Is Your Real Estate Agent Trustworthy?
April 23rd, 2008 Categories: Buyers, Sellers, The Realtor's Life
In a 2006 Poll Published by Harris Interactive, Real Estate Agents Really Took It On the Chin. Maybe We Can All Learn a Little Something From the Results.
The poll’s intent was to measure the trustworthiness of various professions; real estate agents came in near the bottom, right up there with lawyers, auto mechanics and stockbrokers.
Unfair? To those of us in the industry who put our hearts, heads and soul into this business, and work diligently for our clients - sure, it seems unfair.
But unexpected? Not really. The fact of the matter is, not all agents are created equal. Some set the professional bar extremely low and when they trip over it they make the whole industry look bad.
Marc Davison, a blogger at www.1000wattblog.com had some interesting thoughts on the subject and those things that set trusted and untrustworthy agents apart.
“Are agents untrustworthy? Some are, some aren’t. But most paint themselves with the brush of mistrust by adhering to modes of marketing, branding and verbiage that fail to set them apart and distinguish one from the other.
Untrustworthy agents hear what their clients say. Trustworthy agents listen.
Untrustworthy agents make deals happen. Trusted agents help people buy and sell homes.
Untrustworthy agents work hard and make a case for it. Trusted agents work smart. They perform magic and do it quietly, with grace.
Untrustworthy agents stress about deals. Trusted agents never lose their cool.
Untrustworthy agents are about me and I across all their brand touch points. Trusted agents place their entire emphasis on “we” on “you.”
Untrustworthy agents claim they got into real estate to help people. Trusted agents got into real estate to make a living. They are transparent about that.
Untrustworthy agents say what the consumer wants to hear. Trusted agents tell it like it is.
Untrustworthy agents work with anyone. Trusted agents hand-pick clients.
Untrustworthy agents hide behind templates. Trusted agents speak in their own voice.
Untrustworthy agents use platitudes to market themselves. Trusted agents have stopped marketing themselves in the conventional sense altogether.”
I like where he’s going with this. Part of the problem is that consumers, the public, don’t know who they can trust because the real who is often hidden behind a wall of polished image advertising, catchy slogans and templates.
The wave of the future - and blogging is helping to bring about the change - is to become more and more transparent, opinionated, consultative, locally focused, and accessible. It’s about breaking down barriers so trust can evolve between agents and their constituency, rather than creating a slick brand that makes agents seem out of touch.
Our challenge to you: come to our blog often, comment, tell us things we need to hear or you want to know. Help us build your trust. That’s why we’re here.
(Note: If you want to read the entirety of Marc Davison’s post, click here.)
