Where Have All the REALTORS® Gone?
by John Occhi, Hemet REALTOR®
I stopped by my local Realtor Association off ice this morning, paid my monthly MLS dues and had to cut loose with over $300 for my 2007 National and California Association dues.
Personally, I enjoyed the experience. It made me feel good to be a REALTOR.
While I was there, another agent came in - except she was turning in her credentials and lock box key. We didn't talk, but she had despair written all over her face. I actually felt sorry for her.
I did not know her - in fact I did not know what office she comes from. As a matter of fact, I don't think I have ever seen her at a single Board event, including Caravan. I wonder what she was thinking, when she got ‘in' the business. Perhaps she benefited from the windfall of the ‘good years' and just decided she did not want to ‘work' now.
I wondered if she was ever a full time REALTOR®, or did she just come to play when the opportunity presented itself. Then again, I wonder if she ever did do anything at all. The nice ladies at the board office didn't recognize her either, but they pulled her paperwork and gave her credit for what she needed credit for - cleared her name from the journals of Hemet Real Estate.
I can guarantee one thing - she did not have a blog at Active Rain or anywhere else to promote her business and ranking in the search engines, now did she?
After she left, I joked with one of the nice ladies that I'll bet that's a scene that will repeat itself this month, as the ‘wanna-be's' (as I like to call them) decide they don't hae the $300 plus dollars to donate to our associations. I was told this is a scene that has already repeated itself with regularity this short week - today being only the 3rd work day.
In a sense, it's sad to see agents drop out of the business - but then again, that's OK, because now the serious REALTORS® can work with other serious REALTORS®. Yes, there are less and less transactions every month now, compared to a year and two ago - but then again, there are fewer REALTORS® doing the business, and for those of us who remain - that's a good thing, now isn't it?
Now have a Blessed day,
John Occhi, Hemet REALTOR®
www.JohnOcchi.Com
The market has changed and so have I. I am now in my second year of successfully working with banks and Asset Managers in the preservation and sale of REO Properties throughout the Inland Empire, CA
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Hey John,
I won't miss the hassles and bone head moves that some of these agents would claim and try to pull off. Working as a Realtor should be a 100% commitment. Many think they can hop in and make their quick millions, not respecting that it takes time and dedication to build a loyal client base that will make you successful. I'm in this business in California for the long haul. I'm sure there will be changes from year to year due to "market conditions!" Many of which will blame anyone and anything but themselves for their shortcomings in the business...
Happy New Year from one professional to another :)
Scott
P.S. I'm going to be putting together a California Real Estate Blog...
www.CARealEstateBlog.com
Are you game for me to add your RSS blog feed as the exclusive agent in Hemet? I'm sure the search engines will love the rich key word domain and I plan on doing a site somewhat like www.ocrealestateblog.com
Let me know :)
Happens every year about this time John.
I think the biggest reason people get out of real estate (as well as get in) are unrealistic expectations.
Most of them seem to think all you have to do is get a license, have a few business cards printed up, and the money will start rolling in.
Odds are the same thing will happen next year at your board (and mine).
John, that's the same thing that's happening here too. I've spoke with some who had to find a second job for now or who told me they can't afford the fees.
Unrealistic expectations and no business plan or budget spell doom for many.
John I wish they would make the board fees $2,000 a year to be a REALTOR. That would clean up the part-timers who do nothing but waste full time agents time.
John, I don't think a lot of agents realize how many expenses there are involved to being a realtor. The annual association fees and monthly dues is really a just small part of it.
I'm not a big nature guy,John, but the way I look at it, its like the culling of the herd. In nature only the strong survive. (and sometimes the lucky) Those that are able to adapt and think on their feet not only exist, but prosper. Ironically, that makes it tougher for those struggling.
I look at it as a good thing. Truth is, although I enjoy helping anyone who asks, I resent an agent who shows up and waits for the phone to ring. I find that the agents that don't have a passion for our profession are the same ones likely to give us a bad name.
Anyway, those of us that persevere will be stronger in the end. Let them eat cake.
all the best, Bill Carroll
Our numbers are down in our local board as well. Once we get the statewide numbers I'm sure the drop will be significant. Not a bad thing at all.
John, $300 is not a lot. If a Realtor can't come up with that, then they couldn't have been doing much business at all.
I agree George. But you are right, if they are not doing anything at all, then $300 is a lot - especially if your broker is charging you for E&O now too and who know what else. I just believe this is the time of the year that the heard thins itself and this year will leave us leaner than in the past.
John Occhi, Hemet Realor
http://www.johnocchi.com/
John, Now let's be nice and not go off on making so many assumptions about this nice lady. Maybe you never saw her because she was out beating the bushes. I never had a blog either until a month ago. I've never gone to a Board event and I consider caravans to be for agents who don't have anything better to do. Some people just aren't cut out for the business. Sometimes it's laziness, sometimes it's not having a good mentor to guide you. Sometimes it's not having the people skills. I respect anyone who has the guts to try to make it on their own. Maybe she did have unrealistic expectations and thought it would be easy. I certainly did when I started. But at least she tried. Let's give her the benefit of the doubt.
I would not mind having the fees be a little higher. I have dealt with a few bad agents in my day. The real problem is agents that don't have their heart in this business and are giving all of us a bad name.