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Let's Not Trash Each Other's Companies...It's more than Unprofessional!

By Barb Szabo, CRS

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Above & Beyond

March 04, 2010 10:51 PM

Let's Not Trash Each Other's Companies...It's more than Unprofessional!

I know that times are tough for many people and many businesses. Competition is fierce as expected. But must people keep on trashing each other's companies, especially when they don't have all the facts?

In my 24 years in real estate, I have worked for Coldwell Banker, Smythe Cramer (now Howard Hanna), Sterling Realty, and now ReMax.

The only company I can really speak knowledeably about is ReMax, and I can't even get that specific because every ReMax office is independently owned and operated.

I really don't know much about arrangements and commission splits for agents working for other companies and why should I? If I were an owner/broker I would make it a point to know what my competition offers. But I''m not a broker/owner so it's not really my concern.

Yet I often hear comments from non ReMax agents about what they think ReMax is all about. My question is if an agent has never, ever worked for ReMax, or KW, or Coldwell Banker etc...how can they possibly know how it is really run? Because they heard it from someone who used to work there 5 years ago? With the explosion of the use of social media to increase our business, agents and brokers have had to adjust, to put it mildly, their way of thinking along with their business plans and models. So even though I used to work at Coldwell Banker and Howard Hanna, I cannot speak to commission splits, desk fees, and/or advertising costs. If an agent feels the need to trash another company, maybe they are not as happy with their own company as they would like people to think they are.

I CAN speak about my ReMax experience at ReMax Trinity in Brecksville Ohio and that's it.

So if an agent or broker is considering making a change, they should do their own due diligence in finding out what a company/brokerage has to offer.

More importantly, if an agent/brokerage is NOT considering a change, they should not be intentionally misrepresenting another brokerage or company.

It's just not nice.

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Kathy Opatka

RE/MAX CROSSROADS - Ocean City, MD

Serving Ocean City, MD, & The Delaware Beaches

I must live in a vacuum! The only comments I ever hear about my company are ..." I'm not ready YET to come to your company!" or "As soon as I make xxxx, I'll be there!" And it's never been a put-down in any way!

Mar 05, 2010 07:09 AM

Paul McFadden

Responsive Pest Control - Seattle, WA

Pest Control, Seattle, WA.

Barb: Thanks for this! What you say is so true. We all believe in our own companies but need to be careful about what we say. Take care.

Mar 05, 2010 09:57 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I've worked with great agents and lousy agents, and their offices have very little to do with whether the agents are great or lousy. I don't understanding trashing an office or even another fellow REALTOR, for that matter. It's depressing and a downer. Besides, I'm too busy sticking my nose into my own business to stick it into somebody else's business. I couldn't even tell you what the gossip is about other offices because I don't participate in those types of discussions. They are contrary to maintaing a positive attitude and doing a good job for your clients.

Mar 05, 2010 11:29 AM

Lana Robbins Realtor ® Licensed Real Estate Broker

Aloha Kai Real Estate - Clearwater, FL

Licensed in Florida, Washington, and Hawai'i

Hi Barb. I have yet to trash other companies though I have been reading lots and lots of trashing. I can understand that the competition is fierce out there but bashing other companies does not help and only reflects the person saying it.

Mar 05, 2010 11:52 AM

Tom Branch

RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs - Plano, TX

Broker, CDPE, SFR, ACRE, Plano TX Ambassador

Never bad-mouth your competitors. It only makes you look bad. Sell what you and your company brings to the table in a positive light.

Tom

P.S. The correct usage is RE/MAX® when used by itself and RE/MAX when used with a brokerage name such as RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs. Check out the trademark guide--it's available at www.remax.net.

Mar 05, 2010 12:01 PM

Barb Szabo, CRS

RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH

E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

Leander, Very well said!

Carla, That happens a lot.

Sharon, Me too

Pam, Not a crowd I want to be a part of.

Carol, thanks for the touch of humor!

Betsy, That's right...rise above.

Alan, I completely agree

Donna, I hear it too. And when I tell them that my desk fees are tax deductible, more shock.

Kristin, Exactly. That is the real point of my post.

Chris, We are very much alike in this regard. I like to know my options but I also like to deal in fact.

Paul, My pleasure.

Erica, That's right up there with "I am a multi million dollar producer."

Well said Elizabeth and while I am not around my office much, sometimes you can't control what comes out of someone's mouth:) much as you'd like to.

Lana, Yes it's very counter productive.

Kathy, Here is a quote from this week and what inspired me to write this blog,"ReMax is going to be left in the dust because of their desk fees". It 's a rotten statement on so many levels.

Mar 05, 2010 12:10 PM

Christine Donovan

Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA

Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

I don't see the purpose of "trashing" another company. It seems unprofessional to me.

Mar 05, 2010 12:54 PM

Jen Anderson

Exit By the Bay Realty - Chesapeake Beach, MD

It is just like when a seller says thy know about real estate, they sold a home 5 or 10 years ago! Only talk about what you know for sure!

Mar 05, 2010 01:03 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

@ Christine: "Trashing" is so silly... and so pointless... because it mainly reflects badly on the person DOING the trashing... and NOT on the person being trashed.

Mar 05, 2010 02:20 PM

Kat DeLong

Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ

REALTOR

Barb; great post. I too, have worked with several other companies before coming to RE/MAX®. My area is very small and completion steep to say the least. Sometimes I feel the need to "promote" RE/MAX®.... and that I am not the least bit ashamed. :-)

Mar 05, 2010 02:22 PM

Loreena and Michael Yeo

3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX

Real Estate Agents

I will keep my opinions to myself. On the other hand, why do politicians always want to slam the other opponent down by digging just down and dirty. It's the reason why I didn't vote in the recent Texas elections. I just dont like that.

Mar 05, 2010 04:07 PM

Richie Alan Naggar

people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA

agent & author

I will say this. I have noticed that over the years, REMAX stands out to me and by that I mean that every agent I met who worked for a REMAX knew their stuff. I was always impressed. Perhaps it is not about enitities, but people.Those agents who stood out could have said they worked for anyone and I would have thought well of that place. Consistently however, REMAX must have a high universal bar or it attracts star players. I am not sure which, but it works. As far as putting down on anyone for any reason, none of us have traveled this way before (except Shirley Maclaine LOL), so being tolerant as we all learn is the most acceptable approach to take in my opinion. Put your energy where it best serves you, and it has a way of serving others at the same time. Thrashing others? What a waste of time! Good post and thank you Barb

Mar 06, 2010 06:43 AM

Jim Norbuta

RE/MAX Traditions (Cleveland, Ohio) - Chagrin Falls, OH

Barb,

You should be very happy where you are...with Judy Darwal as owner/broker. We are thrilled to see RE/MAX Trinity doing so well.

We worked with Judy on a Greater Cleveland relocation program when we both worked for Smythe, Cramer. Judy was a terrific person to work with. Smythe, Cramer was sold, and we both found RE/MAX fit our needs.

The 4 year experience with our former broker was terrific, and we do miss our friends from the Bainbridge office. Our RE/MAX office in Chagrin Falls is different....much better for us. We all need someone that we can work with, and Dwight Milko is fantastic.

Let's not be judgemental about what's best for someone else, or critisize their employer.

If you are happy in your work environment, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.

Continued Blessings to you and Judy.

Jim & Joan Norbuta

RE/MAX Traditions

Mar 06, 2010 01:25 PM

1~Judi Barrett

Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK

BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

There is no profit in trashing any competitor... besides who would want to be that kind of person????

It's amazing that there must be enough of it going on or posts against it wouldn't be written.

I don't encounter it very often, but when I do, it never lands right. Nothing right about it.

Mar 06, 2010 02:07 PM

Barb Szabo, CRS

RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH

E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

Christine, Quite!

Jen, Yes, try to deal with just the facts.

Karen Anne, Thanks!

Kat, Nothing wrong with promoting your own company or office.

Loreena, We'll never get it out of politics but we can try among ourselves.

Erica, I believe it does :)

Richie, Thanks for the kind words about ReMax but as you said so well, there are great agents in every company.

Jim and Joan, I cannot tell you how blessed I feel to have Judy and Jim as owners of our ReMax. Judy is generous to a fault and she has created a beautiful, professional work environment for us all. I have copied and pasted your comments and sent them to her. Thanks again for stopping by!

Judi, Karen Anne (#65) talked about some of the history with ReMax in the Cleveland area. It was a long tough battle and I am grateful that REMax did not give up the fight.

Mar 07, 2010 12:22 AM

Robert Foster

United Country-Michigan Outdoor Properties - Northern Office - Wolverine, MI

Trash other companies and they may want to ignore your listings when presenting opportunities to clients. It is best to work with other agencies fairly and honestly. That way you dont have to worry about what you said bad about Brokerage A. But that does not mean that you should not protect yourself, because I know of some agents that I would not trust with a ten foot pole, but I will keep this to myself.

Mar 07, 2010 09:48 AM

Richard Weeks

Dallas, TX

REALTOR®, Broker

Barb,

Well said. There are so many different places to choose to work. What is a good fit for someone might be a nightmare for someone else. If you are not happy at one just go somewhere else.

Mar 08, 2010 01:12 AM

Sherry Chastain

Hendersonville, Nashville, Old Hickory, Lebanon Tennessee - Hendersonville, TN

Realtor, Selling Homes, Lake Properties,Luxury Homes,Short Sales

So very well said. It's the people that makes the office, the brand is just the umbrella you all have to get along under.

Mar 08, 2010 01:26 PM

Barb Szabo, CRS

RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH

E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

Robert, I know some like that as well, but overall I get to work with some great agents.

Richard, It's all about choice and thank God it is!

Sherry, Like the sandbox everyone talks about these days:)

Mar 09, 2010 12:17 PM

Whitney Peddy

de Luxe Homes & Estates - Fort Worth, TX

Great post!

Mar 09, 2010 03:11 PM

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