I have noticed several postings that address concerns about the Real Estate Agent's Image. The last one I read spoke about people comparing agents to used car salesman. That doesn't seem fair. We really don't do the same things that used care sales people do. Instead of selling cars to our clients we put them in a car and drive them around to homes we are trying to sell them. We don't stand on freezing cold car lots or blazing hot car lots lying through our teeth about how great a car is. We are much more sophisticated and make sure we when we lie through our teeth it is in a pleasant setting like the comfort of a living room or dining room. Are we fibbing when we claim every home has great potential - even if it is hanging off the side of a cliff taking in water? Are we getting pushy like a car salesman when we try and muscle a customer into signing paper - like a buyers agreement before we put them in a car and cchauffeur them off to find their dream home. That's not the same thing as pushing someone into signing on the dotted line for a car loan is it.
Car Salesmen are generally crass and not all that professional. Realtors are not necessarily crass, but are they really professional - or professional enough? It's not fair to cast dispersions on the people in my own profession, but I find many Realtors to be lacking in knowledge and social skills. Many Realtors got into the business because they didn't have another place to go from of lack of education or some other factor that restrains them from seeking loftier professions. Could it be that they are just plain stupid? Have you ever met a Realtor that was just plain stupid? If you insist you haven't make sure you're not lying to yourself and the rest of the world.
There is so much to learn in R#al Estate that their should be more emphasis placed towards education. The CE courses that we take every two years are really not enough to stay abreast in a field where there is so much information and so many things that need to be understood. The Legal and ethical aspects alone are tremendous.
The University of Colorado started a Masters Degree in Real Estate a couple of years ago. If I didn't already have an MBA and I was a little younger I would definitely consider going through that program. Education and Knowledge is key in all businesses. The more we know creates value for our clients and our co-workers. I think the perception of Realtors being on the same level as Car Salesmen has validity because so many of them refuse to educate themselves and prefer to focus only on making a sale, and that should be the main focus of Car Salesmen, not the Realtor. We all have to make money but are main focus should be on educating our clients and one another which will inevitably increase our value. Knowledge breeds confidence. If people like you and believe you know what you are talking about you will probalby sell them a property.
Maybe it is time to raise the bar for licensing. I don't know exactly what should be changed, but I think something needs to be done to raise the level of learning to help create a more sophisticated knowledge base for people who are just entering Real Estate School as well as Agents who have been working in the field for a time.
Robin Basichis
President CBC Property Solutions
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