No wonder the public doesn't respect real estate agents!

Normally, I avoid being negative for several reasons. One; it doesn’t look well upon me and two; life is too short. Having a good attitude and positive approach towards even the most negative situation can make all the difference. However, a certain event this past weekend has brought to mind a very important issue- why real estate agents have such a bad reputation.

When I first started in real estate, I was shocked at how many people avoided using an agent to represent them in the buying process. I had just heard information from the yearly Gallup poll that agents were, once again, at the bottom of the barrel when it came to professions the general public respected. We are barely ahead of telemarketers, politicians, and car sales people.

As far as I am concerned, the public has nothing to lose. In the case of buyers, I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say that almost 99% of the time, the buyer will not have to pay an agent to represent them. Usually, that is taken care of when the sellers list their house- they pay both the person who represents them and the buyers’ representative in North Carolina (this varies state-to-state). The rare exception is when the buyer is interested in a house For Sale By Owner. The FSBO exists primarily so the seller won’t have to pay a commission and therefore, the buyer may be subject to paying the commission in that case. More importantly, an agent worth his/her salt will protect you and keep your best interests in mind.

But getting back to my point… you may be surprised at some of the things that I have experienced in the past year. I have met some wonderful people but, as we all know, the unpleasant experiences tend to stand out. Today rubbed me the wrong way. I was unable to answer my phone this weekend because I was out of town. A REALTOR® left a message on my home phone number asking for a showing of one of my homes. As a result, I was unable to answer her message in a timely manner and when I called out of courtesy to apologize, she was very rude. “Kara, hi, this is Lisa Duke, I am sorry I was unavailable this morning,” “I know you were,” she said smugly, “we’ve decided to move on.” Although I do not blame this woman for “moving on,” her tone was uncalled for. She focused on the fact that I was not there when she wanted me to be rather than the fact that I was sincerely sorry. A kind person would have graciously accepted my apology and we could have found a solution to the issue together.

My point here is that we in the Real Estate profession have trained the general public to dislike us. We are, too often, not nice to each other and we are even sometimes not nice to our clients. I imagine that if “Kara” (not her real name) was in the car with her client when I called, she certainly said something unpleasant about me when she hung up. If she teaches her client about the incompetence of REALTORS® and acts superior, she has taught her client that his/her stereotypes are confirmed- REALTORS® are lazy and rude and she is rude as well, not being sympathetic to my situation. What she is willing to say about me, she will be willing to say about her client, her coworkers, her family etc...

There are pamphlets available from the National Association of REALTORS® you can read about your rights as a client and consumer. One describes how it “pays to work with a REALTOR®” and the other is required to be given to every individual by an agent at what we call “first substantial contact” called Working with Real Estate Agents. It often looks like the dark graphic I have here but sometimes, certain agencies will alter the look. The title and contents are always the same.

If you have an unpleasant experience with a REALTOR®, don’t hesitate to call his/her broker-in-charge at the office to which they report. Keep in mind that the North Carolina Real Estate Commission is in existence for the consumer and if you ever have an unethical experience, I urge you to call them at (919) 875-3700 their web address being http://www.ncrec.state.nc.us

Take some time to shop around for your REALTOR®. Before you put your home up for sale, interview several REALTORS®. Pay attention to what they say and what they don’t say. Pay attention to their personality as well. Although experience and proven performance is important, you want to make sure you get along with your REALTOR® and they treat you with respect. If you are looking to buy a home, apply a similar process. Visit with several REALTORS® before you even look at your first home. Don’t just jump in the car with the best known agent in your area- take the time to get to know them a bit and pick one with whom you feel you can respect. They are out there!

The majority of REALTORS® are ethical, kind, and smart. Unfortunately, it is the few spoiled ones who can ruin the reputation of the bunch.