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Blood sucking scum bag agents???

By Sherry Laursen

Real Estate Agent with Remax Premier Group

November 02, 2007 04:21 PM

I was reading over a so-called real estate message board last evening and was totally surprised at what I was reading. This, I thought was an upcoming popular site for realtors as well as consumers. As I was reading through some of the questions and answers posted, I noticed one thing that a lot of them had in common. That real estate agents are blood sucking scum bags and only talk to people in hopes of closing on a house, no matter what the consequeces. WHAT?? Maybe I'm nieve, but I didn't know people actually thought of us like that. I have never had anyone even hint at something like that. I will admit that there are some out there that ony care about the final product and lack professionalism, however just to set the record straight: The vast majority of realtors do care about our clients and will go out of our way to make our clients happy. It is not all about the end result, its also about the relationship. I want my clients to be happy with the home they has chosen and be able to afford it and not be in over their heads. Of course, I want to make money, this is my job and I have a family also, but I do offer advice and talk to people even if there is no chance of ever selling them a home. Its about being nice and friendly to others and contrary to that board, we are people too. Just because we are in real estate doesn't mean that every word out of our mouth is trying to get someone to buy a home. I work hard for my clients and consider that relationship very important. I treat them the way I want to be treated, with honesty, integrity and professionalism. I love being a realtor, its what I am good at and so much enjoy for so many reasons. I love working with people and seeing their faces when they find the one and especially when I can hand them the keys. That makes it all worth it.

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I can only hope that those on that message board that think this bad stuff about realtors will run into one of the many that will totally make them see just how wrong they really are.

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Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Sherry, pay no attention to those comments. There are always those in life with negativity spewing from their very beings. Know that you are one of the good guys (gals) and that you truly care about people, your clients and making a difference to them. Hang with the eagles (like here on Active Rain) and not the turkeys.

Nov 04, 2007 06:14 AM

George Bone

Prudential Woodmont Realty - Brentwood, TN

ABR, GRI, e-PRO

Sherry,

I agree with you that there are many good to excellent Realtors who take their profession seriously, are ethical, and work very hard to satisfy their clients and to always keep their client's best interests as their top priority. However, the reality is that there are many agents who have no business being in the real estate business and bring down the reputation of Realtors as a whole. According to data presented by NAR, Realtors rank very low on the reputation scale(bottom 20%) and barely above used car salesman reputations. This is one of the reasons for NAR's national ad campaign focusing on Realtors and their Code of Ethics. Additionally, according to the NAR, there is approximately an 80% rate of turnover in real estate agents every two years. To many people get into the business for the wrong reasons. They think they can make a quick buck and only need to take a sixty-ninety hour course in most states to get licensed. They don't realize that being a Realtor is hard work and that it is a very complex field. Many people get into real estate on a part time basis while they hold down another job and in most instances, real estate is not their priority. Many don't take their profession seriously and do the minimum as far as education. You state that the "vast majority of realtors do care about our clients and will go out of our way to make our clients happy". I would ask as to where did you get the data for this statement because it doesn't seem to be born out by information I have received in ABR classes and GRI classes.

I am in no way questionning you as a professional and caring realtor. I too feel angry when I read posts on websites that blast realtors. But I have learned that my anger was originally directed at the poster and not where it should have been directed. When I now read an angry post from someone my anger is now directed at the real estate agent who was not professional and competent that worked with them, because that is where their anger comes from in most instances. To not pay any attention to negative comments on these posts is almost like burying our head in the sand in hopes that they will go away. I prefer to go to those websites and read what is being said and respond in a professional manner in hopes of swaying some of the negative opinion out there.

I hope my comments are taken in the manner in which they were intended. There are many good and professional realtors out there. There are also many that are not. I believe real estate is a good and honourable profession. I understand that the public perception of realtors is very low. I also believe that the good and professional realtors must take an active role in helping weed out the non professional ones. This active role can be in many forms I think we should push for stricter requirements before a person can become licensed. I believe that our continuing education requirements should be stricter and more focused. I believe that we should report incompetent, negligent, and unprofessional real estate agents to the state board responsible for taking corrective action. In my opinion, until the good and professional realtors take a more active role in this not much will change, except for the worse. And I say worse because the Department of Justice is now involved with making changes to the real estate industry. I believe one of the main reasons for their involvement is because of the unprofessional realtors.

Nov 04, 2007 09:48 AM

Jennifer Hartwick

Crane and Crane Real Estate - Columbia, MO

Additionally, according to the NAR, there is approximately an 80% rate of turnover in real estate agents every two years.

Wow! I did not know that stat!

When I receive a referal from a past client, I know I have done my job respresenting our field!

Nice post!

Nov 04, 2007 02:42 PM

Sherry Laursen

Remax Premier Group - Wesley Chapel, FL

MAKING YOUR REAL ESTATE DREAMS A REALITY

Gary-I know your right and I didn't comment. As you said, I think my time is better spent on positive things (like Active Rain). Thanks

George-Wow, I had no clue we were that low on the reputation scale, that's really sad. It does make me angry to see how some real estate agents act that give the profession a bad name. There were some agents on the board that were attempting to be friendly and ecplain, but it wasn't getting them anywhere. I really don't have "data" to support what I said about the vast majority of realtors, I am simply going off of the ones that I know personally, online or otherwise through others that are really good realtors as well as good people. Your comments were taken in a good manner as I agree with most of what you said. Thanks for posting.

Nov 05, 2007 03:24 PM

Sherry Laursen

Remax Premier Group - Wesley Chapel, FL

MAKING YOUR REAL ESTATE DREAMS A REALITY

Jennifer-I had no clue the stats were like that either, hopefully with a lot of agents getting out because the fast buck isn't there like it was before, we can do better than that next time

Nov 05, 2007 03:34 PM

M. Suzi Woods (Gravenstuk)

NOW Sharing the life and spice of the GC one day at a time - Grand Canyon, AZ

Suzi Woods, Prior Independent REBroker in MS

Sherry, I believe many Real Estate Professionals are highly respected. People who make derogatory "group" statements may have a vested interest, i.e., if you read at some fsbo sights. Like you, I have not noticed anyone treat me badly, I generally enjoy courtesy and respect.

Regarding the 80% out every two years--well, come renewal time I think many agents have given it enough time to figure out that a real estate career is not how they want to spend their time. I choice to leave the profession does not necessarily indicate failure.

Nov 06, 2007 02:57 PM

Sherry Laursen

Remax Premier Group - Wesley Chapel, FL

MAKING YOUR REAL ESTATE DREAMS A REALITY

Suzi-I agree, it does depend on the sights the info is coming from. And at least with my experience, we do have a good reputation although that may not be the general opinion. And your right, I dont think that just because someone decides to leave the profession that it indicates failure, there are tons of reasons why why someone could make that choice

Nov 07, 2007 02:14 AM

Rick Fifer

Vintage Homes Realty - Tampa, FL

Broker/Owner, Vintage Homes Realty

Sherry-

I haven't been around as long as George but I couldn't agree more. This may be an old post but I was just wandering through yours and some other blogs. As I work through 2008 I have found that some mean, nasty, unfriendly folks are still in real estate but some folks that I thought were great to work with have fallen by the way.

--Rick

Jul 21, 2008 01:06 PM

Anonymous

Rick--I agree, makes you wonder how some of those people keep getting clients. I'll never understand why they have to be they way in the first place, things work so much better when we all get along and work together.

Jul 21, 2008 02:19 PM