Realtors and real estate agents have an image problem with honesty and ethics issues when it comes to the public's perception. In the latest Gallup poll conducted in November 2005, a randomly selected sample of 1,002 adults rated the honesty and ethical standards of 21 types of professionals.

Real estate agents ranked No. 11 with 20 percent of those surveyed giving them a very high or high rating. That is compared to 82 percent for nurses, who ranked No. 1, 65 percent for doctors, and 44 percent for funeral directors.

That is not a very favorable assessment for a group of professionals who assist people with the purchase or sale of the biggest monetary item in their life. There are many theories and debates on why real estate agents have this low rating. The bottom line; the perception exists.

The old adage "actions speak louder than words" certainly applies to real estate sales. What do the actions of your agent say to you? Are they consistent with the words that they speak? What kind of service do they provide you?

Here are three things that you should look for when selecting and agent. First, do they listen to you or is the look in their eye somewhere else? If they are listening to your wants and needs have they tailored a program to meet those specific desires. Is your agent or potential agent communicating clearly, concisely, and honestly with you? Are they using terms that you can understand or do they us real estate jargon that are confusing to you?

Listening is an art and something that everyone needs to develop and work at constantly. If your agent is focused on you and asking you open-ended questions, and then they truly listen for the answers this shows a genuine interest and the information you give them will help them to fulfill the second step of developing a successful program for you buy or sell your home.

Tailoring a program to include the correct price range, style, size, and amenities is critical to a successful relationship and buying experience. Information is the key to success whether you are buying or selling. Make sure that the program presented to you by your agent matches your exact desires and wishes and if they meet the goal this will enhance your relationship and help create that strong connection between you.

The final step is how your agent communicates the plan and how it will proceed until a successful sale or purchase is completed. Complete understanding by both the agent and client will eliminate any mistrust or misunderstanding as the process unfolds. As a client you can expect communication during the entire process and follow-up calls and progress reports should be frequent and ongoing and make certain your agent knows what you expect.

As Realtors and real estate agents we are the experts, however, that does not mean they have all the answers. If a question arises that they cannot answer immediately, they have resources to find answers and will do so immediately.  

Realtors and real estate agents have a code of ethics and you should feel comfortable by the actions of the agent not just the words. Remember, "Actions speak louder than your words."