I do not wear a nametag. This should be reserved for Walmart employees and mechanics.
I do not carry a clipboard. No good reason for this other than it always looked like a prop to me.
I do not wear a suit and tie. A guy in a tie wants to sell you something. I want clients and customers to feel comfortable around me.
I do not have pictures of my pets on my business cards. "When the time comes to sell your most valuable asset, you can trust Paul Slaybaugh ... and his kitty cats!"
I do not farm my own neighborhood. Probably a bad business decision on my part, but I never liked the idea of my neighbors ducking inside their homes when they see me walking down the street.
I do not inform buyers, "This is the kitchen!" when showing a house. You've seen this agent on House Hunters.
I do not sell insurance or loans. One stop shopping and Real Estate do not mix.
I do not refer clients to my buddies. I have good friends in the inspection and lending businesses. One is not thorough, the other charges too much. Great guys. Bad businessmen.
I do not turn my cell phone off.
I do not introduce myself at parties as "Paul Slaybaugh, Realtor."
I do not sell houses. I help houses sell themselves. I can sell you a pen if you already have four, but I cannot sell you a house that you don't want.
I do not treat lenders, title officers, stagers or contractors as if they work for me. We're all a team, with the client as captain.
I do not put balloons on my open house signs. I don't juggle or have pie-eating contests either.
I do not drop a famous client's name around the office. Who really cares?
I do not attend tour groups for the scones and coffee. The scones are great, though.
I do not advertise sales, incentives or gimmicks for the use of my services. I'm a Realtor, not a car.
And I do not have a magnet on my car. I might flag down a landscaper with a car magnet, but not a Realtor.
Everyone has their own standards (or quirks, if you will) on what constitutes professionalism. I would love to hear what some of my esteemed colleagues have to say.
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