Now that you have all stopped rolling around on the floor laughing, please hear what I have to say.  I just did a very involved market analysis for a property I hope to list.  In the details I sent along in an email with comps attached I had to constantly state that "that is not allowed by our board's standards."  It was nearly impossible to pull up comps for an already difficult-to-comp property when so many agents were declaring their non-egress lower level bedrooms in their bedroom counts, for instance.  Or, another favorite, incorporating the square footage of a lower level into the total square footage of a property, with the side disclaimer that 1000 of the square footage is in the finished lower level.  I don't care!  You have a 2000 square foot home with an additional 1000 finished lower level.  You do NOT have a 3000 square foot home!  Get out of my comps!  (This is Ann Arbor, MI - maybe these examples are OK elsewhere.)

In doing this particular market analysis, I was very clear in pointing out these discrepancies and resorted to calling the legitimate ones "pure" listings.  They were following all the rules.  Are these the same kids who cheated in school?  Why do we let them get away with it?  In my sampling, I did note that some of my most respected colleagues were the purest of the pure.  Could they have gotten to their heights because of their integrity?  Unthinkable!!!  Truth begets success???!!!  I don't care if that is true or not, that is the path I am choosing to take.  I will point out the imposters along the way if necessary, you can count on that.  Wish me well, I have a lot more rungs to ascend in my ladder to success, but I intend to, holding MY head high as I do.  I'll make mistakes; I already have.  They won't be intentional and there will probably be atonement.  I won't bring it knowingly on myself.  Honesty - it's the real thing.