Reading an article in the Arizona Daily Star Newspaper indicating that now is a good time to buy a home, I scrolled to the bottom and read all the comments submitted by the public.
Most of the comments were very negative toward Realtors, i.e., we are greedy, criminals, belong in jail, and the best comment (scroll down to #26) "real estate companies are brothels".
It's unfortunate that people judge people to that level based on a career - rather than who that person is. And it doesn't just happen with real estate - I've heard people criticize police officers, car sale persons, lenders, etc.
And many dislike "these" people .... until they need one!
There is a reason why 50 - 75% of FSBOs end up hiring a Realtor; or why people purchase a car from a dealer instead of a private individual (who offers no warranties or recourse for faulty vehicles); or why people hire a lender - how else are you going to get money to buy your dream home? Don't want to pay extra for speed-enforcement - but "who ya gonna call" when that red-light runner ruins your high dollar car?
I've come across a few of these critics and while talking with them I discovered that they WILL spend hundreds of dollars every month "in commissions":
1) At the mall retail store for a $40 t-shirt - but it had the department store name on it!
2) Their cell phone carrier who they pay about $1800 a year to and they think I could get the same great deal from their brother who works for "this" cell phone company down the road.
3) Their credit card company who they don't mind paying 20% more each month for something they got on clearance last month.
But - they refuse to pay a commission to a Realtor.
To each his own, I suppose. And to those who say Realtors are criminals, greedy, etc., I say, what I really am is:
1) A good, upstanding, law-abiding citizen.
2) A strong supporter of the community I live in.
3) A person that donates a lot of my time and money to help those in need.
4) A mother working even harder to raise a child.
5) A great friend who is there for all those 2 am calls, a shoulder to lean on, and anything else that someone might need.
6) A daughter of a highly decorated Veteran and hard working immigrant mother.
And then I am:
A good Realtor who will help keep those who trust me up-to-date with legal real estate documents, protected with non-discriminating advertising, a sounding board for frustrations related to buying and selling a home and the person you can count on before, during and after.
Copyright Gabrielle (Kamahele) Rhind, protected by COPYSCAPE 2008. If you want to reprint parts of this - just email me for my permission rhindohana@msn.com . Buying or selling Tucson Real Estate? Click info@gabriellerhind.com and let me know how I can help you
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