Honour and Real Estate: Like peanut butter and chocolate?

Great post!  You are so right that the perception is that we should be pitied or blamed for the current state of the economy.  They went after the lenders, the appraisers and lastly the REALTORS that got us into this entire mess.  Good luck to you!

What we do is definetly honorable. Most clients do appreciate and respect what we do, but when there is an ethical issue with an agent it seems to spread to all of us. Unfair, but a reality we must deal with.

Tanya,

Like any profession, the honorable ones constitute a small portion of the industry.  And from our AR connection, I think that you are incomparable to the typical Realtor.  I see honor in your willingness to be self-effacing... g

Tanya, I get what you're saying. As Realtors, we have a terrible reputation, and sometimes I can sense a change in people's body language when I tell them that I am one. There are definitely some greedy, unethical people in this business, and they have made life difficult for your average, everyday real estate agent who simply plugs along, working hard, getting things done.

Tanya, in any profession, practitioners make choices. Some choose the "high road" while some choose .... , well let's say other paths. The honour is in consistently making the right choices in one's professional practices.

I feel proud that I am a Realtor. There is honor in it.  You have to change their perception, one happy client at a time!

A Very wise person once told me that I am in the "people's needs filling business."

I help them fix the problems in their lives.

Some agents just post a sign in the front lawn.

There is a difference

David Pylyp

Living in Toronto

Tanya, There is Honor in whatever you do with passion, and you are passionate in your words and your actions can only be the same.

Tanya,

You are right, there are too many agents. But, that's largely due to the ease of entry. In home staging there really is no set business model, you have to have the right flair, be creative and work on a budget to be successful.

Good luck.

Brian

Tanya, I look at it this way for your clients, you are one multi-talented individual to help them. They should see that I think.

Tanya, I think the reaction you are getting is the usual one for any type of sales person working on a commission. As you pointed out they have a fear of being chased or targeted.

When they need that sales person to get what they want it is a different story. Maybe you should go back to saying you are a Stager LOL.

Tanya, oh, I know exactly how you feel.  YEARS ago, my husband encouraged me to go into real estate and I promptly told him he was nuts.  I didn't perceive it as being anything of which I could be proud.  A few years later and exposure to some really great agents changed my mind, but it's sad we don't have a good image in the eyes of many.  With that said, I agree with those that say it can be as honorable as we make it. And that's all we can do!

Tanya, that used to bother me at first but I know in my heart and by facts that I really help my clients, they appreciate it and I can hold my head high.

Ty

All you can do is all you can do. All you can do is enough. If you are honest and you know it do not waste one ounce of energy worrying about what anyone else thinks. Be proud of who you are and what you do.

Best Regards

Larry

I receive that kind of reaction as well. I just look forward to meeting the people who respect my profession and look to me as a professional. I am also very proud to be a realtor.

Thanks for the post