Do We Need a Class on Class?

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Do We Need a Class on Class?

We speak about ethics and legal issues when do business. As REALTORS® we have the Code of Ethics. It is required to take a class on NAR ethics periodically. Can you really teach ethics? I believe you either have them or you don't. The classes are great for reminding agents of the details, but they will never make someone ethical.

In the same spirit I am thinking that possibly we need a class on class. The classes may not give someone class, but will at least let them know what it is when they see it.

Here is a few examples I have run into in the last few months where the other agent or service provider had no class and probably would not recognize it if it kissed them on the lips.

An agent when showing one of my listings left a stack of their loan officer spouse's business cards on top of my business cards.
A loan officer came into my open house and placed a stack of their flyers on the counter without even asking.
A few bloggers have left several comments on my post longer than the original post trying to hijack my blog.
There was an agent greeting buyers outside another agent's open house and offering to show them the home.
Agents who make a point of tell other agents how much money they are making.
Agents who look for loop holes in the COE to allow them to contact other agents clients.
People who pass out business cards at a funeral or wedding.
Brokers who call or mail to other offices trying to steal their agents.
Bloggers who mention names when discussing bad situations.

I am sure you have many others you can add to the list. Please feel free to share them.

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Randy L. Prothero, REALTOR®, ABR, AHWD, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR

Century 21 Liberty Homes

Randy Prothero is well established as an expert in working with military / VA clients and first time home buyers. His home seller's (listing) campaign is one of the most aggressive marketing programs in the area.

Based out of Mililani, Hawaii. Randy services the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and the Leeward Regional Chairman of the Honolulu Board of Realtors. To improve overall professionalism in his area Randy also offers classes for real estate agents.

www.HawaiiRandy.com * Oahu (Honolulu County) Property Search * Hawaii Military Relocations

Posted by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (808) 384-5645 on 07/11/2008 11:15 PM

Comments (67)

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Originally posted at: Hawaii Randy's Real Estate Opinions: Do We Need a Class on Class?

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This post has been included in Hawaii Real Estate News Honolulu County, HI Real Estate News
Post is included in group: Realtors®
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67 Comments on Do We Need a Class on Class?

JUL

2008

You always have a bunch of good ones.... ethics come from our morals and values and how we live our lives in real life ...and business...there are no differences in the way we carry ourselves as a good human being.

There is a code of ethics in all businesses but your own personal code of ethics is what should gear all of us. Just a pity some have none.

Randy, you pretty much hit them all. My favorite is when someone bad mouth's my company, when they do not realize I am one of the owners.

You definately can't teach someone to practice ethics....that is the biggest joke I've heard of with the "Realtor" name. I was forced into becoming a Realtor to get the CT MLS, they won't let non-Realtors have access to it. In this case, wouldn't everyone just go through the motions to do what they need to do to get the MLS? It's wacky! Like you said, you have them or you don't.

Sincerely,

Kathleen

......agents who 'preview' a listing while the owners are home and tell them what they would do if it were their listing.

Most of us are taught right from wrong at a very young age, right??? Agreed!

But, it's kinda like the Bible....we twist and stretch to make it OK to do or believe what we want.

Randy, Some of these are the tackiest I have ever heard. Standing outside an open house - I don't even know what to say on that one!

Always do the right thing...and you won't go wrong.

JUL

2008

Randy, good post. I almost always enjoy what you write! Your comment about ethics is true about that and class. Thank you once again!

Sally - That is a fact.

Nancy - It is a shame we are even having this discussion.

David - I saw on one of your posts another broker trying to recruit you.

Kathleen - The other advantage of joining the Board is there is recourse with agents who violate the COE.

Virginia - I have seen that one a few times.

Linda - If we have to twist, it is not OK.

Steve - I know of two different occurrences of that one.

Trey - It makes life so much simpler.

Tony & Darcy - Thank you

There was an agent greeting buyers outside another agent's open house and offering to show them the home.

Hmm. That's wild. Is that allowed??? There's one agent who should definitely be taking your class on class!

Randy~

I live in the Appalachians where this kind of thing NEVER happens...(just kidding)...

Unfortunately, whether we call it "tacky", "devoid of class" or "clueless"
...experiencing the receiving end of such behavior definitely is NOT fun!

Luckily...we have this post whereby we can recognize some of the most offensive encroachments on personal integrity that you have illuminated, with style. This post is a jewel. THX!

I used to work with a guy...I gave him the nick name the undertaker. He would follow around funeral processions to see who died in the neighborhood and then send them a sympathy card with the words...sorry for your loss...by the way if you are thinking of selling just give me a call.

I know many agents who tr to steal clients and I'm not sure they even understand what they are doing.

Hi Randy,
Too true! As my Grannie says "you can't buy class, it's in the genes". I'm not sure that is true, but those with no class do not seem to have a clue that they don't have it.

I guess I better stop hanging out at those open houses then LOL.

Randy, you are right, you cannot teach someone to be ethical. Hopefully having to go to the mandatory classes every year will rub off on some people. Your examples on class often border unethical practices.

Good Post!

This is why real estate agents are held in such low esteem by the public. They have no idea how business is done, and they take lots of hostages along the way.

Randy, your right, ethics isn't taught. You also don't have ethics only in one part of your life, so it makes yo wonder about the operson as a whole.

Randy:

Would a class on class make a difference? Perhaps for a few, but for many they will just continue doing what they are doing. They are either clueless or don't care.

I took my out of town buyers to see a home the other day where the listing agent had to be present. I know her very casually. The home was not right right, but she tried to engage my buyers in a conversation about what they were looking for and to tell them about some other listigns of heres that might work for them. We left. My buyers made quite a few comments about this after we got outside - they were pretty annoyed.

Jeff

Unfrotuantely there is never a shortage of "class-less" folks! Even on AR! But greeting folks outside another's open house - pretty ______ (fill in the blank)!

No Licensed - It definitely shows a lack of class and ethics.

janeAnne - I hope I am not giving the impression that this happens more than it does. I see more than most because I deal with so many people. These are definitely the exceptions.

Neal - I had one posting comments on my blog last week. I said that what he was doing was bottom feeding. He actually wrote a post trying to defend his practice.

Cynthia - I find that to be true. They also can not understand why folks like us feel the way we do.

Mike - I am sure no good Century 21 agent would ever do it.

Michael - Some also are unethical. Either way it makes them look really bad.

Jim - I think that is the part that bugs me the most. They hurt the public's impression of our industry.

William - Here is a thought. Our local legislature passed a law requiring the local legislatures to take ethics classes. We have had a few with legal problems. I somehow feel the classes will be a waste of time with that bunch.

Jeff - I am sure that agent had no clue how bad she looked to your clients.

Gary - I had one greeting them in my open house. I actually placed me hand on his back and walked him all the way to the curb. (true story) It was my first open house ever and the agent probably thought I would be a push over.

" In the same spirit I am thinking that possibly we need a class on class. The classes may not give someone class, but will at least let them know what it is when they see it."

My opinion is in line with yours, if someone is trying to look for loopholes they are a bit sketchy from the start! Now looking at the rules to see what is kosher and is not, that is a different story. I do think class can be taught, it's a nurture vs nature thing.

HA, I hear you on that. I had another agent call up the other agents in town and tell them my new listing was hers and that my new listing would be taken down by days end.

She then later told one of my relocation buyers that I was untrustworthy and then wrote a letter to Cartus and told them that my buyer would rather work with her than me. The buyers were livid with her when they found out..

But like someon else said earlier, do the right thing and you will prevail...

I've always said the being ethical means doing the right thing even when no one is watching...I'm not sure we can teach that.

Randy a kiss on the lips is one place, but I had another part of the anatomy going through my mind as I read this ......... LOL

Very funny and so true. I do think you either have class or none at all. It's the way you dress, speak and act!

Carole - Class can be taught. Usually by parents by example.

Ryan - That is about as low as it gets. She needs to lose her license.

Monika - Class is something you show even under tough conditions.

George - Too funny.

LaNita - With maturity you can get it. It is usually too late for most.

A dlass on class... that's funny. and sad!

JUL

2008

Georgina - It is that.

Great post. I agree you either have morals or you don't.

Mike

Sometimes the agents who publish their ethical and moral superiority are the ones who have the least. I've found that to be true in at least one instance.

Kathy, you are so very correct on that statement.

The one agent in our area who is the worst at trashing other agents and then lying is the one who also has the "Code of Ethics" on her front web page.

When I was making a formal complaint against her, I looked at her web site and low and behold, the Realtor Code of Ethics was on the front home page...

Completely amazing...

Randy,

the more I think about this thread, the more I like it. These things need to be brought out into the open for discussion and review. If anything the agents making these huge ethical and business mistakes should be here reading these and making sure they do NOT do these things to others as they would NOT like them done to themselves.

On the flip side, I start to get worked up thinking of how I work so hard to put myself above the the rest with ethics and hard work and how a few goofs who are a joke to our industry can come in and under-mind all of my hard work.

You see, I deal primarily in a second home and resort market, so it is not like all the locals know who to use for real estate and who to run from. So many out of towners come in and have no clue what or who to use. What brand might be great in their market may be lackadaisical in another market. As you and I know, the agents make the office.

Anyways, thanks for letting me rant and have a great weekend...

Yes, Yes, Yes, we need a class or class

Anne

Michael F. - That sums it up.

Kathy - I guess that is like the used car salesman that says "trust me". LOL

Ryan - Maybe she never read it.

Ryan - You make another good point. The name of the company is not the important part. it is the individual agent and the local office.

Anne - :)

LOL, Randy, I believe you might be correct with her never reading it.

Randy. Some people just don't have it. You could teach them til you turn color and they still wont get it.

Ryan - If she read it she sure didn't get it.

Robert - You are so right.

Once at an Open House, another agent came through alone and started to verbally trash the place in a loud voice that everyone could hear. He had a listing across the street that was gobs better than mine, he boasted. Of course, mine sold the next day at full price. His didn't. House karma bit him in the rear!

JUL

2008

Patricia - That is a perfect example of someone who has no class at all.

JUL

2008

On a lighter note, I saw a real estate agent chomping on a HUGE wad of gum, while talking about houses to a customer. The whole conversation was impacted by this decision, making the agent look, well, lacking in "class". Suffice it to say, after I was shown this video of MYSELF, I don't chew gum with clients anymore... great post, Randy- you're certainly a "class act".

edit: why isn't this blog featured?

Laurie - I don't chew gum, so that is one less thing I have to worry about.

"I've always said the being ethical means doing the right thing even when no one is watching...I'm not sure we can teach that." Monika

We had they exact definition in the Air Force, it was used to describe one of our three main "Core Values - Integrity"

I did have a Realtor pull something one day that didn't sit well. We were both having an Open House in a new neighborhood. I watched her walk from her listing to mine with a couple and she just started showing them around. I was new in Real Estate and I guess I just figured they were her clients. Well the couple came back later and asked me for some more info and specs. I asked them (doing the ethical thing) "would you like me too send the info to your agent" they looked at me kind of puzzled and said "she is not and will not be our agent, that lady has ethical issues". Come to find out both of these people are former Realtors and could not believe what she had done.

Thanks for a great post! Ethics seems to always be a thorn our side. And the ones who really seem to need it, don't seem to paying much attention!

Jeremy - I bet that agent did not even realize that those buyers saw her lack of ethics.

Sandy - You are right.

JUL

2008

Hi Randy,

I'm glad you took the time to remind folks in this business good standards of ethics. I think you made a good point when you said, "You either have them or you don't." Some people might benefit from a class on ethics, so I'm glad to see these types of classes are available. Some of the incidences you described are shocking, to say the least!! Maybe some people think they have to be aggressive to get clients. Yikes!

Deborah - Those who are being aggressive may also be desperate and holding on way too tight.

Randy- She realized it, they told her why they wouldn't be using her EVER. Problem is I have had some dealings with her since then and she hasn't learned from it unfortunately.

Jeremy - I guess she does not want to get it. I wish folks like that would find another line of work. They really hurt the reputation of our profession.

"Those who are being aggressive may also be desperate and holding on way too tight."

Excellent point, Randy!!

Hope you're enjoying the weekend!!

Deborah - It has been a busy yet rewarding day. My family and I joined area volunteers to serve a send off lunch for National Guard troops and their families who are shipping out for the Middle East. I am heading out to show property and then off to my sons evening soccer game. Not a bad Saturday.

JUL

2008

One can be taught ethics, but one cannot be forced to practice ethics.

The basis of all ethical conduct between individuals is based upon the principle that one should treat others, as he/she would like to be treated.

Jeff - The preamble to our Code of Ethics references the Golden Rule. I am glad it is in there.

JUL

2008

You either have class, or you don't. Sometimes it can be "learned" if there is enough pain to create the need to change. However, typically, you either have it - or you don't.

AUG

2008

Sheila - That is true. It is usually learned in childhood, by example.

AUG

2008

Randy, Here is one that happened to me just the other day! Agents who try to high-jack your clients while your standing there showing them a property that also happens to be open! Jeez!

Dave

Dave - Someone who does not have much class.

Randy - Great topic! I like the comment on the agent who left business cards for a loan officer spouse...FOTFLMAO!

Recently, I had a loan officer stand outside our open house trying to pick up new prospects before they have an opportunity walk inside the house...Even worse, he was "pimping" the Mortgage Accelorator Program (in my opinion a bad deal for about 95% of home owners out there). The loan program he was presenting is a whole other blog topic. But, I HAD NEVER MET THIS GUY. HE WAS NEW TO LENDING AND THOUGHT HE WAS "THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX!"

This one is the topper: There is this guy that has been to my last TEN consecutive open houses and NEVER remembers meeting me NOR my name. He goes to open houses trying to pick up REALTOR® business for his video business. He creates real estate videos and posts them to web sites (Not sure about anyone else, but I don't need help with videos). It's BEYOND annoying.

Add insult to injury, he still has the audacity AFTER realizing he has completely forgotten who I am to ask me for referrals of other agents he can call. Just nuts!

I don't think a class on class helps some people. I'm hoping these low end tactics that seem to be displayed by the bottom feeders in our industry will just continue to fail and leave the industry all together. This market is a surrogate for getting ready of the classless

Kimberly - Ten open houses? I would say he is a stalker if he remembered who you are.

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Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (808) 384-5645

Mililani, HI

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