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If I Tell You About My Day, Can You Keep a Secret?

By
Real Estate Agent with Front Gate Real Estate Broker 11085

Realtors have lots of interesting stories. When I start to recount an incident or some tidbit of interest, I hesitate. I make sure not to divulge anything confidential or reveal too many details.  You see, Realtors subscribe to a Code of Ethics, and confidentiality is one of those fiduciary duties that we promise to adhere to, along with loyalty, full accounting, obedience, disclosure, and the duty to use skill, care, and diligence. Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Occasionally a story will come back to bite you in the you-know-what. Be careful what you post on line. Not every client wants to be the butt of your Facebook postings. If you are discussing a confidential negotiation by phone, be sure there are no "eavesdroppers" around. Use caution when discussing sales or exchanging stories with fellow Realtors in the office.

If something confidential gets out and causes your client harm, it won't matter that you were discreet. And it won't matter if the breach was your fault or that of the office gossip. The responsibility lies squarely on your shoulders.

Loose lips sink ships! 

 

If I Tell You About My Day, Can You Keep a Secret?

 

Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Comments(25)

William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Not until you have me sign an agency relationship.  Otherwise...I am a free mouthed person.

Sep 30, 2015 01:36 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

William Feela - Of course! Still, don't you worry people will recognize themselves?? 

Sep 30, 2015 01:45 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Great reminder Pat, as much as we want to vent at times, nobody wants to see their story spread all over the internet.

 

Sep 30, 2015 03:11 PM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Gossip didn't used to be so damaging as it is today due to the time it took for it to travel through the masses. The internet and social media assures us that the act can be delivering its negativity in an instant. Please don't tell anyone else Pat?

Sep 30, 2015 04:36 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good Thursday morning Pat. Yes, I guess we all have stories to tell and sometimes we must take the higher road and keep it to ourselves.

Sep 30, 2015 06:42 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Pat. I use quotes by clients all the time and always let them know that I'm going to include it in a post, but never write anything that will harm another in any way.

Great job with your post!

Sep 30, 2015 06:46 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

This is why I prefer to work out of my home office. In the real office, everyone can hear everything and jumping up to run outside to have a conversation gets old fast. Especially if it's cold out.

Almost every conversation we seem to have is confidential!

Sep 30, 2015 09:33 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Pat. This is an excellent reminder for all of us. Shhhhhh it is.

Sep 30, 2015 10:20 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Great advice, we all need to be careful of what we say in our posts.....I'm a big offender and know it.....

Sep 30, 2015 11:04 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Roger D. Mucci - Words can come back to bite you, especially if you have a nemesis watching your every move.  

Bob Crane - Discretion is the better part of valor. :)

Kevin J. May - news goes viral too fast for me, and many times the facts are incorrect. Thanks for reading, Kevin.

Sep 30, 2015 11:15 PM
Roger D. Mucci

When I write, I'm always aware of the consequences.....

Sep 30, 2015 11:25 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Michael Thornton - Unfortunately the most interesting tales are usually the most incriminating. I'm stifling a story from yesterday! Boy, how I'd love to tell it, and although it isn't confidential and agency relationship isn't involved, telling it would clearly expose the other party involved.

Joe Petrowsky - see my comment to Michael above. Quotes are one thing; tales are something else, esp if there are negative connotations.

Sep 30, 2015 11:21 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Wise words. Once it's out there, there is no taking it back.

Oct 01, 2015 12:38 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Kat Palmiotti - True! One of those "overheard" conversations made its way back to me this week. I found out who overheard and repeated the convo. I'll be very careful the next time that person is within earshot!

Sheila Anderson - mums the word! :) Hope everything is going well with you.

Oct 01, 2015 06:44 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Sharon Tara - can't put the genie back in the bottle once it's out.

Oct 01, 2015 06:44 AM
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

no. dont tell me. i am a blabber mouth :)

Oct 01, 2015 08:05 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Mike Rock - I already knew that about you!! 

Oct 01, 2015 08:39 AM
Mike Rock

yuppers.... heck i tell my priest what my rabbi did wrong. i tell my democratic senator what my republican rep did. heck i even tell my dog what my wife did at macys. i cannot keep a secret...except... one thing..i never tell my wife how much i really drank :)

Oct 01, 2015 09:18 AM
Judith Sinnard
SMARTePLANS; Houston, Texas - Houston, TX
The SMARTePLAN Lady

It's not unusual to sign a non-disclosure / confidentiality agreement to market some of the higher end properties .. sometimes they are a celebrity, or related to one, perhaps a well-known sports figure or just somebody with a buttload of money with attorneys in every corner.  Zipped lips for sure ... no talking about the properties, the owners, etc. etc.  Sometimes you just have to say it out loud ... so I talk to my dog.. I know it sounds weird...but it works!

Oct 01, 2015 11:34 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Pat

There are many things that we learn in a real estate transaction that are confidential and are meant to remain a secret.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Oct 01, 2015 01:12 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Like Kat Palmiotti , having privacy is so important to the way we  do real estate. All calls can be considered confidential. We are privy to so much information and need to protect our clients.

I do love talking in my home office, many times on speaker, with no one else around.

Oct 07, 2015 12:41 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Judith Sinnard - separate confidentiality agreements can be a smart move, although we already vow to keep client records confidential. Talking to your dog is priceless, but as you said, who's he gonna tell?

Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland - I like to talk hands-free on speaker, too. If someone walks in, I quickly switch the speaker off, or excuse myself and walk outside.

 

Oct 07, 2015 12:53 PM
Judith Sinnard

He's a good listener and gives licky-face kisses ..... he keeps all my secrets.

Oct 07, 2015 01:37 PM