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How Can a Client Be Certain He Will Be Properly Represented by His Agent?

By
Real Estate Agent with Bill Cherry, Realtor 0124242

The other day, I posted a blog in which I mused how the NAR and the various member associations seem to have no particular competency requirements of members and no way to test their ability. (Yesterday's Blog)

Perhaps I am wrong, but it appears to me that once you have satisfied the licensing requirements of your state, and you vow to the local Association of Realtors to follow the Realtor ethics, all you need is your check book.

It's an odd approach, really, since almost every other license requires actual proof of competency.

You can't say you're an electrician without the experience that moved you from a journeyman to a master electrician.

In Texas, and probably elsewhere, you can not get a license to teach in a public school without having taken a set curriculum of courses in teaching methods,

The state thinks that is as important as your knowledge of the subject that you will teach.

Before your license to teach in granted, you must actually teach in a real classroom on a daily basis for a full semester, monitored by a licensed teacher, and tested from time to time by an education professor.

Medical educations essentially work the same way. The student becomes a "provisional" doctor and cannot practice alone until he has at least successfully satisfied an internship.

Barbers, beauticians, appraisers, and on and on have to prove competency, but real estate agents don't.

They get a salesman's license and the next day they are working to list and sell real estate.

How is that ethical? An agent is allowed to do what they have insufficient knowledge of.

Meanwhile, the public is lead to believe that they will be competently represented.

BILL CHERRY
Broker - Realtor

Since 1966

Keller Williams Dallas Premier

Direct Number 214 503-8563

Web

Comments(6)

Winston Heverly
Coldwell Banker Access Realty - South Macon, GA
GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CIAS, PA

I loved your read today, hope this becomes a beautiful & successful week.

Nov 03, 2015 11:23 AM
BILL CHERRY
Bill Cherry, Realtor - Dallas, TX
Broker & Wealth Coach

Thank's Winston!  Looks like you believe in education, too.  You've got six designations!

Nov 03, 2015 11:28 AM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Bill - You raise a great question for sure. Also, it seems as though an agent doesn't necessarily have to be good at their job to be very successful. If they advertise enough, they can generate a lot of business, even if they don't know anything about real estate. They just need to know how to generate leads and sell, no knowledge required.

To me, that is very, very unfortunate, and a disservice to our clients.

Nov 03, 2015 01:54 PM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Bill,

We work in one of the most regulated industries in the state.  Sec 1101 of The Texas Real Estate License Act is a 41 page law.  In addition the license act grants TREC the right to adopt its own rules which have the full effect of the law.  Currently TREC rules are 116 pages long.

According to The Texas Real Estate License Act competency is proven one way and that is to pass the exam.

 

In my opinion we don’t need a local, state, or national board dictating who is competent to sell real estate.  Our state legislature has already written that law.  

Nov 03, 2015 10:14 PM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Hi BILL CHERRY Somehow we find ourselves on opposite sides of this issue. I believe that society and everybody in it is best served by open markets. Let everybody hang out their shingle and the market will determine if they deserve to get your business.

Bill Roberts

Nov 04, 2015 12:09 AM
BILL CHERRY
Bill Cherry, Realtor - Dallas, TX
Broker & Wealth Coach

That doesn't provide any resolution whatsoever for those who were poorly represented by an agent who had no training at all, just was able to pass the licensing test.

Part of the test to be a member of a profession is proof of competence. We make no effort whatsoever to make certain that agents have the tools to be competent.  Interestingly, often I've found the broker who holds their license isn't competent either.  Learning anything from someone who is not formally trained is not a secure way of teaching/learning.

 

 

Nov 04, 2015 01:21 AM
Richard Weeks

You don’t have to be a REALTOR® to sell real estate.

Nov 04, 2015 02:43 AM