Do you think that being a Realtor® makes you an expert about Real Estate? That's a heavy question. I think that Realtors® need to start looking at their career in real estate just like Doctors and Lawyers look at their profession.
What happens if a person wants to be a doctor? They go to school for MANY years. They have to pass massive exams. They get a license in a state of their choice. Their medical field is ever changing with science, new drugs, new illnesses, new cures, etc. They continue their education throughout their careers. Therefore they are PRACTICING MEDICINE. Yes, some can specialize in different realms of medicine. Like a cancer specialist, or a urologist. That becomes their specialty. It's rare to see a doctor telling the public that they are an expert. A doctor has to keep up with new ways to treat and care for their patients. They have to learn how to use new tools & technology provide excellent service to their patients.
Doctors practice Medicine.
Same holds true for people who want to become an attorney. They go to school for MANY years. They have to pass massive exams. They get a license in a state of their choice. Each state has it's laws, local laws, federal laws. Laws do change. That means their industry is evolving too. They may even choose their specialty. Criminal Law, International Law, Family Law, Corporate Law. As attorneys, they must educate and learn throughout their careers. New laws, new case history, it's important for an attorney to keep up with changes to serve his clients.
Lawyers Practice Law.
Today's Realtors® need to think the same way. Our profession is to serve buyers and sellers in the Real Estate Market. Our market is always changing. There are cycles. Buyers market or sellers market. There are aspects of other things that effect any real estate market. Bank Regulations, The Federal Reserve, Interest Rates, Fannie & Freddie, REO's, Short Sales.... All of those things effect our profession. Yes, we can have specialties - buyer agent, listing agent, REO Specialist - but all of this is evolving....daily. We have to continue to learn and master new tools in marketing, client service, and business operations.
If a person wants to be a real estate agent. They go take a course- not years and years of education. They pass an exam. They get a state license. If they are a Realtor®, we have a Code of Ethics. But this does NOT make us experts. Yes, we are the professionals, but no one should lay claim to being "the expert". The rules of Real Estate change, the market changes....we have to keep up with what is current to stay on top of the game.
Yes, we can earn specialties and designations - this requires education and learning. We use these tools to serve our clients. Technologies, computers, Internet, all effect HOW we do our business. We must adapt and learn.
The real estate market is what it is. It goes UP. It goes down. It's always a cycle. We have to be knowledgeable about what is effecting our real estate market. That means we must learn, and grow to serve our clients. (Just like Doctors and Lawyers).
Realtors Practice Real Estate Service!!
We have to master our craft....what do you think?
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