So the part-time agents are scum argument has reared its ugly head once again. I just finished reading Jeffrey DiMuria's post entitled The General Practices of Bad Realtors, which prominently featured as item #6 "Working Part-time". At least he admitted that grief might be forthcoming, lol! I considered leaving a comment, then decide
d it would be too long, so ok Jeffrey here's your push-back:
Let me beg to differ. Every time this subject comes up, which it seems to do with frequency, it is stated as a sweeping generalization that all part-time agents, regardless of circumstances, are substandard, with no thought to the concept that "part-time" might not be universally consistent. One might as well argue that all red-headed (or blue-headed!) agents are difficult to work with and should be banned. Invariably, in the comments on these posts, vastly differing practices that might be considered part-time are presented. Equally invariably, the writer of the inflammatory post gives a pass to the commenter, with a "yes well that's different" sort of backhanded apology.
Here are some thoughts:
- What about the so-called full-time agents that are not available on weekends, before 9:00a or after 5:00p? Does the fact that you are not working another job automatically qualify you as full-time and therefore, by definition, superior?
- What about full-time agents that are never available but "will return your call between 4:00 and 5:00p" or "at their earliest convenience"? And then don't?
- What about "full-time" mommy-agents that don't work another job but have extensive childcare responsibilities that preclude attending to business in a timely manner? Even though taking care of your own children doesn't pay well, no mother would argue that it isn't a huge job.
- What about "full-time" hobby-agents, well supported by their spouses and working for "play money"?
- What if your other employment is extremely flexible and you are able to answer or quickly return phone calls, do paperwork, respond promptly to clients' and other agents' requests or questions, etc.? Are you still a subhuman freakazoid?
In reality, even full-time agents have periods when they are not immediately available. Let me use myself as an example, only one of a great many possible part-time constructs. I work an enormous number of hours at my real estate business. I am pretty much always available by phone, email or text unless I am 
busy with another client, or rarely at my other profession, in which case I return calls promptly. The fact that I choose to continue to practice medicine a couple of days a week is my business and does not interfere with my real estate responsibilities. I rather doubt that my counterparties in real estate even realize I am not officially full-time, if the definition of full-time is no income from any other source. On the plus side, I think my clients choose me for two reasons: 1. They have known me for many years, see me in my doctor-role and believe in my integrity, and 2. They know I am not so desperate to close a deal that I would throw my own mother under a bus to do so. In no way suggesting that all or even many full-time agents are that way, but some are and many people are leery of sales professionals for that reason.
Bottom line for me: there are too many possible variations on a theme to strictly frame this debate in terms of part-time vs. full-time. It is not a productive distinction. Let's complain about agents that don't do their jobs, are inept, devious, downright fraudulent, never available, lazy, or unclean in thought, word, and deed. We would all live much happier professional lives if those folks were rooted out!
Photo credit: Beware of Buses from Tom (hmm a rosa tint) from Flickr via Creative Commons License
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