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Professional Ethics - How Do You Rank?

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with iPro Realty Ltd., Brokerage

Every year (usually in November) Gallup conducts a poll on professional ethics and integrity.  Due to the number of professions and cost, some professions are included in the poll every year while others are on rotation, appearing on the list every 3 years.  2008 will include "real estate agents".  This is our year to shine!

The annual rankings contain about 20 or so professions.  For a bird's-eye-view, I've aggregated and averaged the Gallup results over the past 6 years so we can see how all 40 professions rank together:

Professional Ethics and Integrity Rankings

Disclaimer:  I am not a statistician.  Additional notes:

  • 6 years selected so that the rank of each profession was based on at least two observations
  • omissions: lobbyists, firefighters, home repair people, jewellers, and members of the U.S. military who only appeared once on the polls in the last 17 years
  • assume averaging takes out the "bounce" from rounding and year-to-year variation
  • breaks a rule by combining multi-year surveys togther, i.e., introduces a time bias
  • "ties" in the above list result from rounding error and lack of access to the raw data
  • <insert your profession here>  I have no control over the professions that are added to the list (e.g., social worker, mortgage broker, ...)
Selling Homes in Western New York, Licensed Real Estate Broker, Terri Kern
Turning Key Realty - East Amherst, NY
Terri Kern, Broker, Turning Key Realty

We're above the lawyers and moving up.  I believe our reputation is improving.  Professional Ethics is number 1 with me and my clients know it.

May 18, 2008 04:56 AM
Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

We used to be in line with car salesmen.  Good to know there is a clear separation now.

May 18, 2008 05:00 AM
Adam Brett
The Adam and Eric Group - Fullerton, CA
The Adam and Eric Group, Fullerton's Finest

I find it is a personal thing - but for the most part I think people compare us to used car salesmen.

May 18, 2008 05:04 AM
Barry Bridges
Barry Bridges Weichert Realtors Bridges & Co. - Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Lake professional

Well good news and bad news. Thank heaven we are higher than congressmen and senators but how on earth could we be lower than journalists and TV reporters!

May 18, 2008 05:06 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

With the current mortgage mess we will probably get lumped in with that crowd !

May 18, 2008 05:42 AM
Heather the Realtor Orlando, Lake Mary
LemonTree Realty - Orlando, FL
First Time Home Buyers, Bank Owned Homes

Haha I was going to say the same thing as Terri at least we are above Lawyers and Used car salesman I guess there can be worst positions.

May 18, 2008 05:43 AM
Betty Knowles
Southwest Missouri Realty - Springfield, MO
Ready to sell? Call Betty!

I've never understood the used car salesman comparison. We don't try to mislead the public like they do.

May 18, 2008 05:43 AM
Anthon Pang
iPro Realty Ltd., Brokerage - Mississauga, ON
Broker

What I "see" is professionals who provide a service generally rank higher than professionals involved in sales, marketing, or politics.

May 18, 2008 05:52 AM