Professionalism is heavily discussed during CE classes (continuing education) I teach for real estate agents. When the State of Hawaii issues a salesman’s license to a real estate agent, the state is not saying you are qualified to properly represent a home buyer or a home seller. They are saying you are licensed and will be held to a set of standards.
As a professional you will honor your fiduciary duties to your client. Those duties are:
- Loyalty
- Obedience
- Disclosure
- Confidentiality
- Reasonable Care and Diligence
- Accounting
The one that I feel needs more focus on by new agents and their brokers is Reasonable Care and Diligence:
The standard of care you give your client is that of a competent professional.
• You are required to prepare yourself through education and study.
• You are not required to perform services outside the scope of your license. In those cases you should recommend your client seek the appropriate professional.
• Accounting, legal advice, engineering, tax advice, etc.
What I tell new agents is that there are no short cuts.
· Learn the business!
· Take classes.
· Team up with experienced agent.
· Get your broker involved in all of your dealings.
· Do not take on anything you are not qualified to do.
· And please refrain from inserting opinions on things outside the scope of your license.
Please remember if you are representing a client you are required to act as a professional. Inexperience is absolutely no excuse.
