Special offer

Honesty Is Still the Best Policy!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Real Living Advantage

One day there was a group of boys standing around a stray dog they had found at the park.  A minister walks up and asked "what are you boys doing?"  One of the boys said, "We're telling lies, and the one who tells the biggest lie gets the dog."  "Why boys" the minister said, "When I was your age I never thought of telling a lie."  After a moment of silence one of the boys shrugged and said, "come on guys, I guess he gets the dog." 

I was astounded the other day when I heard some stats on how many students admits to cheating, how many people admits to lying, how many people admits to stealing, and how many people believed that it was alright to do these things if there's nobody was really hurt by it.  We are used to politicians making promises they can't keep, service companies not showing up when they said they would, products that promise more than they can deliver, and on and on the list goes.

I still believe that honesty is the best policy.  It may not be the easy route but it's always the best route.  Our market is tough enough without the added pressure of working with those who don't practice honest and professional ethics.  If you make an  appointment keep it, if your voice mail says I'll call you back then call me back, if the seller is out of the price range for the market you might as well tell him up front, and again, the list goes on and on.

An old friend of mine used to say, "Always do right!  You'll never do the wrong thing if you'll always do the right thing." 

Marian Goetzinger
Pine Knoll Shores Realty 252-422-9000 - Pine Knoll Shores, NC
Crystal Coast Real Estate NC

Well Randy,  I liked the opening story and I know Honesty is the best policy.  One of my pet peeves is REALTORS overstating value in order to get a listing, a direct violations of our Code of Ethics Standard of Practive 1-3.  Check it our.

Dec 01, 2008 07:40 AM
Randy Parker
Real Living Advantage - Dalton, GA

Marian, I totally agree and it is difficult to be brutally honest, but it beats the alternative.

Dec 01, 2008 07:51 AM
Marty Remo
RE/MAX Benchmark- Marty Remo-CDPE, E-Pro - Monroe, NY
HV Home Team

I agree with Marion. It makes everyones job harder than it needs to be.

Dec 01, 2008 08:06 AM
Sara Homan
Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044 - Ocala, FL
Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+

Oh I love that story...I've been accused of being brutally honest, it gets me in trouble too many times.  I have this thing called a conscience...Thank God for it!  Great Post!

Dec 01, 2008 08:15 AM
James Engel
Keller Williams Realty Beverly Hills - Beverly Hills, CA
KW Beverly Hills

Great story. I definitely think that honesty is the best policy. Its always smart to run your business by having your clients/future clients believe that they can really trust you.

Dec 01, 2008 08:48 AM
Tim and Pam Cash
Crye-Leike (Sango) - Clarksville, TN
Real Estate Professionals - Clarksville TN

Randy, loved it.  It is sad that the stats are true.

Dec 01, 2008 11:32 AM