It’s no secret that REALTORS® have a bit of a perception problem. The conventional wisdom is that we’re paid too much for doing too little. I guess that’s one thing we have in common with Wall Street CEOs.
But the similarities end there. I doubt there are too many Wall Street CEOs that have cleaned a client’s toilet for them, removed a dead animal from their shrubs or spent an afternoon overseeing the excavation of their septic tank (I can think of a number of more colorful ways to describe that last one).
I’ve done all of that and more. And so have many of my friends and colleagues in the business. No, it’s not something we’re fond of doing. It doesn’t really even show up in the job description, if there is such a thing for a Realtor. But sometimes, most times, in fact, it’s what needs to be done to get a customer’s house sold. And that is my job. So I’ll do whatever it takes.
I’m not saying that Realtors are simply glorified lackeys, mind you. Far from it. Rather, we’re part marketer, part salesperson, part project manager, part consultant, part logistics coordinator, part quality assurance director…even part psychologist and part concierge. And quite a few other things, as needed.
In between, we’re busy taking continuing education classes to increase our knowledge and fulfill our licensing requirements. That’s right, we have to be licensed to do our jobs. Not everyone can say that. And that alphabet soup on some of our business cards (GRI, e-Pro, ASP, ABR, LMR, etc.)? Each one is representative of a certification that required time in the classroom and the knowledge to pass the test. All in the interest of serving our clients better.
I’m not saying all Realtors are perfect. Far from it. I am saying, however, that there’s more to being successful in real estate than putting a sign in the ground and waiting for a buyer to show up. We spend our own money marketing your home, with no guarantee that we’ll see a return on that investment (other than our own marketing saavy). We take it upon ourselves to go that extra mile to make sure your home shows well. And if that means scrubbing a few toilets, cleaning out the garage or coordinating a few contractors along the way, so be it.
So here’s another tip. Want to know how to find a good Realtor? Look in the trunk of their car. If you see paper towels, cleaning supplies, a roll of toilet paper, duct tape, screwdrivers and a small broom or vacuum, sign him or her up. You’ll get your money’s worth…and then some.
REALTOR® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
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