The Risks of Working with a Seasonal Agent

Have you ever driven through a rural area and seen a storefront with a sign that reads "Cheese, Live Bait, Real Estate"?

I have.

The sign not only made me chuckle, but it made me sufficiently curious to stop at this store and talk with the agent.  The guy was friendly and he admitted "I sell a little real estate now and then, mostly in tourist season".  Most of the time, he's in his shop selling Wisconsin cheese or Sheboygan sausage, issuing hunting or fishing licenses and maybe selling leeches or night crawlers.  But he's more than glad to help a tourist find a nice cottage or cabin or hunting parcel if the opportunity arises.  He's a licensed real estate broker in his state of residence.

In the winter, he heads south to Arkansas to get away from the harsh upper midwestern winters.  So for six months or so, his real estate practice is completely on ice.

I've written about part-timers in real estate before.  And the issue of part time versus full time in real estate is a controversial one.

But the presence of seasonal agents, particularly in the second home market, is a different concern altogether.  How is it possible for a seasonal real estate agent or broker to stay current on laws, industry changes, financing options and other important issues when that agent takes a six-month vacation from the industry each year?

It's still pretty easy for these agents and brokers to stay in business.  They can visit a nearby technical college or take their continuing education courses online and they're good to go.  No one supervises their real estate practice until a consumer or fellow agent files a complaint.  There are relatively few safeguards in place to assure that they are doing things properly.

At what point does the seasonal agent's practice of real estate become a hobby instead of a profession?

It's bad enough that there are agents giving "professional" advice who haven't made a sale in two or three years.  But when someone is allowed to practice seasonally, without much (if any) supervision, what are the chances that their customers and clients will be adequately represented and served?