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"TO TELL THE TRUTH!"...OR: *"In These Times Of Universal Deceit, Telling The Truth Is A REVOLUTIONARY ACT!"

By
Real Estate Agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate 30HA0800896

"TO TELL THE TRUTH!"...OR: *"In these times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act!"(*compliments of George Orwell)

**PART 4 OF A 5 PART SERIES: "5 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE BUSINESS".

In this part of my series "5 Keys To A Successful Real Estate Business" I want to reveal why truth telling is at the very foundation of a successful business.THE TRUTH BUILDS TRUST

TRUTH BE TOLD:

  1. What if you were counting on a friend to be straight with you regarding the most basic parts of your friendship--and that friend turned out to be an absolutely deceitful person regarding simple things like saying they were going away and can't see you for dinner. You then find out they went nowhere but went out to dinner with another friend. You find yourself feeling like you were deceived by this former friend and he/she is someone you no longer have anything to do with.
  2. How about when a doctor asks you about your eating habits and you decide to tell him that you are eating less and healthier than you have been in a long, long time (an absolute lie!); who gets hurt by that one???
  3. In business, you have asked for a raise and your employer has promised you that "not only will you be getting a raise, but you are up for promotion and as soon as that job opens, you have it in the bag!"...meanwhile the job is occupied into the foreseeable future and you never get your raise!!!(another way of lying to get out of a tight spot!)
  4. How about when your buyer asks you if the owner is willing to take a lot less for the home and instead of taking the position that you know that the owner is expecting the asking price or close to it, you say "I know that he will come down to your price, just make the offer!" Who does that work for???
  5. .....And then there is the shooting range, less than a mile away from a house that you just got an offer on. You heard the shots once before and asked the owner---they told you what it was but that it never bothered them. You decide that the buyer will never find out and so when you are asked by the buyer at the 3rd showing : "what is that noise?" and you answer "probably an old car backfiring".  TRUTH TELLING

When you are asked a direct question and you know the answer, tell the truth.

Don't feel like you can tell a "white" lie---it does not work and you will always be found out!

Don t even think about saying something that is miss-leading; these things always manage to come to the fore-front of a situation.

Repeat and referral business is dependent upon telling the truth.

Ethics are either part of you or they are not!

 

INTERITY AND TRUST COME ONLY FROM TELLING THE TRUTH!!!

Telling the truth will open doors for you and keep them open for many years. That is how successful agents operate---they spend their time and energy working on revealing everything that their buyers and sellers need to know. That will bring your buyer's friends and relatives to you as buyers and sellers. It will also enhance your listing inventory as sellers talk to their neighbors and let them know how you handled yourself during the listing of their home.

PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU FOR TELLING THE TRUTH!..THEY ALSO REMEMBER YOU FOR NOT TELLING THE TRUTH!!!

TRUTH TELLING MEANS GAME OVER!

Stanley Stepak
Howard Hanna - Avon Lake, OH - Avon Lake, OH
Realtor - Avon Lake, Avon, Bay Village, Westlake,

Well said.  If you keep to the truth you wont get lost and in turn you will be consistent across future conversations with the same party.  When you come up with those white lies you are tying your self up in keeping to your story and you are going to trip sooner or latter

Sep 06, 2010 01:10 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Paul - "tell the truth"! What a novel idea. It's a shame some folks don't take this to heart. Trying to keep track of those lies is too darn difficult. LOL

Seriously, you've hit on a hot topic here. Lots of folks suspect that others (buyers, sellers, agents, mortgage folks) aren't telling the truth I say that because of the direct questions I have gotten...do they think they are telling the truth"

As you point out, folks will respect you for being truthful and will trust you. One lie, once found out, destroys that trust, likely forever.

Jeff

Sep 06, 2010 01:14 PM
Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY
...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Stan: You are right--a person can become a prisoner of their fibs! Best to keep it on the straight and narrow! Thank you for reading and commenting--please stop by and read the 3 other post of the 5 steps to a successful real estate business. I have one to go and that one is on "EXPERTISE" building!

Sep 06, 2010 01:15 PM
Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY
...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Jeff: You are right; trust is a very sensitive thing, sensitive to truth telling that is! Once lied to by someone--ther is rarely a way to repair the damage, especially in real estate when you are dealing with the place where someone LIVES!!!

Sep 06, 2010 01:17 PM
Chris Canfield
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Tucson, AZ
Homes for Sale in Oro Valley and Tucson, Arizona

Yes, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.  At the end of the day, we have to be able to live with ourselves.  Thanks for the great post.

Sep 06, 2010 01:18 PM
Carolyn Kolba
Serving Mentor, and all of Lake County, Ohio - Mentor, OH
Keller Williams Realty- Mentor, Ohio

Paula, although I am sure if I read your post... I would find it interesting.  BUT... with all that bold print, and with all that bold underlining... I find it very difficult to read... and much too much like work.  Just a suggestion.

At the risk of looking like a jerk, here... I really am serious.  I am also "telling the truth" here... which was the main point of your post.  Very distracting for me to read.  Take care...

Sep 06, 2010 01:19 PM
Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY
...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Chris: Isn't it something that someone like George Orwell can say omeething that is so prophetic and correct for a future date and time? He knew something that we (collectively) don't know even now! I was just doing research on "Nineteen Eighty-Four" and I am amazed at how current it is!!!

Carolyn: Please don't read it then. I am very serious too, and if you don't like the way I make a point or two maybe you just don't like the point! You take care, now! (Can you read this?)

Sep 06, 2010 01:26 PM
Jason Channell
Diadem Property Inspections - Serving Southeast Michigan - Troy, MI
The House Sleuth

I love your closing line. You are right, that is exactly what people remember. Did they tell me the truth?

Sep 06, 2010 03:36 PM
Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY
...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Jason: Thank you! People always remember the way they were treated--telling the truth is just the most simple way to ensure they will recommend and refer you to their friends!!!

Sep 06, 2010 03:51 PM