I had to delete my last post. Sorry. It was getting a bit too dramatic. Here's the Censored "Reader's Digest Condensed Version." A REALTOR sent me an email this morning saying some incredible things that just weren't true. I won't mention her name. But the Email she sent me, claimed I did "such a deep search of her and her background on Active Rain, Trulia, blah blah." Apparently -- I was moving to the East Coast or I have a client I want to move there and I'm searching for another REALTOR. FACT: The Bartman Loathes the East Coast. Too much humidity. I'm a Colorado Rockies mountain man. I called her on the carpet and suggested she made the whole thing up, or the firm who sold her my name sold her a worthless set of leads. I gave her every chance to give me the name of the firm. She remained silent on that rather simple request. So... she lied. The last time I checked, I'm pretty sure we still have a REALTOR code of Ethics. It's a real shame that many of us don't practice the same principles that we all claim to live by. If I lied at age 10, my mom washed my mouth out with soap. Or I go to bed with no dinner. What do you do when you catch another REALTOR lying? What should you do? Do you just look the other way, and forget about it? Do you point your finger at them and shriek, "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire?" When you ignore one lie, we make it okay for someone else to tell another one. One Active Rainer here suggested the importance of my being nice to everybody. Nice? When I'm Lied to? Not on my watch. Someone has to take classes on Real Estate Ethics and blow the whistle when we see another colleague lying about where they got the lead from -- or they made it up 100%. Lies turn into other problems. Quickly. We become so accustomed to bull**** marketing today. We sometimes laugh it off, or we chalk it up to "real estate salesmanship." Desperate times do not have to create desperate REALTORS so hungry for a lead that we're willing to bend the rules of the REALTOR code of ethics, or make things up to get a lead. Anyone who does this, reduces the integrity of our profession. "It isn't okay to lie." And if you didn't lie, what firm sold you my name? Its a fair question and one the REALTOR never answered. For me -- the REALTOR Code of Ethics stands for something. It isn't there to be white washed or sugar coated or bent just because you have a crappy website, zero Google visibility and you're starving because your broker said "NO," to your third commission advance. Because if you are one to use this kind of excuse to bend the rules just to make a sale, then may I please suggest that you find another profession.
Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY
Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY
Hi Bart~ There is no excuse to tell a lie no matter who you are! Some people tell so many lies that they just don't know what the truth is anymore. Somebody was obviously feeding you a line of bull and you didn't fall for it! Too bad for those that do!
Dec 10, 2009 12:40 PM
RE/MAX Central, Marlboro, Manalapan, Freehold, Old Bridge NJ - Marlboro, NJ
Top Agent Marlboro NJ, Marlboro/Manalapan Homes
Hey Bart. No! it is not ok to lie. I've have this happen to me in this business also. It's not acceptable for children, and certainly not acceptable for adults and licensed professionals at that. I'm going to stop here..............it's a sore spot for me.
Thanks for posting
Dec 10, 2009 12:42 PM
RE/MAX Executives Nampa, ID - Nampa, ID
"Looking out for your next move..."tm
Bart, There is NO room for lies in our industry & I think you should start a grievance or arbitration file on her. Document the phone cal, etc. & let's not tolerate it! If we don't police our own industry, we will continue to look like used car salesmen, etc. (sorry, no blame pointed at car salesmen)..
Dec 10, 2009 12:46 PM
Sotheby's International Realty - Stuart, FL
CLHMS, CIPS, CIIIS, TRC
No wonder our profession ranks in public perception in the same percentages as congress and used car sales persons!
Dec 10, 2009 02:20 PM
Kenna Real Estate - Lone Tree, CO
Broker & Advising Expert-Kenna Luxury Real Estate
I have seen blatant lies in a couple of direct mail pieces and in a newspaper ad and they just made my stomach turn. Even if they are forced to stop using false information the mail is already out. ~Rita
Dec 10, 2009 03:49 PM
Allen Tate - Concord, NC
That seems like a crazy question to ask but unfortunately I understand the reasoning. I miss the good old days.
shelton
Dec 11, 2009 12:29 AM
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,
Is it OK for ANYBODY to lie? No. The only possible reason I can see is if you are trying not to hurt someone's feelings.
Dec 11, 2009 05:16 AM
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time
YIKES!! I guess the conversation on your last post went south. I wonder where the truth of this matter really lies? No pun intended. Or maybe iot was. I'll never tell.
Dec 11, 2009 06:46 AM
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co
Bart,
Obviously I missed your prior post on the topic, therefore I'm clueless to the drama. Yet after hanging around here for almost 3 years I'm somehow not surprised.
Bottom line (imho) no way in the world is it acceptable to lie, period. Yet a violation of the COE, yes if that person is a REALTOR member. As we know that's not true for all agents. When something like this happens in our daily lives even as REALTORS rarely file a complaint, they just move on.
IMHO, we police ourselves to an extent. Yet the only time I/we see those complaints is when someone is really burned by another, more clearly when it impacts their payday. Rarely does a REALTOR file a complaint, ethics or arbitration unless $$$ is involved. Then both types (seperate hearings) are filed, arbitration for money issues and ethics for just that, the COE.
I'm an arbitrator and mediator for my AOR and the state. For me personally I'd love to see more members of the public pursue action when wronged, but it's a process that many don't want to go through, they'd prefer to get their life by to normal. Sorry to say, it happens all the time.
Dec 12, 2009 11:03 AM
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