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Are You A Professional?

By
Real Estate Agent

Recently, a series of events involving "contractors" left me with this thought, " Are there any Real Professionals left out there anywhere?". I'm sure you have  experienced this as well. People who just don't perform or measure up to your expectations.

Of course you can decide to never "use" these non-professional people again, other than that there isn't much you can do about it. But if you know me, then you know that I always try to find SOMETHING positive in every situation. In this particular case, I found a burning desire NOT to become one of these "non-professionals" in my business. I don't want to be the one people write about, talk about, or decide not to do business with anymore.

To me, being a professional in my business means:

  • Respecting your time as my customer, client, or associate.
  • Answering your call, or returning it promptly.
  • Following through when I say I will take care of an issue.
  • Keeping my customers & clients informed every step of the way.
  • Using proper forms, addendums, and exhibits and executing them properly.
  • Keeping confidential information, confidential.
  • Doing everything that I promise to  do when trying to earn your business.

And last but not least, SPELL CHECK. If you don't know how to build a decent brochure or flyer to advertise your business or listing, please hire someone capable to do it for you! I have seen flyers for million dollar homes that look like a first grade homework assignment. Not only does this demean that particular agent, it carries over to the rest of us devalues agents as a whole.

 

 I live and work in the North Georgia Mountains. People sometimes refer to us as "those mountain people". And although I assure you that it is completely appropriate at times to officiate my business in blue jeans, I still treat my customers and clients with professionalism!

 

Posted by

Justin Douglass
Benchmark Residential & Investment Real Estate - Portland, ME

Its too bad people get away with sub par work and can, with a straight face, charge you and not offer to fix or even admit a mistake. Word of mouth will get back to them at some point in life. I agree with checking the details before you print out flyers and things, however I will say some people that are talented in one thing might not be in another. Those people should have an assistant  :-)   I hope that my professionalism will bring me referrals for the next 20 years. 

Sep 07, 2008 11:57 PM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

I just try to keep everything I do on a professional level..I might make a mistake once in a while but not on purpose. No one is perfect. But I do get annoyed when I do make a small error because I'm a perfectionist.

Sep 07, 2008 11:58 PM
Kathy Fey
Fey & Associates - Dacula, GA

I am not sure how unprofessional people stay in business.  Everything you do is a refelection of yourself.

Sep 08, 2008 12:04 AM
Michael Sahlman
www.HomesForVIPs.com - Keller Williams Realty - Miami Beach, FL
e-PRO - Miami Beach Florida Luxury Homes

Well I could reply to this post with a rant, but I already did that earlier last week in dealing with a few transactions and the lack of professionalism experienced with a few realtors I did not know and a couple from a sister office. It is a challenge not to lose your patience and your cool, howver, one thing that I am learning is to maintain your cool and communicate with respect and tolerance if you want to achieve a good end result, because it is so easy to make people wrong (and you can be the one who is right) and win the battle, but lose the war (the real estate deal)!

Sep 08, 2008 12:09 AM
Carol Swain
Keller Williams Real Estate - Langhorne, PA
Realtor, -www.swainsells.com- Bucks County, Pa

I agree with you.  It especially aggravates me when I work with another agent on a deal, and they are unprofessional.  I like to cross my T's and dot my I's.

Sep 08, 2008 12:32 AM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

I think the market will weed out a lot of the unprofessional agents. However, I'm hearing quite a few of the existing agents are getting part time jobs to help carry them through. Although a part time job doesn't make someone unprofessional, I would think it would be difficult to return phone calls, make appointments, etc. while working another job.

Your list shows it doesn't really take much to be a professional agent to stay on top of your business. I'm glad their are some conscientious agents out there who take this business seriously. I just wish there were more like you out there.

Good Post!

 

Sep 08, 2008 12:40 AM
Kimberly Luna
Panama City Beach, FL

Thank you for the comments everyone. Michael, I agree that some agents have had no choice to get part time or even full time jobs. I think it's extremely difficult to try and do both and remain professional. If you are an agent with listings that must have a job, please make arrangements for someone else to take calls for you when you are unavailable. It's better to do business on a referral basis and keep your good reputation that to try and " do it all" and fail miserably.

Sep 08, 2008 12:45 AM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Kimberly,  what a great list!  It is on target and everything I strive to do in my business.  We must treat clients how they want to be treated!

Sep 08, 2008 04:08 PM