Ok, I guess I am on a roll this week when it comes to dealing with clueless Realtors. Not that this is anything new, it just seems that I have had a whole bunch of them this week. So, I’ve been thinking. Why is it that so many Realtors are clueless? They’ve all been through very intense (joke) Florida licensing requirements and passed a very difficult (more joking) 100 question multiple choice test. They’ve also jumped through all the bureaucracy at the Board of Realtors (wrote a check) and have had numerous training sessions with their Broker on how to complete purchase contracts, sales techniques, customer service and so forth (now I’m cracking myself up!).
So what is it that’s wrong? What’s missing? Could it be that the lure of big bucks and large commission splits is blinding Realtors and keeping them from seeing the importance of proper training? Should they be asking about training instead of money? I mean let’s face it, if you are not properly trained there will be no commissions to split. This business has always been difficult and in this changing market it is even more so. It would make much more sense to take 50% of something than 100% of nothing. But hey, the almighty dollar and the dream of getting it is a very alluring carrot. Dangle it and they will come.
I’m sure all of you have received solicitations from the new kid in town promising all the business you can handle for only a $295.00 transaction fee. Come one, come all get rich today!! It’s like a side show barker.
Or maybe it’s the popular Real Estate business model where the entire plan is to rent desk space. Got a license? Come on in. You can use our name for the low, low fee of $1,200 per month. We are world wide and you can’t help but to succeed. Step right up and sign on the dotted line and bring your friends. The more the merrier. We have more Realtors than anybody. Don’t pay now, pay later! And pay and pay and pay and pay and pay.
They forget to tell you that 6 months later you will be broke, beaten and spit out. But that’s OK they have a line of people waiting to rent your desk.
Now I am a firm believer in Real Estate companies having the freedom to work whatever business plan they choose. Freedom of choice is what makes this country the greatest country on the planet. However, in my opinion, these high split, low training companies are not for the novice Realtor. For a new Realtor training is everything. No training, no money. It’s as simple as that.
My biggest pet peeve is this: The consumer when hiring a Realtor should be able to assume, at a minimum, that their Realtor, is knowledgeable, professional, ethical, competent and able to guide them on what may be the single largest financial transaction of their lives. To be anything less than this, should be a crime.
What can we do about it? I just don’t know. It’s going to be very hard to tighten up Sate laws. People have the right to pursue a career. It’s hard to regulate incompetence. How about our Realtor associations? Could they require training? Could new Realtors be required to attend several weeks worth of contract law and ethics classes prior to becoming a Realtor? I think so. I truly think this would help. It would certainly be better than the current system of just writing a check. We are Realtors. We do not need laws to change to be able to step up to the plate and train our members. Let’s make being a Realtor really mean something to the consumer. The consumer should not have to assume anything. They should be able to know for a fact that their Realtor has at least the minimum requirements to perform their duties.
So step right up folks. Let’s get it right. Let’s turn our side show into the main attraction! Come one, come all to the greatest show on earth!
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