FIRST, let me start out by saying that I have quotes around the Realtor in the title because in my opinion the person I am talking about has no business calling themself a Realtor. To follow that statement I have seen many of us make mistakes in our business and I by no means am perfect. That being said we generally do not make as severe a mistake as my unfortunate subject made yesterday on our broker caravan. Actually, I have seen this agent many of these mistakes in the same nature. So here is the story...
Yesterday was our local association's weekly broker caravan. Typcially we start off with a nice presentation at our association meeting and a session where members can plug there properties on and off caravan and then we split off into the streets to tour the homes that are open for us to preview that morning. Nothing different than many associations nationwide do. This was a different caravan from the others, however. I made it through the majority of the homes with no problems but upon reaching the second to last home of the caravan I found that the agent that had advertised the home to be open had closed her property early. I was with two other agents at the house frustrated that I wasn't going to be able to see the home, especially since I showed up on time based on the MLS listing's information. Just a frustration and a pet peeve of mine that unfortunately happens a lot.
What really killed me on this particular caravan was the last home I visited. Upon arrival I was asked by the agent, also the home owner, for my business card. No big deal, lot's of agent's ask for cards before entering the home. This agent got off on the wrong foot though with an abrassive attitude and actually had the nerve to question me whether I was an agent and proceeded to ask me what brokerage I was with AFTER looking at my card. Now this is ridiculous because I handed the agent my card with my name, dre lic. number and lo and behold my name is also in the company name; Dominic Tartaglia, GRI, Sales Agent TARTAGLIA REALTY. That was just rude.
After I passed the gauntlet with my broker I had a nautious feeling and really was put off by the agent as they did the exact same thing to the next few 'guests'. As I was admiring the view of the home from the dining room I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the agent was reprimanding her pet dog, WITH HER FOOT! Scolding the dog for happily greeting guests at the door, not barking or jumping on people but simply by standing in the entry and wagging it's tail. This agent waited for the agents to leave and proceeded to boot the dog and pin against the wall while she scolded it harshly. At that point she noticed my disgusted face and tried to explain that the dog just gets too excited to people. I excused myself from that house and took a mental note that this lady truly is poison and I will do my very best to stay out of a deal with her. The energy that she gave off made it very clear to me that she treats people and animals just the same, very poorly.
So what is my word of advice do you ask? It' pretty simple really. Be kind and respectful of not only Fido but to all people and animals. I don't care what you say, if a person is mean enough to beat a small dog for being too happy they are poisonus. If you present yourself with that poison and hatred you have no business calling yourself a Realtor. I wear my Realtor pin with pride and with the hope that clients will see me and my organization as a professional and courteous organization. I also would hope that the other Realtors would feel the same way and that when I do business with them they will have respect for me and my client. There is no room in this industry for any more of a dark pressence than what we have been faced with in the last couple of years.
Go out with kindness and caring and let's make things happen.
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