Many real estate professionals like to be the Jack (or Jill) of All Trades, but Masters of None.  I'm talking specifically about agents and brokers marketing themselves with multiple "specialties," which is ironic.  To specialize is not to just dabble, but to be proficient at it.  Yes, we can have multiple service offerings but are we really doing our clients a disservice by proclaiming several specialties? 

In Texas, there are only two licenses - Salesperson and Broker.  Once a license is earned, there are no sub-licenses for commercial, residential, property management, short sales, buyers agent, tenant representatives, or any of the other "specialty focuses" advertised by our profession.  If the general public seeks our service, don't they deserve to be told the truth about our strengths and weaknesses?  Like in my firm's case, we do not take listings, we don't represent landlords or property management firms, we don't do residential work, apartment locating or land development.  We DO commercial tenant representation, and do it very well. 

We run into other licensed professionals on a regular basis asking questions about commercial real estate, specifically residential agents, who claim to do commercial transactions.  Unfortunately, if they are trying to provide "quality" service to their commercial clients without the right experience searching for and negotiating for commercial space, they are short-changing their clients.  Coupled with the fact that they have a learning curve to overcome while they are providing services and usually do not have access to the correct tools like CoStar or other commercial-specific MLS-type subscription, they may lead their unknowing clients down the wrong path costing them money and wasting time.  I was told a story of a residential agent asking their Broker, "What does NNN mean?" The Broker answered "No, No, No."

Whats the solution?  Take a good look at yourself.  What are your true abilities and limitations?  What direction do you want to take in your professional career?  Once you know where you are going, you can determine the training you will need to set yourself apart from the "me, too's" out there.  I am a firm believe that if you set your mind to it, you can do anything.  Want to offer commercial services? Learn everything you can about the market, Tenant or Landlord Representation, your competition, etc. before you add it to your business card.  Check your local MLS subscription for commercial listings or see if CoStar or other commercial specific subscription is right for you and your budget.  Your clients will respect your dedication to professionalism.  If you chose not to go that route, find someone you trust who is already specializing in commercial real estate and refer leads to them and stay in the loop.  When the time is right, you can add the "specialty" to your arsenal.  Good luck!