Hawaii Real Estate | Hawaii Relocations | Hawaii Home Buying & Selling

No matter where we travel in this country there will politics.  We vote for those we believe will do good for our country, our state, our county, the real estate industry, right in the office and even in the confines of our home between family members.  

We are a competitive class called humans.

So how do we know who to choose? We really don't ‘know' them (I mean REALLY know them)  and rely on hearsay and what we've seen in tv ads, blogs or in the newspaper.   Those that ‘heard' something ten years ago still hold it against them and don't believe anyone could really change.  Yet others decide due to their color, race, religious views and so forth is the reason they would not choose 'that person'.

I have always believed that religious views and politics don't mix with the real estate industry; or for that matter in business...period.  And I also believe when you mix the two it can be lethal for all involved in the debate, the work center and even between family and friends.

Someone told me once that when someone wants to discuss religion or politics they want to discuss THEIR views. They usually turn heated and in the end someone has ill feelings toward another. 

All I can say is may the best person win....

And no matter who wins we wish them well. 

It's called being a good ‘sport' with support.

Is there a criteria for what makes for a great Realtor® besides following the COE? I'm sure we all have our criteria for being the professional we are as well as what it means to be successful in this business. We also know that continuuing education, gaining more knowledge, staying up to date with the current laws and contracts of our states are musts.

There are MANY other points but the bottom line is we think ....and DO in the best interests of our clients.

How about what does NOT constitute a wonderful agent?  I'll name a few and you folks add to it okay?

• Doesn't answer their phone .... for showings, for updates, status on their side during a transaction (and on and on and on)  Hello???? I don't hear you!
• Quotes parts of a contract that was obsolete three years ago (and then I have to read the contingency that was changed....so they get it) 
• Says, "This is the way it is usually done"; and they actually mean that it's the way they've done it and expect me to continue doing it with them. I think not.
• Doesn't follow up with the loan process for their buyer....until there are reminders from others  that something is due.
• Does the bare minimal and expects escrow to follow up with everthing.  Surveys, condo docs and everything and anything that they do not have to do .....they instruct escrow to do.
• ....and the list goes on.......

Quoting parts of a contract that were revised three years ago tops the cake here.

Did I hear that right?

Staying up to date with Real Estate Laws & the changes in our purchase contract is a must;

lest we be giving wrong information to our clients and looking like fools to our peers.

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

We as Real Estate Professionals strive to be all we can be online. We write about our industry, our local areas, joke around and give information from Real Estate to Mortgage Programs, Staging, Home Inspections, Blogging, Social Networking and so on and so on.

There is a fine line between being transparent and letting it all hang out though isn't there?

We give a little of ourselves, our personalities, our expert advice, tips and tricks and all sorts of things while writing online. But when it comes to displaying inappropriate behavior online I really start writing.....A lot.  I'm being transparent with my feelings on unprofessional behavior online. I will always speak up so that others may see that they are contributing to the highest form of negative and unprofessional behavior that does nothing good for our network, our industry and THEIR business. Not to mention the bad reputation that they can attribute to their ‘letting it all hang out' as being in the lower sense of ...transparency.

Get real and have a little class with that professional attitude.

What being transparent on a REAL Estate Network means to me is that:

• I am fully aware of the fact that what I write may affect others. I choose to have a particular influence or inspire others in a positive manner through my writing.
• I am aware that my professional opinions differ from personal opinion. As a professional I have to hold myself in the highest esteem and regard paying particular attention to my real estate profession.
• That my values, morals and beliefs stretch beyond our Code of Ethics. I live my life offline as I do online and transparency does NOT mean to say my opinion at the expense of hurting another person.
• This is  a professional network and respect comes first and foremost above everything. A place to mingle with my peers while learning and educating as well as networking for referrals and references too.
• I give some information about my local area as if they are walking right along side of me. Transparency is not just throwing out words. It's giving every reader the chance to get to know me

Those that believe transparency means to shout all over this network with their judgments yet in the next sentence claiming to be so self righteous can be construed as hypocritical.

But yes! It is transparent to the core.  BUT...... not at its finest.

I am over half a century old now and surely enjoying the finer things in life. Those days of being a rebel and degenerate are LONG past (if ever I was to begin with) and I have the ability to step into the other persons shoes to see their perspective of thinking.

Yup. I have stepped into thousands of those shoes and KNOW that what the negative side is seeing is not what I choose to live by. I'll step into my own shoes and hang with the positive souls who are content with self and not discontent with everything outside of themselves.

So you keep on being oh- so- transparent and let it ALL hang out.

The rest of us will be the ones to get the readers, leads, the clients and make friends with all those that YOU turned off.