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REALTOR Safety Month: Competition or Peer?

By
Real Estate Agent with Las Cruces Homes and Land

I was listening to a webinar today where one of the speakers, Nick Bastian, said something along the lines of "Yeah they're my competition but they're also my peers". I love that and it means so much more when you look at it from a safety stand point.

 

One of the things my husband and I have been doing for the last couple of years is making a poin to stop by open houses in our neighborhood (when we have a rare Saturday or Sunday off) and checking on the agent. I don't care if they work for my brokerage or not. Most, if not all, are kind of shocked.

The last time I did it was for an agent from another brokerage. When I told her what I was doing and why - while handing her my card - she said, "I've been in real estate for over 20 years and I have NEVER had another agent do this. Ever."  That makes me a little sad.  Why aren't you checking up on agents in your neighborhood when you're out and about? It takes no more than a couple of minutes unless you do what I do - walk through and see the home. 


I do this when I'm with clients, too. We stop at an open house and, when I go in, I make sure to hand the agent my card while my clients take a look around. I always ask them how things are going and if they've had anyone come through that gave them that "they're up to no good" gut feeling. I've actually had one agent say yes and that she was going to close down the open early after we finished looking around. My clients were very agreeable to us staying around and helping her (a newer agent) close up shop and gather signs.  My words to her when we'd finished: "Please let your broker know about this and, next time, have someone sit the open with you." 

(We've since done a deal together and she remembered what happened. She hasn't done an open alone since then.)

Look - this should be common sense to keep others safety in mind as well as ours. Making ourselves available to our peers (no matter where they hang their license) is a human thing to do. Make it a point next time you're out and about, running errands. Stop in, say hi, let them know you just wanted to make sure all was well and go on your way. 


Comments (2)

Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I haven't done an open in a long time.  Tomorrow one of my agents is doing a broker open and I'll be stopping by to check on him.

Sep 08, 2015 12:58 PM
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

I noticed you haven't posted on Active Rain for a while and was wondering if all is OK?  Come back to the 'Rain!

Oct 26, 2015 11:23 PM