No One Cares How Long You've Been A Realtor

I've been a REALTOR® for 9 years so let me tell you how it is... j/k.

Last year, I had this agent tell me she had been in the business 15 years and that she knew what she was doing, as I kept questioning some of the things she would say. I looked up her licensed number and she added about 12 years to that number.  My 9 years might not be very many to the older people with 30 years, but I might have had just about as many transactions as most of them!

Ok John...I am one of those oldies, also from KW and I have all that expierence of my many years, (not telling how many) selling over 300 homes my last year before taking on the TL job here.  Experience does count and you might even learn a few things from us old folks.  I know many new agents do from me, but I would never insult you by saying "sweetie', nor would I use my years in business to presume that  makes me the better negotiator.  I have had the pleassure of working with some awesome younger agents and ones who have many years in the business.  It really depends upon the agent, young or old in the business. I just love  working with knowledgeable, well trained, educated, fun professional agents, even if its their first contract.

John, I am getting to believe that the agents with the great track record (for years of service) have to announce it because they are so far removed from today's technology that the announcement is used to replace their lack of technological ability. It's not what you've done in this business, it's what have you done lately.

I don't think I ever use the line because I still want people to believe I am 39...  It may just be a bad habit some get into.  I think if you respect them for their longevity and forgive them for having to say it, it makes the transaction easier for everyone.

Who is working on the T-Shirts we all get in a few years for surviving this market? 

A lot of the older agents in my office retired within the last few years.  One died shortly after...  I mourn their loss to our office. Even those that are spending their time traveling, with the grandkids and on the golf course. They may not have known a bit about technology  but they had lots of socially redeaming qualities.

I don't mind when they tell me how long they've been in the business ... It's the "sweetie" that drives me absolutely nuts.  Some of the experienced realtors out there also believe they're always right.  It's when you know you are right about something and they refuse to listen to you because you haven't been in the business as long as they have that gets the blood boiling.  Oh, and how about the realtors with the condescending tone of voice that go along with the years of experience.  What it boils down to is "Respect", as you said.  I have had the opportunity to work with realtors that have been in the business 30+ years and I have great respect for the ones I work with.  Why?  Because they have respect for their fellow realtors as well.

John,

This is my first day in activerain.. it is so funny you use the 30 year mark as a basline because I started in July 1979... I am rolling on the floor laughing!   To me it does not matter if an agent has been in the business 30 years of 1 year, KNOWLEDGE is POWER... so if you KNOW what you are doing the rest does not matter.  If you are talking contract law or procedure.. right is always going to be right.  So staying on the top of your game with all the latest changes in rules and regulations will take that little time in the business "Power Play" right out of the game and get you to the finish line. A kind word acknowledging someone has stayed in the business that long is always a nice way to help with "ego" damage control and keep your transaction going forward to closing.

Great healthy engagement and fun to be here.

Carra Riley CRB, CRS, GRI aka Cosmic Cow Pie