Comments on: Consumers Do Not Trust Real Estate Agents

By: sellsius

sellsius — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:26:06 +0000

If the public perception is very poor, your ability to attract new clients through marketing (postcards, online, whatever) may be effected. I don’t know about you, but I am a bit uneasy around insurance agents, and real estate agents just beat them out.

By: Todd Tarson

Todd Tarson — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:05:42 +0000

I think it sometimes has to do with the ‘hired’ agent telling his/her client that the ‘other’ agent is an idiot for something in the negotiation.

Most clients like their ‘hired’ agent but will quickly say that ‘other’ agents are idiots and not trustworthy.

Hopefully blogging and other such type of resources will help potential clients ‘get to know’ if they’d want to use a certain agent before they ever speak to one.

I don’t think I care about the industry image problem, I try to only control what my clients think of me and the service I provide. Usually it leads to having my clients refer me to others and I think that stands on its own.

By: Norm Fisher

Norm Fisher — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 03:48:49 +0000

I think most people think their own agent is pretty cool, but the rest of them suck. ARW makes an excellent point. There is still to much focus on the agent as opposed to the consumer in real estate marketing.

By: Teresa Boardman

Teresa Boardman — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:43:26 +0000

Reading this post explains a lot. I was taking rejection seriously and here it was just because of the Realtor thing. Some days I am in the 20%.

By: Bonnie Erickson

Bonnie Erickson — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:12:48 +0000

One of the best ways to give the profession a facelift is to act professionally. My neighbor just told me she wouldn’t want my job for the world. Spending 3 weeks negotiating inspection requests is not her idea of fun! The public doesn’t trust us because the public doesn’t understand what we do. When we start demonstrating our value and educating our clients, the shift will come.

By: Austin Realtor's Wife

Austin Realtor's Wife — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:17:26 +0000

I would argue that a majority of ACTIVE bloggers are in this group because they are all seeking ways to enhance and grow their business and their services as well as enhance/grow other Realtors’ services by spreading and absorbing knowledge. Would y’all agree?

By: sellsius

sellsius — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 08:41:31 +0000

You are clearly in that 7% group Christoph.

By: Christoph Schweiger

Christoph Schweiger — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 05:22:49 +0000

Now wait a minute!!! This was in my inbox today:

“I understand…we trust you! And congratulations! Enjoy your anniversary.”

By: Austin Realtor's Wife

Austin Realtor's Wife — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:25:33 +0000

The industry needs an image facelift; too many Realtors say they are #1 or put their smarmy face on TV… (this is why there is distrust: http://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/BloodhoundBlog/?p=1458)

It is so sad, because there are SO many great Realtors out there, but the minority of “get rich quick schemers” give everyone else a bad name! Sellsius, you’ve done a great job of exposing the image problem… admitting there is a problem is the first step…