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
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) 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 Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
Sally, great post and spot on. It is sad that there are actually agents out there that do NOT constitute a good agent.
Celeste -- about 2 hours ago I posted a blog asking people for their input as to what makes a good real estate agent. I got one (1) response. I'm not sure what to conclude from this lack of response ... but in my mind it can only be one of three things: 1. People don't know 2. People don't care 3. People don't care that they don't know.
A great realtor to me is the bottom line, do they produce and do they get what their customers and clients want.
Good post. Thanks!
Sally..WHAT A GREAT BLOG!..keep them comming you are on a roll!
Sally, I think we have all run into the bunch that is not the great Realtor which drives me to read, train, and provide service that I would expect.
Oh Sally -- Don't get me started. I was the Greater Manchester Nashua Board of Realtors grievance chair for 2 years! I truly was appauled at some of the things that went on!
Answering Tee 2:
Go here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1009233/Lil-Devil-says-If-youre-going-to-Blog-do-it-right
Hi Sally, A great Realtor treats each client like they are the only client; takes care of ALL details in a timely manner; treats the clients like they themselves would like to be treated; is always available; gets to know the psychology of each client so they can respond to the client's needs in an effective way; is up to date on all things real estate related and all things in their market area... I could go on. If you are a great Realtor, your client will never forget you!
A great Realtor would treat both seller and buyer with respect and honesty. This includes not providing the buyer or seller an inflated value, responding to the clients needs and requests, making the necessary follow-ups with both escrow, loan companies and fellow agents, and most of all working cohesively with fellow agents. Answering the telephone is important but providing correct information is more important. Knowing the purchase contract and not relying on the other agent to teach you as the transaction progresses.
Sally, this is a wonderful list. There is so much that is involved with what we do on a daily basis. They sure don't teach all this in real estate school!
I once talked a guy on website. He said, I do not what a good website looks like but I sure know what I would hate. That really applies to a Good Agent as well.
Hi Sally - I agree that the things you have listed are the bare minimum, and yet it is surprising how many are out there professing to be professionals, but not even doing the minimum. I always try to do a little extra, and I get referrals from people who say things like: "And she even waters the lawn!" (I had out-of-state sellers of a vacant home and I wanted to keep the lawn green for showings, so twice a week I went to the home and turned on the sprinklers, ran a few errands, then came back and turned them off. I can't tell you how many "points" that earned me in the hearts and minds of those involved - and so easy).
Sally - I get lessons on how to be a great REALTOR every day, by learning what not to do from others. On the bright side...I also get lessons from my peers and associates on sharing best practices and constructive learning experiences...for those who are willing to learn.
Sally there are so many things that does not make one a great Realtor. When we look back in a year or so I wonder if present condition would have accomplised a needed purge.
Sally, one of my favorites is an agent that wants to negotiate verbally and not consult with his/her client! Whatever happened to letting the client make the decision?!?!?! Great post, lady!
Woo Hoo! Thank you for everything Sally, and know how much you are truly appreciated.
What also makes me think of some agents as not being the best agent is when they have to minimize or marginalize other professionals believing that they stand out better. They don't. It is also unethical behavior even though most often they don't get caught.
A young man who has not been in the busines long does mailings and included me as a homeowner and to me his content was unethical. He made claims about his service and spoke down about others (in writing no less). He also claimed he listed and sold a lot of property in the area and to my knowledge never listed or sold one property.
Once I checked on his listings he claimed and they were NOT registered in his name, so they were clearly the the listing offices to deal with that. But to the point, I felt he was not a good agent.
Another trait that speaks ill of a professional is that they promise way more than either can or intend to deliver in the way of services.
Taking listings that are totally out of range to work the signage and advertising is disingenuous as well.
Most of the agents that would fall into this category , really aren't professional at all and often rely on puffery to gullible consumers to make their way in the world. Sadly there are way to many of them in the profession.
Good post and there seems a resurgence in discussion about this of late. And you know what means? The good news is that business must be picking up because now things like this are getting noticed again.
It has always meant being the best for my clients to me. I strive to put them first on every transaction.
Any person can open a door and show rooms in a home but negotiating on behalf of the clients takes some skill and the biggest part is customer service and following up with the other agent that is involved in the deal.
There is a major difference between doing the job and doing it right, and somewhere in there lies the path to greatness.
Tim: It's in all industries .... and in all walks of life.
Morgan: IN the best interests of their clients. It's not just getting them what they want...it's going above and beyond....and knowing their stuff....otherwise, how could they do anything of great value for their clients?
Hannah: thanks.
Ron: We do better indeed....we pick up the slack on some...and care to be all we can be :)
Joan: I can imagine! Randy is on the board for ours right now....
Shirley: and we could go on and on (at least the ones who are sincere) ...what do you think about my end point?
Leolinda: I don't mind teaching....if they're honest from the get go. What I do not appreciate is one who claims they had plenty of transactions and had none.
Lizette: Way beyond what I mentioned. It's the end point I was getting at.
Huiting: That's pretty much on target. I'm about to launch my new website in a few days. Look out!
Susan: Oh, yes....I have gone on and on before but was trying to make that point there. I get clients who say...she even cleans windows! lol! It makes a difference.
Kent: Exactly! Those are the positive learning lessons that everyone looks as negative. There IS a positive in everything isn't there Kent?
Jennifer: It's never ending as the human mind thinks differently from one to another. :)
Randy: Don't you love it? NOT! That is the very essence of doing the right thing.
William William William...last I heard was our conversation that you needed much needed rest. lol! And standing out amongst the crowd to me....is the one who is humble yet noticed greatly for all their wonderful expertise, deeds, kindness and care.
And that means....yes....it's going to pick up again. clap clap!
Laura: That's just how it is right?
Neal: And that is the truth Neal. So often the professional is not all that professional...good thing the majority of the time it is a workable transaction :)
JL: THAT is the simple truth~!
Sally - Also some agents that don't look at the inspection reports that come back from the inspection of the home on the buy side. There are so many more I don't like to dwell on the bad stuff that other so called agents don't do. Good post I'm sure this will put some thoughts into agents minds here.
I would venture to guess that the answer to the question posed by the blog title in your area is:
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Sally, Looks like Scott just said it all. I can only wish most realtors acted with your knowledge, kindness, understanding and follow up. There is so much that goes into work that we never learned in school.
Robert: We can only hope huh?
Hey Scott...why of course! Just like in your area... ???
Carole: And that's a fact....it's a keep on learning industry for sure....and it takes years of doing the work in any profession that would classify one an expert. Now if everyone utilized the knowledge and put it into action there would be bad media attention LOL.
LOL on a good day Sally!
Sally - well I think you hit on some pretty valuable points here. Certainly communication, ethics, integrity adn putting your client's above you are critical. So many do not.
Jeff
:) Scott
Jeff: I suppose it's like in any walk of time...sigh.
Sally, let's see what can I add to your list:
Ok I am done :)
George: Yeah...we all can a bunch to the list I'm sure....bottom line I was really upset with the reciting parts of the contract that were changed a couple years ago. That was sad.