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Replies (13)
- rockinblu
- Contributions:7202
WOW!!!
It seems that someone may have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed today.
It seems that someone may have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed today.
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26840
Sorry you burnt the coffee this morning.
What do you plan to do to make it better? Your post won't help at all, you've opened yourself up on this one!
- Dan, "the_country_hick"
- Contributions:4699
Show some examples. If a realtor says there has never been a better time to buy and gets corrected that is not bashing. It is educating that realtor.
If an agent says low interest rates make it a great time to buy and is shown that is not true it is just more education for that agent and others.
If a realtor says that prices are steady or going up in their area and the real numbers say otherwise showing the truth is education for everyone.
If an agent spams and is told that the zillow guidelines do not allow that again, it is education. As zillow is different from other sites this happens innocently often with new agents.
I do not see people just attacking realtors or those real estates agents who do not belong to NAR just for existing or trying to help.
If you mean the NAR talking points get attacked often you are absolutely correct. That is only because those talking points are pure propaganda designed to misinform buyers.
Most of the time ideas get attacked not the messenger. Ideas are fair game as not all ideas and statements are correct.
If an agent says low interest rates make it a great time to buy and is shown that is not true it is just more education for that agent and others.
If a realtor says that prices are steady or going up in their area and the real numbers say otherwise showing the truth is education for everyone.
If an agent spams and is told that the zillow guidelines do not allow that again, it is education. As zillow is different from other sites this happens innocently often with new agents.
I do not see people just attacking realtors or those real estates agents who do not belong to NAR just for existing or trying to help.
If you mean the NAR talking points get attacked often you are absolutely correct. That is only because those talking points are pure propaganda designed to misinform buyers.
Most of the time ideas get attacked not the messenger. Ideas are fair game as not all ideas and statements are correct.
- Dan, "the_country_hick"
- Contributions:4699
"Nothing better to do with your time?"
Nope. Apparently you also have nothing better to do with your time than to post threads like this.
"Do you really think you are helping buyers?"
Absolutely! Showing the truth helps everyone. Telling NAR backed lies only hurts people.
"I would be scared to death if I was a buyer reading all this negative propaganda."
I am scared to death to think I almost listed to realtors in 2006 and bought a house. I would have lost my shirt. There was never a better time to buy remember? If showing the truth scares people that is not a bad thing.
"Please post what you do for a living"
Why? Those with no profession listed are not here for clients or profit. They try to help just because they can. If I am a CEO of a fortune 500 company or a poor farmer about to lose the farm or something different does it matter? I am not here for profit, are you?
Would you trust a used car salesman to tell you about the dependability of a used car that was over $10,000 or would you trust consumer reports? I would trust consumers reports. They have no dog in the hunt. Would you insist on the carfax? The salesman is looking out for your best interests right? Explain the difference between trusting a used car salesman to get the real facts from trusting a realtor using NAR talking points like this one. LINKY
NAR and realtors as a group have lost at least 98% of their credibility. The NAR talking points have caused this to happen. Even the new talking points are not about being honest. The talking points even walk around the questions asked by clients instead of answering them. If an agent did that to me they would not be my agent.
Nope. Apparently you also have nothing better to do with your time than to post threads like this.
"Do you really think you are helping buyers?"
Absolutely! Showing the truth helps everyone. Telling NAR backed lies only hurts people.
"I would be scared to death if I was a buyer reading all this negative propaganda."
I am scared to death to think I almost listed to realtors in 2006 and bought a house. I would have lost my shirt. There was never a better time to buy remember? If showing the truth scares people that is not a bad thing.
"Please post what you do for a living"
Why? Those with no profession listed are not here for clients or profit. They try to help just because they can. If I am a CEO of a fortune 500 company or a poor farmer about to lose the farm or something different does it matter? I am not here for profit, are you?
Would you trust a used car salesman to tell you about the dependability of a used car that was over $10,000 or would you trust consumer reports? I would trust consumers reports. They have no dog in the hunt. Would you insist on the carfax? The salesman is looking out for your best interests right? Explain the difference between trusting a used car salesman to get the real facts from trusting a realtor using NAR talking points like this one. LINKY
NAR and realtors as a group have lost at least 98% of their credibility. The NAR talking points have caused this to happen. Even the new talking points are not about being honest. The talking points even walk around the questions asked by clients instead of answering them. If an agent did that to me they would not be my agent.
- hpvanc
- Contributions:2579
I don't bash Realtors® specifically but rather sales and marketing people in all industries that choose to use propaganda to create less than true perceptions, false urgency, and thus believe that they have the right to close a deal at any cost to the seller, buyer and society in general. If you are honest don't choose to participate in the hook and crook method of doing business, and have some redeeming professional skills don't take it personally. I try very hard to keep it professional and make it about the tactic rather than the agent(s).
I do plenty of bashing of those people, and so called service providers not on the sales force that do exactly the same thing as the sales force, in my own industry too. However this forum is not about my industry.
I do plenty of bashing of those people, and so called service providers not on the sales force that do exactly the same thing as the sales force, in my own industry too. However this forum is not about my industry.
- SteadyState
- Contributions:787
If the glove fits you must convict.
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
I am sorry that you feel that way Ms. Rice. Certainly, some agents would disagree with your opinions like in this thread here where you recommended getting a buyer's agent instead of accepting a dual agency situation with the listing agent. I completely agree with your advice, but have had more than a few agents scold me for "bashing the profession" by stating the same opinion about dual agency that you did in that thread.
Those agents felt that saying that a dual agent was more loyal to the seller meant that agents were not professional. I simply felt that buyers would be better protected by having their own agent's eyes and ears on their side instead of just the listing agent on both sides. I agreed to disagree with those agents and hopefully having the discussion gave people reading a chance to think about the issue for themselves.
Lots of opinions on Zillow, but most people, professionals and non, remain polite even if they strongly disagree. Of course, there will always exceptions to that on both sides of the fence.
Those agents felt that saying that a dual agent was more loyal to the seller meant that agents were not professional. I simply felt that buyers would be better protected by having their own agent's eyes and ears on their side instead of just the listing agent on both sides. I agreed to disagree with those agents and hopefully having the discussion gave people reading a chance to think about the issue for themselves.
Lots of opinions on Zillow, but most people, professionals and non, remain polite even if they strongly disagree. Of course, there will always exceptions to that on both sides of the fence.
- mckylie
- Contributions:5034
I think the majority of people aren't Bashing Realtors but bashing certain things that they are saying - like the posters stated above. We have been hearing the same things that are untrue for many years. If you wait, you will be priced out, interest rates are going up so you will end up paying more, prices at the bottom and will be going up.....
My experience with those statements - when we bought a year an a half ago - people were saying that interest rates were going up soon (that is not the reason we bought then by the way). I still see them around the same. We were planning on building a new build. Long story short we thought we had a deal with the builder and waited a couple extra days and were told - sorry deal is not good anymore - the price is the price is the price. When talking to a manager about how we did not know the verbal offer was only good for a certain time period (our mistake - I take full ownership) he told us too bad and that they believed the prices of homes were only going to start going up. They lost our sale. And about a year and a half later I see that the base price of that home is almost $100K less. So, when we hear this stuff coming from Realtors it's just kind of hard to believe the credibility.
Sure there are a few who do bash Realtors. Perhaps they have had bad experiences. Perhaps they listened years ago and felt pressured to buy and are a bit bitter now. I find it hard to feel bad for the later though. When we bought we did the research and made sure we were buying something we could afford that was right for us. No one can make you buy anything and if people truely believed they could keep buying and keep getting the "instant equity" that was happening then they were fools - they had to know that the prices couldn't keep going up like that??? It's up to YOU as the consumer to know what you can afford and what could happen if things take a turn for the worse and you lose a job or you rates goes up because of one of the old funky loans out there. So, I don't think they have anyone to blame but themselves....
My experience with those statements - when we bought a year an a half ago - people were saying that interest rates were going up soon (that is not the reason we bought then by the way). I still see them around the same. We were planning on building a new build. Long story short we thought we had a deal with the builder and waited a couple extra days and were told - sorry deal is not good anymore - the price is the price is the price. When talking to a manager about how we did not know the verbal offer was only good for a certain time period (our mistake - I take full ownership) he told us too bad and that they believed the prices of homes were only going to start going up. They lost our sale. And about a year and a half later I see that the base price of that home is almost $100K less. So, when we hear this stuff coming from Realtors it's just kind of hard to believe the credibility.
Sure there are a few who do bash Realtors. Perhaps they have had bad experiences. Perhaps they listened years ago and felt pressured to buy and are a bit bitter now. I find it hard to feel bad for the later though. When we bought we did the research and made sure we were buying something we could afford that was right for us. No one can make you buy anything and if people truely believed they could keep buying and keep getting the "instant equity" that was happening then they were fools - they had to know that the prices couldn't keep going up like that??? It's up to YOU as the consumer to know what you can afford and what could happen if things take a turn for the worse and you lose a job or you rates goes up because of one of the old funky loans out there. So, I don't think they have anyone to blame but themselves....
- minotau
- Contributions:71
"Yes, I know you always give exceptions to a "few good apples" but on the most part, I read how horrible REA's are."
Yep, I'd agree that there are a "few good apples". Exactly how would you expect someone who knows a bit about real estate to feel? You're part of a corrupt, anti-consumer industry that is not geared towards rewarding intelligence, honesty or competitiveness. By and large you're much more geared towards throwing up barriers to competition, trying to make the industry as obtuse as possible and inflating transaction cost.
I've certainly never been burned by an agent, I'd never put myself in that position, but "bad experiences"? On a weekly basis. Each and every week I run into agents spewing completely idiotic, false statements (and I'm not talking about on an online forum). And you expect what? Admiration? Respect? Love?
Get over it, stop whining, it's not at all "professional". Either suck it up and work your friggin arse off to try and be one of the "few good apples" or get out.
Sincerely and without apology.
Yep, I'd agree that there are a "few good apples". Exactly how would you expect someone who knows a bit about real estate to feel? You're part of a corrupt, anti-consumer industry that is not geared towards rewarding intelligence, honesty or competitiveness. By and large you're much more geared towards throwing up barriers to competition, trying to make the industry as obtuse as possible and inflating transaction cost.
I've certainly never been burned by an agent, I'd never put myself in that position, but "bad experiences"? On a weekly basis. Each and every week I run into agents spewing completely idiotic, false statements (and I'm not talking about on an online forum). And you expect what? Admiration? Respect? Love?
Get over it, stop whining, it's not at all "professional". Either suck it up and work your friggin arse off to try and be one of the "few good apples" or get out.
Sincerely and without apology.
- Joan Braunschweiger, "Morris County NJ"
- Contributions:1543
Frankly, Tere may have been a bit.....strident in her post but the way some of the nonagents (and perhaps an agent or two) express themselves is often uncalled for and that bothers me sometimes.
However, it also bothers me when agents don't bother trying to figure out the source of frustration and refuse to listen, truly listen to why some are so angry. If consumer satisfaction is our goal (since a lot of our business is referral dependant) than we have to stop expressing frustration at others' anger and try to get to the root of the problem(s). Its just good business if you want to look at it in a totally self-serving way. I also happen to care about the people I end up working so closely with.
We have a right to defend the positives in our profession, the great agents and good service great agents perform. I have seen so many really go above and beyond, just because they are good people and sometimes, yes, because its also good business.
Nevertheless, this doesn't mean ignoring the negatives, both the truly bad agents out there (whether through incompetence or unethical behavior) and the terrible, often devastating service bad agents perform. Lets face it, if it was just a toaster we were selling, bad agents would be considered an annoyance.
But we aren't selling toasters, we are selling big, very valuable, sometimes emotional things that have a huge impact on people's lives. We shouldn't tolerate the negatives.
However, it also bothers me when agents don't bother trying to figure out the source of frustration and refuse to listen, truly listen to why some are so angry. If consumer satisfaction is our goal (since a lot of our business is referral dependant) than we have to stop expressing frustration at others' anger and try to get to the root of the problem(s). Its just good business if you want to look at it in a totally self-serving way. I also happen to care about the people I end up working so closely with.
We have a right to defend the positives in our profession, the great agents and good service great agents perform. I have seen so many really go above and beyond, just because they are good people and sometimes, yes, because its also good business.
Nevertheless, this doesn't mean ignoring the negatives, both the truly bad agents out there (whether through incompetence or unethical behavior) and the terrible, often devastating service bad agents perform. Lets face it, if it was just a toaster we were selling, bad agents would be considered an annoyance.
But we aren't selling toasters, we are selling big, very valuable, sometimes emotional things that have a huge impact on people's lives. We shouldn't tolerate the negatives.
- minotau
- Contributions:71
"Perhaps they listened years ago and felt pressured to buy and are a bit bitter now. I find it hard to feel bad for the later though. When we bought we did the research and made sure we were buying something we could afford that was right for us. No one can make you buy anything and if people truely believed they could keep buying and keep getting the "instant equity" that was happening then they were fools - they had to know that the prices couldn't keep going up like that??? It's up to YOU as the consumer to know what you can afford and what could happen if things take a turn for the worse and you lose a job or you rates goes up because of one of the old funky loans out there. So, I don't think they have anyone to blame but themselves..."
As much as I agree with the sentiment, to me there's a real flaw with this train of thought. The flaw is that these people running around spouting nonsense have official government sponsorship - they're licensed, accredited by a government entity. So what? We know that there's nothing particularly demanding about becoming licensed or maintaining that license in good standing. But not everyone knows this, not everyone understands how lax the requirements are, all some people know is that they're speaking with someone that has been stamped as having expertize in the field of real estate.
Now think about Stanley Milgram, think about his "Obedience to Authority" experiments. If a lab jacket or a tie can make people behave that way then just think about the havoc that a "government licensed real estate expert" can create.
As much as I agree with the sentiment, to me there's a real flaw with this train of thought. The flaw is that these people running around spouting nonsense have official government sponsorship - they're licensed, accredited by a government entity. So what? We know that there's nothing particularly demanding about becoming licensed or maintaining that license in good standing. But not everyone knows this, not everyone understands how lax the requirements are, all some people know is that they're speaking with someone that has been stamped as having expertize in the field of real estate.
Now think about Stanley Milgram, think about his "Obedience to Authority" experiments. If a lab jacket or a tie can make people behave that way then just think about the havoc that a "government licensed real estate expert" can create.
- kristisar
- Contributions:110
Minotau- I've never really thought about it that way, so I guess I have some questions. When you say "official government sponsorship - they're licensed, accredited by a government entity." are you meaning the schooling? I would hardly say the govt backs Realtors- they govern Realtors. State Real Estate Depts and their commissioners are there to protect the public, not agents.
- minotau
- Contributions:71
No, not the educational requirements, I mean the state licensing requirement. The educational and licensing requirements vary between states, but all of the states license agents/brokers, all of the states "certify" agents/brokers as being ready, willing and able to facilitate a real estate transaction.
There's an old saying about a false sense of security being worse than no security at all. In this context it would translate as something along the lines of "is a consumer better off viewing all advice with equal suspicion or are they safe to simply accept at face value something that someone tells them because that person has a license from the state that says they are an expert in this field?"
Now if you believe that the educational, licensing and (heaven help me!) trade group affiliation are all of a caliber that they are churning out and "certifying" "real estate experts" then all is well. You can feel safe, you can feel secure in the hands of the "certified" real estate expert. But if you believe otherwise, if you believe that the educational, licensing and (heaven help me again!) trade group affiliation may not really be geared towards or even capable of churning out "real estate experts", well then we have a problem. We've created a false sense of security to the detriment of the consumer.
The real estate industry is hardly unique in this respect, there are many powerful lobbies that have tailored government "certification" and "oversight" to fit their needs. While the CADRE and similar organizations are tasked with "protecting the public", I guess I just don't see them as being nearly as successful as they could be and should be.
There's an old saying about a false sense of security being worse than no security at all. In this context it would translate as something along the lines of "is a consumer better off viewing all advice with equal suspicion or are they safe to simply accept at face value something that someone tells them because that person has a license from the state that says they are an expert in this field?"
Now if you believe that the educational, licensing and (heaven help me!) trade group affiliation are all of a caliber that they are churning out and "certifying" "real estate experts" then all is well. You can feel safe, you can feel secure in the hands of the "certified" real estate expert. But if you believe otherwise, if you believe that the educational, licensing and (heaven help me again!) trade group affiliation may not really be geared towards or even capable of churning out "real estate experts", well then we have a problem. We've created a false sense of security to the detriment of the consumer.
The real estate industry is hardly unique in this respect, there are many powerful lobbies that have tailored government "certification" and "oversight" to fit their needs. While the CADRE and similar organizations are tasked with "protecting the public", I guess I just don't see them as being nearly as successful as they could be and should be.
Realtor Bashers United Here On Zillow Boards!???
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