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Even if it is easy to do, don't take advantage of a new agent.

Reblogger Carol Zingone
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty BK 3030920

Valerie makes an excellent point in her post: the golden rule is your best guide to good behavior. It's also part of the Code of Ethics, which makes it part of the Realtor's standards of practice. 

Original content by Valerie Zinger

Seasoned agents can take advantage of new agents in a myriad of ways.  New agents need help.  Some agents demand a per centage of a commission to give help and, depending upon the involvement of the mature agent, the commission may be warranted.  However, it is pretty close to taking candy from a baby to demand a half or more of the commission for a sale that the new agent found and is working on almost full time.  I suggest that you hold back from taking that sucker and either demand a small part of the commission or do it for free.  Either way, the new agent is going to thank you, hopefully feed her family that week  and remember how you treated her.  

Agents talk and new agents talk to all the other new agents to try to figure out the business, the protocols and the right behaviour (for themselves and for others).  Several years ago, one of my newbie colleagues was taken advantage of by a seasoned agent.  For minutes of work, that agent demanded 50% of the commission.  

In fear and being naive , the new agent agreed but she did talk about the situation with others, many many others.  Recently I had a chance to find and recommend an agent in that office.  I told the Buyers that of all the agents in that office, the seasoned agent was the one to avoid - that, if she could take advantage of someone working with her, what advantage would she take of a new buyer.  

Remember when you are tempted to treat someone badly or unfairly that it may come back to bite you with lost business in the future.  

In real estate, as in life, the golden rule is your best guide to good behaviour. 

 

Valerie Zinger  valeriezinger@gmail.com 

Ottawa, Canada      613-859-7759

 

Posted by

Carol Zingone is a full service Broker Associate proudly affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty in Atlantic Beach, FL.  I help buyers and sellers locally, regionally, and internationally.  With hundreds of happy buyers and sellers over the course of my career, I'm thrilled to help first time buyers, military buyers, seniors, investors, 1031 exchange properties, short sales and REO's.  I have spent hours honing my expertise, including the designations of: Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), Loss Mitigation Certification (LMC) , Short Sales, Foreclosures, REO's, (SFR), and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES).  I pride myself on providing excellent expertise to all buyers and sellers. Search the MLS via www.carolzingone.com  for Jacksonville and area listings!

 

Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Anyone who really wants a long term career in real estate needs to know how to "play nicely" with cooperating brokers... you just never know when one of them will be important to you in a transaction and you don't want a reputation of being difficult to work with.

Oct 02, 2013 10:37 PM
Karen Johnson, Realtor, ABR
Addison Wolfe Real Estate - Doylestown, PA
"Bucks County PA Homes"

Hi Carol, thanks for reblogging such a great post especially since I missed the original post.  As a newer agent, it is nice to hear that some experienced agents are still responsible.

Oct 03, 2013 01:39 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

A generous heart and spirit is always rewarded - eventually. I have a theory - if one lives their life by 'The Golden Rule," one will conduct business in the same manner. Period.

Make it a great day Carol - and you are one of the folks who make our industry shine. Thank you

Oct 03, 2013 02:37 AM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Carol.  What goes around does come around.

Oct 03, 2013 07:59 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Valerie has some good points, I know an agent or two like that myself.  Great reblog!

Oct 06, 2013 01:42 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good choice for a reblog. A good way to help a new agent is to provide a referral and then guide tha agent through a successful transaction.  

Oct 10, 2013 10:56 PM