Real Estate Agents Graded

The annual Gallup Poll asking Americans to rate, on a scale of one to five, the honesty and ethical standards of those in 21 professions again placed nurses at the very top with an 82% favorate score. Journalists, U.S. senators and congressmen trailed badly.

Here are the rankings, with the percentage giving each group a high or very high ranking:

Nurses 82
Druggists/Pharmacists 67
Medical doctors 65
High school teachers 64
Policemen 61
Clergy 54
Funeral directors 44
Bankers 41
Accountants 39
Journalists 28
Real estate agents 20
Building contractors 20
Lawyers 18
Labor union leaders 16
Senators 16
Business executives 16
Stockbrokers 16
Congressmen 14
Advertising practitioners 11
Car salesmen 8
Telemarketers 7

Well this look like an improvement. when I sold real estate, I was told we were just above car salesmen and lawyers!

Comments

[Cecilia Sherrard]

Real Estate Agents have always been considered sales people. Nobody wants to be 'Sold' or bothered constantly by mailings and cold calling. I sure hope dentists don't start calling me asking if I need my teeth cleaned. Nurses know about healthcare and provide a service. They actually care about what they do and 'Take care' of people which leads to a higher level of respect for their profession. Realtors on the other hand, (Some, may I add) are not much more than a step above a caresalesman. If you lack care for your clients, and view your career as selling the next home, don't think people won't pick up on it and begin to add you to that ever growing category of *Next* Change the way you do business Realtors! and the public will start to change the way they view us. It's time for Real Estate Agents to either care, or kindly step away and allow this profession to gain the respect it needs. Nothing bothers me more than when I talk with a new client, and they tell me their 'story' about the previous agent they were working with. It automatically stabs me in the gut with that feeling of "oh, boy they are already expecting or waiting for me to show them the same, yet "praying for a difference" I automatically have to gain their trust and bring them back to feeling secure and 'taken care of' Again, nobody wants to be 'Sold' I let my clients know right from the start that I'm here to guide them and assist them with the largest purchase in their life. If I'm not their advocate and partner in this, what good are my services? I will actually give advice to clients that my harm my own wallet to better service them. The point is, you may be able to 'sell' a client right here and now, but if they feel 'Sold' afterwards, you certainly won't be helping their friends and family down the road. It's NOT sales! It should be advice, knowledge, advocacy, and guidance. I learned this after my first year in Real Estate. I sold many homes my first year. I then began to feel that my services weren't appreciated. Sure, I was opening doors and closing deals, (Which was my actual slogan on my business card) but I wasn't building relationships. I was trained to sell and that's what I did. Being a selling machine may boost an ego for a year or two. Ultimately, if that's your career goal, I don't think you will ever find true happiness in it and neither will your repeat customers (If you have any) http://www.youshouldown.com