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Real Estate Broker Etiquette?

By
Real Estate Agent with Resident Realty

Recent activerain blogs have got me thinking. Some of these have concerned etiquette between brokers. It occurs to me that some of the motivational factors include rude real estate brokers and some who just aren’t aware of some etiquette protocols. Trying to help. And writing this blog, not trying to be insulting: a good reminder for myself.

1) When showing homes and another real estate broker is at the home prior to you, showing the home. Explain to your buyers that it is polite to wait until they are done, to show the home to your buyers.

2) When holding an open house, and the buyers tell you they are working with another broker who is not present, show the home cordially and respect the prior buyer broker arrangement.

3) If you are in an area requiring a lockbox key, buy one. Don’t trouble the listing agent with opening a home that you want to show. If you have a buyer agent agreement, you have specific obligations to your buyers.

4) When you have a listing, show it when a potential buyer requests, on the terms you have agreed to with your seller.

5) When you have a listing, keep the MLS updated as to the status, consistent with the terms of your MLS agreement.

6) Answer your phone calls, voice mails, and emails on a timely basis from other brokers, potential buyers, potential sellers, and always, clients.

7) Remember your Realtor Code of Ethics, if you are a Realtor, and abide by them even if you are busy or tired. Especially the “cooperation” standards.

8) Remember your obligations to your buyer or seller exceed your obligations to your convenience.

9) Acknowledge receipt of offers, even if presented via email.

10) Remember your duties, whether to your buyer or seller, exceed your duties to your own convenience.

11) And remember, any successful transaction is dependant upon the mutual benefit of the principals.

12) Remember your objective: it is the objective of your seller or buyer. To buy or sell a home.

Roy Johnson, Realtor, Your Castle Real Estate

Kim Dean
www.GoSimplyTexas.com - McKinney, TX
Simply Texas Real Estate - Broker/Owner

Roy - #11 is important - as long as we remember it's always our client's best interests that need to come first, then we'll always be doing the right thing! Congrats on a great feature!

Mar 16, 2011 03:06 AM
Dianne Goode
Raleigh Cary Realty - Raleigh, NC
Realtor/Broker

A great list and an excellent reminder, esp, ##11 and #12.  When the agents get their egos involved, they don't serve their clients well.

Mar 16, 2011 03:22 AM
Roy Johnson
Resident Realty - Denver, CO
Resident Realty

Thank you all for your comments.

Mar 16, 2011 03:31 AM
Torgie Madison
Quicksilver Real Estate Solutions, LLC - Portland, OR
Websites and Contact Management

Great list! I think you could be the new Mr. Manners. I'm all about #8, these are certainly rules to live by.

Mar 16, 2011 03:53 AM
Virginia (Ginger) Schott
Cabins & Canoes - Port Jervis, NY
Assoc. Broker, CBR, CHMS

Ray

Great posting, I try to do all those things, but must admit some things sometimes slip thru the cracks.  I think I'm going to print out your list and keep it on my desk as a reminder.

Mar 16, 2011 04:31 AM
John McKernan
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Alpharetta, GA

Amen, amen and AMEN...

Mar 16, 2011 04:43 AM
Linda Lohman
Fonville Morisey Realty - Cary, NC
Former Teacher/Broker

Awesome post.  Just an FYI..your background is fairly distracting while reading your post. 

Mar 16, 2011 05:10 AM
Chris and Berna Sloan
Group 1 Real Estate - Tooele, UT
Tooele UT

Great post, and excellent reminders!

Mar 16, 2011 05:17 AM
Trang Beuschlein
Homes for Sale in Campbell CA- Broker-BKR Realty - Campbell, CA
Campbell CA Real Estate - Campbell CA Homes for Sa

Roy, this was a great list.  I wish all brokers would follow this and have this as part of their training curriculum on an ongoing basis.

Mar 16, 2011 06:17 AM
Susanne Brown
RE/MAX Realty 9 - Howell, NJ
I work hard to make real estate dreams come true!

Love your post!

Isn't it funny that some people need to be reminded about simple niceties?

How about we all go back to kindergarten and remember what we were taught there? Treat others as you want to be treated. 

So basic!

Mar 16, 2011 06:19 AM
Kelly Young
The Platinum Group Realtors - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Real Estate ~ 719-226-0126

Roy, great list.  I would add as a side note, communication.   It may not be an "ethic" but it makes a huge difference in how people, systems and real estate transactions work or do not.  Nice job.

Mar 16, 2011 06:53 AM
Tracy McPeek
Cottonwood, CA

Thank you for the reminder.  Simple courtesy really goes along way.  Good luck to you.

Mar 16, 2011 08:01 AM
Diane McDermott
RealtorĀ®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC - Charlotte, NC
Charlotte NC Real Estate Market

Roy, a very thorough and well done reminder, #12 is so very true - our objective is helping our client get where they're trying to go as smoothly as possible.  Well done and congrats on the feature!

Mar 16, 2011 10:47 AM
Anonymous
Patricia Dusil

I am an agent with her licence on hold at this time...but reading your list makes me want to jump back in.  Its nice to know that there are realtors with ethics that still put their clients best interest at the top of the list and respect their colleagues and the laws, written and unwritten, of realesate.  Best wishes for your future success!

Mar 16, 2011 12:30 PM
#44
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Roy...Bravo!  So glad this received a gold star.

It made me feel good to read down the list and found myself saying yes, yes, yes a dozen times.

Kate

Mar 16, 2011 12:33 PM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Very good list.  Treat others as you would have them to treat you.  The golden rule works every time.

Mar 16, 2011 03:42 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Roy - Boy, do you make it all sounds so very simple.

Mar 16, 2011 04:27 PM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Roy:

You hit the nail on the head with your blog.  I especially agree with #12.  Remember the goal is to sell our listing or help our buyers buy a home.  If we stay out of the way of the process and remember your rules we might just close the sale.

Mar 16, 2011 05:10 PM
Roy Johnson
Resident Realty - Denver, CO
Resident Realty

Thank you all for all the nice comments.

Roy

Mar 17, 2011 04:02 AM
Morris Massre
Pembroke Pines, FL
Real Estate Instructor Broward County Florida

Isn't all of this in the code of ethics anyway?  All that you mention is the right thing to do anyway.  Too bad a lot of realtors just don't read them.

Mar 17, 2011 09:51 AM