Home > Blogs > Steve Wong > What's New Under the Sun?

Realtor's Self Image - Please help me with this 30-second survey

By Steve Wong

Real Estate Agent with Chou's Realty

February 14, 2008 01:50 PM

Dear Fellow Realtors,

I have come across with an article by James R. Webb in the Journal of Real Estate Research. The title of the article is An Inquiry into the Professional Self Image of Real Estate Agents. The author did a questionnaire survey among the real estate agents and brokers in the State of Ohio back in year 2000.

The survey itself is quite interesting but it is too much to quote here. If you are interested in the full text, you can visit http://ideas.repec.org/a/jre/issued/v20n12000p153-177.html The abstract of the article reads the following:

How people believe others perceive them often, at least partially, determines their behavior. This study analyzes how real estate agents, salespeople as well as brokers, perceive the opinions that various external groups they serve have of them. In addition, how real estate agents view each other, how they view themselves and how they might improve their professional image, are also examined.

Now, I would like to refresh part of this survey among the realtor community on ActiveRain. Below are three of the original questionnaire questions. (If there is enough interest in this exercise, I'll set it up with an online survey tool.) Please help me by answering them in your comments:

Question #1: Professionally, how do you regard yourself? (Check only one)

[ ] Inferior (Generally Incompetent)

[ ] Very Poor (Barely Competent)

[ ] Poor (Slightly Incompetent)

[ ] O.K. (Gets the Job Done)

[ ] Good (Slightly Knowledgeable)

[ ] Very Good (Generally Knowledgeable)

[ ] Excellent (Very Knowledgeable)

Question #2: The overall professional image of the average real estate salesperson is closest to which of the following? (Check only one)

[ ] Doctor

[ ] Lawyer

[ ] Stockbroker

[ ] Factory Worker

[ ] Car Salesperson

[ ] Door-to-Door Salesperson

[ ] Janitor

Question #3: Over the last ten years, what has happened to the professional image of the average real estate salesperson?

[ ] Improved substantially

[ ] Improved slightly

[ ] Stayed the same

[ ] Declined slightly

[ ] Declined substantially

Mucho Gracias!!!

Comments(8)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

June Piper-Brandon

Coldwell Banker Realty - Columbia, MD

Creating Generational Wealth Through Homeownership

Question #1 - Excellent

Question #2 - Car Salesperson

Question #3 - Stayed the same

I think professional image is such a fascinating topic. Over the years realtors have become better educated overall, but the public image is still very low. There always seem to be a small few who make it bad for everyone else.

Feb 14, 2008 02:18 PM

Colleen Fischesser Northwest Property Shop

NextHome Experience - Chelan, WA

A Tradition of Trust in the Pacific NW since 1990!

1: Excellent

2. car salesman

3. Declined drastically

good luck!

Feb 14, 2008 04:34 PM

Rich Kruse

Gryphon USA, Ltd. - Columbus, OH

Most Realtors are morons and most everyone I know agrees with me. It's too bad

Feb 14, 2008 06:28 PM

Gita Bantwal

RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA

REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I am sorry to say thet though the image has improved over the years , there are a lot of agents who bring us a bad name.

Feb 14, 2008 10:41 PM

Steve Wong

Chou's Realty - Flushing, NY

Queens New York Real Estate

I have notified Rich Kruse and Cameron Wilson that they should be sensitive about their comments in public. I don't care if they meant good or trying to be funny. Some people may find such statement offensive. I certainly don't want to offend people on my blog.

Feb 15, 2008 06:26 AM

Cameron Wilson

Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA

The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

Steve, Please accept my sincere apology as offending anyone was not my intent.

Feb 15, 2008 06:40 AM

I did not mean to offend you, Steve. I've got to say though that the average real estate agent is not the brightest bulb in the box. It's the 90-10 rule and unfortunately I seem to run into the 90 more often than not. Please feel free to remove my comment if this explanation remains unacceptable.

Feb 16, 2008 12:27 AM

Barbara Collins

Werner Realty - Huntsville, TX

Steve,

I've noticed some agents that wrote in are very negative! I wonder what their self image is?!?

I know that my self image is excellent because I make sure I'm knowledgeable in all the aspects of being an agent! I feel we are like lawyers,although we can't give legal opinion we much adhere to the law.

The image of realtor's has improved substanialy over the years. The advertisement that TAR,NAR gives us helps a great deal. Also getting bad agents fined or out of the business.

Feb 16, 2008 03:14 AM

Realtor's Self Image - Please help me with this 30-second survey

Comments(8)

Steve Wong

Real Estate Resources

Recent Posts