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Harder to be an Illinois REALTOR

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Top Properties

I've always said, "I wish it were more difficult to be a real estate agent." It's not that I'm looking for more of a challenge than selling property- that's challenging enough. It's that I think I hold people in my profession to a standard that they often times do not live up to. I just run into too many unknowledgable, unprofessional, lazy, agents that I wish did something else instead of making my job more difficult as I "carry" them through deals.  Now, don't get me wrong, there's TONS of great agents out there. But like any profession, there are those that aren't putting their all into being the best they can be.

More than this, I HATE the term salesperson!!! I don't want to debate with folks whether or not I'm in sales.....I'm not. I am in the business of marketing the heck out of people's homes that are for sale. I'm also in the business of helping buyers make educated purchases and brokering the sale of homes....I'm not selling them something. To me, that has such a negative connotation as in, "I don't want to be sold something."

Here are some of the changes regarding License categories just signed into law.

  • License categories change from Salesperson & Broker to Broker & Managing Broker (YAY! Now I'm brokering deals instead of selling someone something)
  • Increases education requirement for Brokers & Managing Brokers (entry level license is now a BROKER...not a salesperson)

And this is just lip service and making up new titles for things until:

  • Increases education from 45 hrs. to 90 hrs (this should weed out some of the lazy)
  • 12 hrs. of Continuing Education (CE) each renewal period except for the first renewal period when 30 hrs. of post licensing are required

I've already heard agents say, "This is horrible." "This is going to be so hard." I LOVE IT.

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Jim Ludes is a REALTOR with Century 21 Coleman-Hornsby in Grundy and Will County, IL. If you have a question about real estate that he might be able to help with, email him at Jim@JimLudes.com or call/text at 815-712-7786. If you'd rather observe from afar or become friends first, check him out at:

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Jamie Parker Gwinnett
Exp Realty - Snellville, GA
Realtor, Snellville Homes

Actually I think these are great changes.  You are right that it will weed out the lazy.  It will also make those in the profession better agents.

Jan 08, 2010 05:58 AM
Lori Gilmore
Baird & Warner Real Estate - Joliet, IL
Realtor - Will County Illinois

I totally agree with you!  Can't wait to have the changes take effect.  Each month when I get the association newsletter, I am thrilled to see the membership number dropping. . .with the new licensing and renewal requirements I'll bet the membership will be smaller yet.  Here's to fewer more professional practitioners!

Jan 15, 2010 12:59 AM