ActiveRain members have a lot to say about how we, as REALTORS®, can better our image with the public and be recognized as professionals. Well, we might be fighting an uphill battle!
In one of my local daily newspapers, a headline in the weekly real estate section caught my eye. "Are you ready to become your own boss through real estate?"
I had no problem with most of the article...statements like "Real estate can be an exciting profession..." or "Helping others achieve the dream of homeownership is not only emotionally fulfilling..." Yada, yada, yada!
What really bothered me were the statements about being a REALTOR® New Jersey "...it only take a few weeks and several hundred dollars to get started in real estate."
OK, that can be true, and it might be an "attractive option for the unemployed or individuals who can't afford an expensive two or four year education."
But for this broker to state, "Perhaps the greatest benefit a career in real estate provides is flexibility." Not so bad you say?
This broker goes on this say, "The flexibility also makes real estate a great choice for those who have another career or are pursuing other interests, but would like to supplement their income." HUH?
What other industry advertises employment opportunities by saying, "Our industry is a great choice for you while you continue your current job, and pursue your other interests?"
Until our brokers and fellow agents begin treating real estate as a profession, we're fighting an uphill battle!
.The Battle of Old Cedar Bridge Tavern, 2009
Laura Giannotta
Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore
REALTOR-Associate®
e-PRO®, ABR®
609-384-6121
Laura@JerseyShoreViews.com
Representing New Jersey home buyers and sellers in southern Ocean County; Homes in Waretown, Homes in Barnegat, Homes in Manahawkin, Homes in Eagleswood, Homes in Tuckerton, Homes in Little Egg Harbor and Homes on Long Beach Island. You can also contact me about homes in northern Atlantic County; Homes in Galloway, Homes in Absecon, Homes in Mullica, Homes in Egg Harbor, Homes in Mizpah and Homes in Mays Landing.
GET YOUR OWN JERSEY SHORE VIEWS!
(SEARCH FOR HOMES DOWN THE SHORE)
How can real estate brokerage be treated as a profession when it takes as little as 45 hours of instruction and "a few hundred dollars" to obtain a license.
Yes I agree. I saw another one this week, something like: "A real estate carreer is great for new mother...."....So sad...
While there are some part time people that can make this work, most do not have the knowledge and current information needed to really help their clients.
Laura, it frustrates me when I see Brokers advertise like that. There are some dual career agents that make it work. I find there are so many 'full time' agents who don't work. It is frustrating when Realtors don't treat this job as a profession, too many just dabble in it.
It has been going on for a long time...The only way to change things is by making it harder to get the lisence and harder to keep it. (Unfortunatly)
It never ceases to amaze me how many people think they can become a Realtor "just to supplement" their income.
Good luck with that!
Laura...Let's see how many part -timers it takes to close their first deal, and in reality I figure it cost me at least $1,000/ year in dues, MLS, and continuing education. A couple of years selling real estate part-time will change most of these would be "flexible agents" into dropping this fun way of making added income.
Brokers who advertise like that only care about the money, not what's in the best interest of their clients and the professionalism of the industry.
Many sales industries do the same thing and there public view of there industry reflects it.
"Hobbyists" can not claim their business expenses. All the upfront fees, etc. are not going to be allowed as a tax deduction unless there is bonafide proof that this is a business NOT a hobby. Some people SHOULD NOT be quoted as realiable / viable sources. I hope you contact your local newspaper and refute these statements. And P.S. there is no money to be made in real estate if you don't have any clients. Might be easy to get a license, not so easy to keep/retain clients.
Laura,
We have a lot of "realtors" here that sunscribed to that school. Part-timers.
Laura, Very well said. We as an industry need to insist that the various state RE Commissions expand the pre licensing classes be more in depth. These courses must be expanded to teach prospective agents what it takes in time and money to be successful.
Laura
Real estate school and a license gets you into the real estate business. To stay in the business it requires professional development and being professional among others attributes to succeed. Unprofessional hurt the of the real estate professionals and they don't last.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Laura, I bet there are more agents that now consider themselves "professionals" that got into the business with that introduction advertisement than they want to admit.
Why did you get into it? FLEXIBLE Hours? Watching the bobble head that sold your house? The amount of time and money required before you were up and running?
My broker does not take part-time agents. You work full time at real estate or you become a referral agent. Do many now require a second income to pay their dues and fees? You betcha and a wink.
You may find an agent working as a waiter - Is he a full time waiter and part time real estate agent, or, a part-time agent and a full time real estate agent? You will need to ask their customers.
There is nothing about our job that requires any more money, time, or, training than what we got when we started. The problem is the BROKER and that includes the recruitment methods. Like trying to steal away an agent from the competition. That's why the state has background checks and finger print requirements. Yes, I said STATE requirements. That's because the BROKERS can't even be trusted to do a simple interview and weed out the agents that can pass a test and did not get caught doing criminal activities.
Let's make it harder to become a BROKER not an agent.
I think more people need to understand what they are getting into when they decide on a career in real estate. It's not as easy as most think, and that's why so many do not make it.
Dear Laura,
I love the Dire Straits music clip! Love that band! As for the Broker comment, someone needs to put him in front of that firing squad. Real Estate is no place for part timers. Be committed 100% or just work your other job. This business is very complex and not the road to easy money. While the "schedule" may be flexible, it is no part time endeavor if your any good at it.
Betina
Howdy and mornen there Laura
Wow, sure don't understand why a Broker, would go off and say that, it only takes a few hunder dollars. It sure takes more than that to become a home inspector.
Now you're looking for is not already tired of it, in an increasingly competitive work, you're tired, want to links of london relax, and even self-confidence has gone, so you do not like before the rich charm and vitality, Your links of london sweetie life has lost its luster, because you do not put links of lonodn necklace jewelry. so you courage to face what happened, do not want to work, no passion, do not even want to communicate with people like you is very dangerous, you need to regulate their emotions, their own state, first of all you have to have a confidence can give you links of lonodn jewelry,