Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
I have a different thread about whether or not Realtors are worth their commission anymore and TWICE during the discourse agents compared themselves to doctors. I have also seen this posted on various other threads over the last several months.
Is this some sort of training that agents get during licensing or some such?
Yes, many marketing gurus teach professionals that they should run their businesses like doctors... work by appt only, create scarcity, educate yourself, hold various designations, all in the hope of being perceived as a sought after expert. Its good advice but most agents will not do what it actually takes to become so sought after. They'll do a one or more of the items but not all. Anyway, most states require only 40 - 65 hrs of education to become licenses and most people are very aware of that fact. So the attempt to present themselves along the same lines as a doctor can easily misfire. The best advice for agents is to become extremely proficient at one area... it may be working with investors (many agents say they are experts at it yet they don't own a single property), waterfront properties, 1st time home homebuyers.. etc. If your an agent, specialize!!!!
My seller just lost another buyer for this property so he wanted to meet the buyers and have them talk to his mortgage guy to make sure they are serious and qualified. The agent's objection was more about "I ain't driving 30 minutes to so-and-so town" than protecting her buyers' interest. Sadly lots of agents act this way...