Ok Boys and Girls...or Ladies and Gentlemen.....I've entered the Sandbox.....I've got my shovel, a Tonka Dump Truck and I'm ready to play Blogging....so here it goes.........
I attended a networking function last night. I learned about it on-line, in fact it's called NetParty. I've attended three of them, last night's being the lowest attendance I have seen. (Rain will do amazing things to attendance!) I enjoy networking events for several reasons....meeting new people, learning about other careers/businesses and of course hoping to find that potential Buyer or Seller Client that I can begin to develop a relationship with.
And of course....they are everywhere....Us...real estate agents! At last night's event, I only met one other agent (always makes me happy...more for me!) But then I met this girl. She's in the financial services industry (health, life insurance, etc.) I'm not so sure how serious she is...she drove a long way to the event (I don't attend a networking event that is way outside my area where I work) and her business card was certainly a "home-made" one. She asked me if I had a license (duh....how else would I sell real estate?) and I said yes, I'm a broker. She then proceeded to tell me she wants to get her real estate license, but does not want to sell. She just wants to be able to meet people that want to buy or sell, and REFER them to another agent to do the work...and she can collect a referral fee! Now, I'm really on the fence with her concept.
True, agents cannot pay a referral fee to anyone who is not a licensed agent. So I understand what she's trying to do. But, here's my problem. She's going to go to school for 60-75 hours, get a real estate license, hang it with a broker that does not charge any fees, and then go around saying she's a real estate agent. But is she? What does she really know about real estate? And what image will that give to those of us that make this our full-time career/business? Hmmmmm.... Here's how I imagine this conversation going....she introduces herself as a real estate agent. The person she is talking to starts to tell her they want to ________(insert buy, sell, rent) a home in such and such a part of town. Maybe she takes notes, maybe she has a good memory. Then, suddenly she says to this person, "Well, I don't actually sell real estate. But I will refer you to someone who does and they can help you." What does that say to this person about our industry/business? Gosh, anyone can have a real estate license, but are they really a REAL agent?
I take what I do VERY seriously. I pride myself in being ethical, honest, and work for my clients best interests. I work long hours (till I get my business built to the level I want it) and like the rewards of my work when I see a Buyer walk into their new home, or a Seller take the last box to the car as they leave their home.
I'm not saying her idea is right or wrong. It just kinda makes me feel like I now want to say to anyone I meet, "I'm a REAL real estate agent (Or REALTOR in this case.)
Comments (13)Subscribe to CommentsComment