Good REALTOR Bad REALTOR....Our Industry Needs Good

Being a REALTOR, I hear it a lot.  REALTORS get a bad rap as being lazy, not returning calls and in general not having a sense of urgency.  Well, I am here to agree....to an extent.  You have heard of the 80/20 rule I am sure.  One example is 80% of the nation's wealth is controlled by 20% of the population.....you can use the rule of thumb with many situations.  Well, it is no different in the Real Estate industry.  There are a lot of good REALTORS out there, but there are also a lot that are less than mediocre.  This equates to 80% of Real Estate transactions are done by 20% of the total REALTORS out there...in other words...they are the good ones....a lot just sit back a polish their license on the wall and do a transaction here and there. 

I have been debating on writing this particular blog for a while because I didn't want to "knock" anyone in my profession....well, after this week I have broken down to acknowledge some need a wake up call if they want to stay in the business.  No names or companies mentioned, but here are my two biggest peeves and one unbelievable occurrence.  Here's one and two together.  After showing a house, our MLS system has an agreement with a showing system that automatically sends an email to the showing agent to provide feedback from the showing.  This is important because it helps the listing agent as well as the seller know what is right OR wrong with the home...be it style, paint, smell, location.....whatever..it helps to know what others are thinking.  MAYBE 50% of agents give feedback....INCREDIBLE.  Next, returning calls.  Getting a Real Estate license and keeping it active takes some brain power and of course time, but how can people not return phone calls....that just kills me.  By the grace of God and ingenuity of Mr. Alexander Graham Bell, the telephone was invented and actually works fairly well.  Email, cell phones, office phones.....all of these will work, why not utilize them.  I have never understood this procrastination.  If you are a REALTOR reading this blog that means that you are into "reading blogs" and hence are probably a good agent,.....because you are interested and want to research your profession...if this is you then you know the type people I am talking about.

The unbelievable:

We are held to a high standard when showing houses.  We know to cut off lights, close doors, take off shoes if it's been raining....you know common sense stuff.  I have a listing directly in front of my house...and I work from home so I have the luxury of seeing how long agents stay with their buyers.  Last week an agent showed the house and after about 10 minutes she walks out on the front porch leaving buyers inside...and lights up a cigarette.  In 1980 this might not be bad, but come on, don't smoke on my clients front porch.  After taking a few drags her buyers come out and she puts the cigarette out and then THROWS it in the pine straw (we are in a drought by the way) flower bed.  I couldn't believe it so I went over afterwards to check.....yep!! So this agent was with a VERY very very large national franchise that really promotes the professionalism of their agents.  I have debated on calling her Broker, but just decided to write about it in cyberspace.  Oh well....that is my rant and this is my site. 

REALTORS: hopefully I am not the only one noticing these things.  BUYERS/SELLERS:  Choose your agent carefully.