Notorious R.O.B.

This should be good.

I read your blog pretty regularly. You seem to be one of the few who understand business and the strength of brand. The problem is there is no brand discipline. I know when I buy certain products and services I can expect a high level return on my investment whether it be my time or money. The last lawyer I used, I never met face-to-face. He came from a trusted referral, articulated his competence within minutes, and charged $550.00/hour. I never blinked. I knew he was the litigator to get the job done and he did. I never had to wonder when he was going to call me back, if he knew the difference between a word document and a pdf, or if he had the infrastructure to support his business. Was he with a big firm? Yep. Did it matter? Yep. Anybody can be president of a one man law firm. Get to be a managing partner at a 500+ lawyer firm and you’ve got the chops.

I’ve been an agent since the fall of ’07. Yes, I’m surviving. Just about every blog in the RE world is about A). Generating leads, B). Branding yourself. C). How to exploit whatever new social media outlet there is. What about actually selling property?

Blogs, Twitter, facebook, bla bla fraking bla. I spent 20+ years in the financial markets executing institutional & retail business. Clients want to know TWO things. 1). Can I trust you? 2). Do you know what you’re doing? Period.

I have yet to meet anyone who reads a Realtor’s blog that isn’t in the business. We’re worse than Hollywood giving each other awards.

Social media, branding, lead generation, all have their place. I’m not a Luddite, far from it, I’m writing this on an over-clocked, liquid-cooled machine.

What astounds me is the pervasive incompetence of Agents and Brokers alike.

I showed a condo yesterday (a 600K Condo). I asked the listing agent:

What do the assessments include? “I’ll have to check”.
What are the building reserves? “I’ll have to check”.
How many units are in the building? (This one was just for fun). “I’ll have to check”.

WTF are you doing? How does that serve the client?

The Kicker… She works in MY office! A national brand! The outrageous thing… She’s been selling Real Estate for more than 30 years.

I wish this was not a daily occurrence. Where are the standards? I can walk into the same office ask the same questions, three days in a row and get different experience every time.

Licensing is a joke, brand standards are non-existent, and continuing education should come with a box of crayons.

So, given the above rant, I can’t wait to hear “What it takes to be a Great Realtor”.

I know you’re out there. Please step up. I need you.

This is only one piece of the puzzle: ABetterListing.com. I write about the pursuit of excellence all the time. I am delighted to have met a few practitioners who are working to push back the darkness. I am perpetually dismayed by all those who are not.

LOL… Ahhh… The other blog I read. I subscribe to many feeds but but I only “read” a few.

Well, at least we have one Professional. Thanks Greg.

I was going to read this post, but it started with “First, go read this series please. It is a 20-part series…” – Geez! Only a 20 part series? I’m out.

I tell ya, Stacey, I have to say I’m amazed that not one Realtor has stepped up to create this — even from existing posts/articles.

-rsh

Are you really amazed? I’m not.

The difficult thing for me is balancing the frustration of a business full of incompetency with the excitement about the opportunity it presents.

Yes I will.

> I guess I am amazed, because there are plenty of folks who can easily write a series on “What it Takes to be a Great Realtor”.

Name one. Maybe it’s Marty. I don’t know who he is. I don’t think we’re there yet, and we’re pushing the limits harder than anyone else I know of. I end up knowing everyone who is really trying to do better, and I can’t think of anyone who fits this bill. Top-producers abound, but a big part of their praxis consists of inducing hasty decisions. I don’t know everyone, to be sure, but I would expect to hear from anyone who is really driving standards higher.

FYI: There is no “The” nor any word space in BloodhoundBlog.

“Name one. Maybe it’s Marty. I don’t know who he is.”

Please don’t think I’m claiming to be a great Realtor. I think you make a valid argument as to who can write this and I think the numbers are shockingly small. My hope is to contribute to raising the standards.

I got my license in less than two weeks. There is something wrong with that.

However, I agree being a top producer does not correlate to being a great Realtor. As I said before, I subscribe to many blogs but only skim most of them. This one and bloodhound are where some of the forward thinkers are. There may be a few more.

The answer to this question is certainly not one post. I will eventually compile a list of skills I think would make a great Realtor. It will take some time and I have to make a living too.

This is fantastic question and should be answered. It’s really too bad the only guy even making an attempt is someone who has been in the business less than two years. What would it take to get some of the “Great Realtors” involved?

I am truly hoping I will learn from some others with more experience.

I guess I am amazed, because there are plenty of folks who can easily write a series on “What it Takes to be a Great Realtor”. And such a series would be useful, educational, and generate plenty of conversation….

Do you want to take a crack at it?

-rsh

I think you can do it, Greg.

I also think Jay Thompson and Kris Berg could do it.

I think someone like Bill Lublin could certainly do it.

I don’t know that the “What it Takes to be a Great Realtor” has to withstand the scrutiny of Harvard Business School profs; it’s just a set of opinions and observations by a veteran about an industry. Surely we have people who can do that?

-rsh