THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER #10
THE REAL WORLD: So-called “reality” TV shows and other first-person accounts often make the home-selling or home-buying experience look far different than what it really is. A pet peeve of mine is that many of the alleged Realtors portrayed on these shows and in print make most real estate professionals cringe! The bad examples run from unprofessional behavior to actions that could result in the loss of the Realtor’s license to practice the profession. I guess the message of this week’s column is, Don’t judge Realtors by what you see on the tube or read in someone’s horror story!
THE NUMBERS are still on the way up…but not for long. As of this writing, one in every 54 California adults is the proud possessor of a real estate license. Statewide, the number topped the half-million mark in 2006, and it’s still climbing. Historically, it takes two to three years AFTER a real estate market downturn for people to get that blinding flash of the obvious: This is a tough way to make a living! Then the numbers begin to fall.
THE EIGHTY-TWENTY RULE: You’re probably familiar with the old adage that in most sales organizations eighty percent of the business is generated by twenty percent of the people. In residential real estate sales, the numbers are even more dramatic: NINETY percent of the business is done by less than TEN percent of licensees. This is largely due to the fact that many who hold licenses don’t actually practice the profession. Most of those who do, and have success doing it, are true professionals and worthy of trust and respect.
THE WORD “REALTOR” doesn’t refer to just anybody who passed the state test and obtained a license. Realtors are members of the National Association of Realtors (and the California Association of Realtors, if they practice in this state). Of the five-hundred-thousand-plus licensees in California, less than two-hundred thousand are Realtors. Realtors are held to a much higher standard of conduct than licensees. The Realtors’ Code of Ethics was outlined in this space over several weeks last year by 2006 Lodi Association President Paul Mertz. If you followed Paul’s explanation of the Code, you know that it pays to be represented by a Realtor.
California is the most litigious state in the nation. On top of all of the other duties and responsibilities that come with the job, California Realtors are tasked with keeping their clients (and themselves) out of court by writing clear, tight contracts. Communication is the key to happy clients and long-term success in this business.
While we’re on the subject of Realtors, please indulge me as I address one last pet peeve: There is NO “i” in the word “Realtor”! Most people say, “REAL-tor” (the correct pronunciation). But some folks, even some Realtors, say “REAL-i-tor” or “REAL-i-tee”. I’m part of a campaign to rescue people from this misconception. Thanks for staying with me to the end. Now that I’ve gotten that off of my chest, I feel much better. The bottom line: When you need professional representation, call a California Realtor!
THE NUMBERS are still on the way up…but not for long. As of this writing, one in every 54 California adults is the proud possessor of a real estate license. Statewide, the number topped the half-million mark in 2006, and it’s still climbing. Historically, it takes two to three years AFTER a real estate market downturn for people to get that blinding flash of the obvious: This is a tough way to make a living! Then the numbers begin to fall.
THE EIGHTY-TWENTY RULE: You’re probably familiar with the old adage that in most sales organizations eighty percent of the business is generated by twenty percent of the people. In residential real estate sales, the numbers are even more dramatic: NINETY percent of the business is done by less than TEN percent of licensees. This is largely due to the fact that many who hold licenses don’t actually practice the profession. Most of those who do, and have success doing it, are true professionals and worthy of trust and respect.
THE WORD “REALTOR” doesn’t refer to just anybody who passed the state test and obtained a license. Realtors are members of the National Association of Realtors (and the California Association of Realtors, if they practice in this state). Of the five-hundred-thousand-plus licensees in California, less than two-hundred thousand are Realtors. Realtors are held to a much higher standard of conduct than licensees. The Realtors’ Code of Ethics was outlined in this space over several weeks last year by 2006 Lodi Association President Paul Mertz. If you followed Paul’s explanation of the Code, you know that it pays to be represented by a Realtor.
California is the most litigious state in the nation. On top of all of the other duties and responsibilities that come with the job, California Realtors are tasked with keeping their clients (and themselves) out of court by writing clear, tight contracts. Communication is the key to happy clients and long-term success in this business.
While we’re on the subject of Realtors, please indulge me as I address one last pet peeve: There is NO “i” in the word “Realtor”! Most people say, “REAL-tor” (the correct pronunciation). But some folks, even some Realtors, say “REAL-i-tor” or “REAL-i-tee”. I’m part of a campaign to rescue people from this misconception. Thanks for staying with me to the end. Now that I’ve gotten that off of my chest, I feel much better. The bottom line: When you need professional representation, call a California Realtor!
posted by Larry Underhill at 15:30
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home