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Being Better Agents

By
Real Estate Agent with RealtyUSA

Hi everyone, I am new to active rain and this is my very first blog. Nevertheless, I just completed the ABR classes and feel compelled to share some information as well as some insight from the classes.

Keep in mind that I am speaking from my own experience and this may not be everyone's, but we are all on the same team.  I always treat others in our field how I would like to be treated. Unfortunately this is not always reciprocated. Now my assumption is that your are already a better agent for reading this because you have taken the time out to become an active rain member and read helpful blogs by others.

How many times have you called another agent who treated you rudely or did not even have the courtesy to call you back? How many times in a deal has another agent snapped at you, acted bothered by your questions, or just plain mean? Well I am here to say it has happened to me and I won't let them do it. They are not working in the best interest of their clients and that is OUR job! I always act fairly and honestly with other agents, I will answer any questions even if they have the answers in front of them. I have a great working relationship with agents in my area because I treat all of them how I want to be treated (even the ones that are not so nice). Sometimes, we get a bad apple, but bad apples rot...

As a listing agent, I have taken care of the clients for the buyer's agent when they needed me to, or have given their clients information that maybe they should have done for their clients. Ultimately every good deed we do as agents benefits OUR clients...so what does it hurt to do it? Go the extra mile, you will feel better about yourself and you will be doing a good service for your clients.

We as licensed salespeople control the buyer pool...so isn't it in our best interest to work TOGETHER to bring buyers to our listings? We help each other stay in business and help our clients sell their properties and get them into the home of their dreams. This is our job, so why are there agents who have a hard time working together? We need to smile at these agents more, you know some in your office, the ones with the bad attitude, sour puss...bring them candy or smile at them, tell them they look nice today.

Sometimes an agent may bring you a low offer, don't get upset and help your clients understand that everyone is looking for a deal...even they look for deal. You may be able to make this deal work with a little finesse...Once I had an offer at 60K under asking and I got my sellers to agree to counter (they might have been a little upset, but we worked it out) and we got the buyers to come up 52K and sold the house.  Now some agents and their clients might get offended and this has happened to me on the buyers side...but guess what, 8 months later a property I gave a low offer to sold at a lower offer than what my clients would have come up in price to, so who lost out?

All I am trying to say is leave attitudes at the door. We already have to deal with clients daily with all sorts of personality defects and we have so many issues and problems to deal with daily...we should not treat each other any other way than professional. If we as agents start to raise our standards as to how we treat each other, than our profession will start to gain respect in the community. Let us weed out the unprofessionals and rise above them. Be proud of whom you are and what you do, help your clients to succeed and you will too. Love this job and those we work with.  Keep a happy, positive, smiling attitude. KNOW that you will sell that home, be creative, and go above and beyond only listing on the MLS. Work smarter for your clients and you will make great strides.

Jennifer Esposito
JenRan Realty, LLC - Woodstock, CT

This is a great topic, and I agree with you 'leave attitudes at the door' -well said.  I can't believe how inconsiderate some agents can be.  It doesn't get to me anymore, I've learned not to take it to heart.

Welcome to ActiveRain, you will find it very enlightening!

Oct 30, 2007 05:03 AM
Lisa Ostrander
RealtyUSA - Queensbury, NY
ABR, RSPS, e-pro

Thank you and thank you for reading my blog.

Sincerely, Lisa

Oct 30, 2007 05:21 AM
Adam Waldman
Westcott Group Real Estate Company - Hauppauge, NY
Realtor - Long Island
LISA:  Welcome to Active Rain!  Nice job on your first post.  It's funny, but I think that you'll find that most people around here are the types of agents that you'd like to have on the other side of a transaction, although, with a community this large, you're also bound to run into some of the ones that you'd like to avoid as well.  I'm always amazed to see agents that clearly have their own agenda and forget about their fiduciary responsibilities, but it does go on in certain areas more than others.  I look forward to more of your blogs.
Oct 30, 2007 07:52 AM
Lisa Ostrander
RealtyUSA - Queensbury, NY
ABR, RSPS, e-pro
Well again thank you. I have plenty to say and plenty to share. Finding the time to write them will be the challenge. I hope that as we all work to spread the word on how important it is to act better to one another we will notice that our job will become so much easier to do. I look forward to writing more. :)
Oct 30, 2007 11:26 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker
Welcome from one Lisa to another!  Very nice first post, and as Adam pointed out, most of the people here on Active Rain are GREAT.  You won't believe how much you can learn here and how giving everyone is with their knowledge.  I'm looking forward to reading more about you and your area.
Oct 30, 2007 11:51 AM
Lisa Ostrander
RealtyUSA - Queensbury, NY
ABR, RSPS, e-pro

Hello Lisa, Thank you for taking the time out to read my blog. I do realize that those here on active rain are better than most!!! I am already learning and I love reading information from other agents. The only way to learn is from experience and learning from others who have already done what you have not.

Oct 31, 2007 02:36 AM
"Tommy" Decebal
HomeSpector Inc. 516-851-5833 - Farmingdale, NY
Adamescu Long Island NY MASTER Home Inspector