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Are we professionals?

By Ben Myers

Real Estate Broker/Owner with The Broker Ben Group at Realty Idaho

March 31, 2008 05:13 AM

While taking a Real Estate Law class last week, the attorney that was teaching the class made mention to several different careers our state (Idaho) classified as "Professionals". Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Phamacists, etc. were named. Real estate practitioners or brokers however were not included in this class. I was immediately offended, but the more I thought about it, the more I leaned towards agreement with our state.

I believe that our industry as a whole needs to put a much larger focus on education. I don't know if increasing the requirements to get a practitioners license is the solution, but continuing education is key to staying on top of this industry. There are amazing speakers out there with a world of information they readily give participants of their classes and seminars. My real estate I.Q. has been bolstered substantially due to the continuing education classes that I have taken.

I also believe that a manditory mentoring period should be required. I think a large part of the problems both legal, and public opinion, are caused by not putting any restrictions on brand new licencees. There are a percentage of new agents that will survive and flourish, but a large percentage will fail, and on their way out might tarnish the reputation of the industry as a whole.

Most issues people have with REALTORS(R) is that we do not act like professionals. They view us as part time, money hungry, get rich quick slackers. And we can't expect them to view us as professionals when many within the industry don't view themselves as professionals. How do we get others to view us as professionals?

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Tony & Darcy Cannon

Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT

The C Team

Actions have and always will speak louder than words. I agree with the need to increase our educational requirements. I don't know about mentoring, there are a lot of experienced agents that I know that I would have hated to have had as a mentor. I think that it would over tax those good agents careers to be tied to new agents all the time. I believe that should be the broker's responsibility, in our office our broker is a non competing broker, so he takes a lot of time with the new agents that our brought on board, we are required to have a new agent training course that he has put together also we have a mentoring program if he feels that it is necessary for the new agent. In our state the first set of required continuing ed classes for new agents are new agent speciific. In the end there will always be those in any given profession that will, by their actions, discredit that profession. We see it all the time with even doctors, lawyers etc. The hope for me is that during this current market adjustment, many of those will realize that it isn't a get rich quick profession and get out! Great post, and question.

Mar 31, 2008 05:30 AM

Ben Myers

The Broker Ben Group at Realty Idaho - Meridian, ID

CEO/Designated Broker

Tony & Darcy - Thanks for the response. I couldn't agree with you more. I was lucky enough to have very extensive training when I was a new agent. I think new agents need to make sure the broker they go to work for offers them training and support. This is invaluable when you are starting out. Thanks!

Mar 31, 2008 05:40 AM

Sasha Miletic - Windsor Real Estate

RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. - Windsor, ON

Great post Ben Its a good self analysis for realtors to see what are their standards.

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Mar 31, 2008 06:04 AM

Denise Allen

Resh Realty Group - Chesapeake, VA

Realtor@ Chesapeake, Hampton Roads

We are professionals but I guess you would need to define it and the lawyer defined it by his terms. We also need to know how to spell Realtor®

Mar 31, 2008 09:36 AM

You mean it isn't spelled and pronounced realator?

Mar 31, 2008 10:59 AM

Are we professionals?

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