Because you CAN...Doesn't Mean you SHOULD....
This post by Sally K. & David L. Hanson is 100% correct. Having the right team is so important. You should not just add team members to see numbers grow because that will certainly hurt your brand. Make sure you have the right people on the bus and the right people in the right seats. Quote from Jim Collins in Good to Great.
A number of situations that we have run across in our real estate practice have really "rung this bell" over and over and
over....and not always with the greatest results as one might well imagine. We see this as I am sure each of you do...with real estate agents, lenders, lawyers, doctors, trades people.
My Grandfather used to say that there will come a time when there are "Right eye Doctors and Left Eye Doctors." I believe he is correct ! (or very nearly.) Someone we know saw a doctor recently
and asked if he could have something for pain until surgery could be performed...No..have to see another doctor for that...say WHAT ?
But I digress...there are areas in every profession that are specialized....in our own...luxury, short sales, buyers agents, new construction and commercial real estate come to mind. Should you act in each of those areas....representing EITHER Buyers or Sellers if you do not have training or experience ? Our answer would be ...ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Can You ? Unfortunately the answer to that is ...Oh Yes...not only CAN you...most probably speaking only for our experience as Wisconsin licensed agents...though we suspect it runs rampant in other states....it's easy. It is easy because no supervising Broker is either paying attention OR if they
are...they are looking at another listing/sale as a source of income with careless disregard to the ability or lack thereof of the agent. It matters not at all "how many years" anyone has been in practice...if they have not had the education and experience in a specific area....the rule SHOULD be ...refer it or shadow it....don't do it because you CAN.
We could say that part of the responsibility belongs to the Consumer....does any prospective Buyer or Seller question, ask for, require the agent that they are going to hire to not only show...but verify their credentials in a specific area ? No ...none that we know of...do they even know that there is advanced education in a particular area ?
Probably not. They hired the agent because...they were the relative, friend, neighbor...or the first person who called...or met at an open house....it is sometimes "Happenstance" not "OnPurposeStance".....a mistake that they can pay for dearly.
Does this "Happenstance" contribute to the less than professional image of Real Estate Agents....and the profession in general ? Of course it does ! If you OWN or MANAGE a real estate Brokerage....Stop the Buck at the beginning...Make sure that the agents you supervise are working in areas in which they are qualified. As an agent...it the commission worth risking your reputation because you are practicing in an area in which you are not educated, experienced, qualified ?
Let us be our own police...Let us do what we do best
and LEARN before we EARN in areas in which we are unfamiliar, unschooled, not qualified. Do not participate in a "Real Estate Experiment"....be an educated professional.
This is a professional public service message brought to you courtesy of Sally K. & David L. Hanson, Broker Associates with Keller Williams proudly serving southeastern Wisconsin.
Comments(21)