There’s always something to howl about.

Raising the Bar or Bellying Up to It?

I hear a lot of chatter from successful REALTORS® about “raising the bar” for being a REALTOR®.  In other words, do a better job of distinguishing between REALTORS® and licensees.  This came up during a strategic planning break-out group today and we all thought it sounded like a good plan, but had no idea how to get it done.  So where do you go to figure out how to make the term REALTOR® actually mean something more than a common licensee?  A bar, of course.  Surely a few beers would generate enough creative thinking to solve this conundrum.

“Sam Adams, please.” 

The first order of business is to figure out how we got here – by “here” I am speaking figuratively and not how we arrived at the Dog House Bar and Grille.  Why is there no difference between a REALTOR® and a licensee?  I blame license law.  That’s right, license law.  It seems to me that over the years, state license law has “improved” to a point that there is very little difference in the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and state license law.  The ironic thing is that the REALTOR® organization has worked hard to strengthen license law over the years.  That’s a classic example of a raising tide lifting all boats.

Take disclosure, for instance.  I can only think of one thing that the REALTOR® Code requires to be disclosed that the license law doesn’t – REALTORS® are required to tell their seller clients about verbal offers where license law only requires disclosure of written offers.  Well there’s a strong marketing point!  Other than that, I can think of nothing significant that REALTORS® are required to do that a licensee is not also required to do.

“Another Sam Adams, please.”

So, what is the solution?  Do we think up a whole bunch of things that REALTORS® have to do or disclose that a common licensee does not?  Maybe we could require REALTORS® to disclose that the neighbor will throw potatoes at you if you purchase this home?  Or maybe we require REALTORS® to disclose all the future development plans within a mile of the property. (E&O Insurance companies will love that one.)

Maybe more disclosure is not a good idea.  “Another Sam, please.”

How about education?  We could require REALTORS® to take more education than a standard licensee.  In Virginia, at the request of the REALTOR® organization, the General Assembly just increased the required hours of continuing education for all licensees to 16 hours and brokers to 24 last year.  Hmm.  Sounds like some more of that rising tide thing again.  Man, all these Sam Adams and talk of rising tides gives me a strange urge to toss a box of tea in the harbor.

“Hey, beer me.”

So, education is out and disclosure is out.  This is a harder problem than I thought.  Maybe a little old fashion, out of the box ideas need to be considered.  Sam, what do you think?  Any ideas?  Here are a few sobering ideas to consider:

  • My personal favorite (Sam likes this one too) – mandatory on-line ratings for REALTORS®.
  • Required apprenticeship during which you have to complete the GRI course before working on your own.
  • Required training and use of top-notch marketing, technology, and negotiation systems and tools. (Sam will be in charge of determining what “top-notch” means.)
  • Actively police REALTORS® for violations of the Code, license law, bad business practices and bad service.  Bust’em and kick out the bad ones

This is not going to be easy.  Is it worth the effort?  Probably.  Will it get done?  Probably not.  Is it time for me to tell Sam goodnight?  Goodnight Sam.