One of my last blogs was about name tags and car magnets - all great things to increase your visibility as a Realtor.  However, I omitted some important common sense items:

If you are going to wear a name tag then please don't:

• Be rude to people - they definitely won't call you.  If you really must be rude please don't let them know you are a Realtor - our industry has enough image problems.
• Talk on the phone while being served by a cashier/waiter (it's rude whether you are wearing a name tag or not.  And by the way, these folks buy homes too)
• Let doors shut on people behind you.  Hold that door open for the next person.
• Talk loudly on a cell phone in public places - don't do this without the name tag on either.  Go outside or to your car to return the call.

If you are going to have magnets on your vehicle then please don't:

• Park in the handicap spot unless you really have a handicap.  I was at a convenience store recently and witnessed an agent park in the handicapped spot.  His car magnets had his name, company name and contact numbers.  The dozen or so people in line who watched him leave will never call him.  He was not handicapped in the slightest - at least physically.
• Run stop lights or stop signs.
• Drive aggressively
• Drive drunk -  don't do this under any circumstance.
• Have a really dirty car.  I've seen some disgusting Realtor cars with magnets.  You don't have to have a BMW but at least empty the last three months of coffee cups out of your back floor board and visit a car wash once and a while.
• Speed in school zones.  Actually don't speed at all.  I saw an agent who got pulled over in a school zone and so did all the other parents who were dropping their kids off to school. 

I guess I could sum this up by saying just be a good person.  Our industry does have a bit of an image problem and we all can do things to change that but let's not advertise our bad behavior.