by today’s REALTOR®; thus, balancing the transaction so both seller and buyer receive proper professional representation.” His two-day program focuses on the following topics:

• Identifying and delivering “true” valued-added service
• Proper and effective staging and pricing the property
• Innovative marketing techniques
• Professional practices and standards to minimize potential liability risks

In late 2005, the Seller Agency Council (SAC) merged with the Accredited Seller Agency Council (ASAC) to form the largest association in seller agency.

Kennedy also continues to serve in a variety of leadership positions. His many achievements include: President of the Georgia Real Estate Educator’s Association; Regional Vice President for the National Real Estate Educator’s Association and Senior Instructor for the Georgia Real Estate Commission’s required Georgia Instructor Training Program. Each year, thousands attend his nationwide seminars.

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