How often I hear realtors try to explain away the commission by running away from the subject! There is NO reason to hide from the fact that realtors charge commissions. How do clients and customers think we get paid? A real estate professional must be able to both confidently and competently explain his value- professional service; expert pricing; qualified buyers; state of the art marketing; convenience; and keeping his client informed. It is important today for a real estate professional to utilize the latest technology, NOT for show BUT to improve service and performance. Leads MUST be followed up immediately! Today's real estate necessitates the use of a "smart phone," to answer e-mails, etc. quickly and competently. Most MLS systems have programs written specifically for use on smart phones - - - saavy buyers and sellers should demand real estate for today's market!