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Laundry on the Line

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/Max Associates DE#RA-0003085 PA#RS347136

There’s a story I’ve heard from time to time about a woman who looks out her window every day to gaze upon her neighbor’s yard. She comments about her neighbor’s laundry habits, which include pinning the clothes on the line to dry.

 

Then one day, as she’s looking out the window, she says to her husband, “Wow. Our neighbor must have gotten a new washing machine! All of her clothes are so much cleaner than they’ve been in the past.”

 

To which her husband responds, “Ah. It might have more to do with what I did this morning. I got up early and washed our windows.”

 

Given what we are now facing as an industry due to the NAR lawsuit, a light is being shed into the corners of the way we function. Business models are coming into question, proper terminology is being clarified, marketing is undergoing changes, let alone the major overhaul that will impact our MLSs and our documents.

 

It will be a time of caution, but then shouldn’t we always have been utilizing care in the ways we conduct ourselves? It will be a time of crossing t’s and dotting i’s, but shouldn’t we always have been doing that?

 

I read posts in national real estate groups that make absolute statements, asserting universal methodologies, and yet, how have industry professionals forgotten that real estate is local? Yes, this lawsuit will impact the whole country, but we still need to look to the directives of our state, local board, and our own brokerage.

 

Time to clean our own windows (if we haven’t already) as we move forward. In the end, keeping a clean view and improving our own business is the only thing we really can control.

Comments(16)

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GilbertRealtor BillSalvatore
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Great information. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your week!

Bill Salvatore, Realtor- Arizona Elite Properties

Jun 26, 2024 02:17 PM
Monica Hill

Thanks, Bill. Enjoy your week, too!

Jun 26, 2024 02:27 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Monica Hill ,

What a great way to remind us all to keep alert, informed in what the NAR lawsuit means to our business and embrace the change so we have control over each of our businesses! Love the lead photo and the analogy. Carol Williams a good post to use for your Second Chance Series on Saturday.

Jun 26, 2024 03:09 PM
Monica Hill

Thanks, Dorie!

Jun 26, 2024 06:16 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Monica,
Yes, we should be cleaning our windows regularly. And, we can't rely on what others are saying. It is our responsibility to get the facts, not believe all of the misinformation being put out.

Jun 26, 2024 04:32 PM
Monica Hill

I agree, Carol. We can only control ourselves and looking for the ways we can use this to build our businesses and improve what we do is how I choose to approach it. 

Jun 26, 2024 06:18 PM
Michael J. Perry
Fathom Realty - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

I just received a Power Point Presentation from ABR to use to discuss the NAR decision 

Jun 26, 2024 06:29 PM
Monica Hill

Sounds good, Michael. I'll have to look for that!

Jun 26, 2024 06:51 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I agree.ll you can do is all you can do and we kind of need to leave it at that most of the time  life

Jun 26, 2024 07:18 PM
Monica Hill

Thanks, Laura. How we perceive the world is based on our own lens. If we allow that to be clouded, it sure distorts what we see. 

Jun 27, 2024 10:08 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Monica - factors of time and perspective can also shed light on issues.  Imagine what might happen if added to some window cleaner?  Some solutions work best when combined.   Congratulations on your gold star post.  

Jun 27, 2024 04:49 AM
Monica Hill

Thanks, Michael. You're right! I have a button that says, "If all you have are silver bullets, everything looks like a werewolf." Perspective is a huge factor!

Jun 27, 2024 10:10 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Excellent analogy with the window cleaning! Thank you for your post!

Jun 27, 2024 05:04 AM
Monica Hill

Thanks, Kat!

Jun 27, 2024 10:11 AM
Shirley Coomer
Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living - Phoenix, AZ
Realtor, Keller Williams Realty, Phoenix Az

That's so true! It reminds me of the saying I've heard for years: Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.  We all can benefit from "cleaning" our windows!

Jun 27, 2024 06:02 AM
Monica Hill

Thanks, Shirley. Great saying you have there!

Jun 27, 2024 10:11 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home again, home again...

Jun 27, 2024 06:38 AM
Monica Hill

If my "window" (computer screen) was dirty, I wouldn't be able to admire your clever zebra! Thanks, Alan!

Jun 27, 2024 10:12 AM
Brenda J. Andrew
Aqua Terra Real Estate, LLC. - Willis, TX
Broker/REALTOR in N Houston & Corpus Christi

Good afternoon Monica Hill .  You really nailed it!  There are so many things I am seeing after moving to a new area, it is unbelievable even with all of the lawsuits going on.  For those of us who have been doing our best to work ethically in this business for years, it will be interesting to see how many fall out.  Some of the ones I think we will see that happen to are not the ones we would expect.  Congratulations on the well deserved feature!

Jun 27, 2024 12:46 PM
Monica Hill

Thanks, Brenda. Interesting days ahead, for sure!

Jun 27, 2024 03:16 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

This is an excellent reminder to us all that we do have to make some adjustments. Having gone through the crash of 2009, we also had to pivot. Time for all of us to be ready to adjust! Thank you for this post.

Jun 27, 2024 01:28 PM
Monica Hill

Thanks, Paula!

Jun 27, 2024 03:16 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Monica- I love your post. Keep doing what we've been doing or at least should have been doing, Keep on top of adjustments you may have to  make. 

Jun 27, 2024 07:17 PM
Monica Hill

Thanks, Kathy! I agree with your comments. 

Jun 29, 2024 06:44 PM
Mike McCann Broker - Mach1 Realty
Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Broker-Auctioneer Serving Nebraska - Kearney, NE
ALL Types of Property For Sale 308-627-3700

Hi Monica Hill Very well thought out conversation.  We had a company meeting last week and during that meeting I told my agents it is business as usual until the Nebraska Real Estate Commission says different.  I agree...real estate is local and each state has its own laws and I recommend that every agent that reads this comment pay attention to what their state R.E.C. syas.  Have a great weekend!

Jun 28, 2024 02:50 PM
Monica Hill

Thanks, Mike! Keep up the great work in Nebraska!

Jun 29, 2024 06:47 PM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Hi Monica Hill ,  Great analogy to cleaning our windows.  We are all waiting to see how the changes will play out.  If it makes for fewer, more honest agents, then all the better.  

Jun 30, 2024 12:11 PM
Monica Hill

Thanks, Elyse. Having a positive outlook in general certainly helps!

Jun 30, 2024 12:22 PM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Except for additional forms, updated forms and a more extensive Buyer Consultation, it is really business as usual.

Oh, yeah. And figuring out how much and by whom we will be getting paid.

Jun 30, 2024 04:07 PM
Monica Hill

John, I agree. Hopefully, business as usual is done with a positive outlook, too. 

Jul 01, 2024 11:33 AM
Edward Gilmartin
CRE - Boston, MA

Using a clothesline is green and therapeutic . Haven’t used a dryer in 5 year

Jul 02, 2024 10:16 AM
Monica Hill

Good job!

Jul 02, 2024 11:09 AM