Active Rain Batters Realtor while sleeping... film at 11

Let's take a trip into my slumbering thoughts. After all, every human accomplishment starts with a dream, an idea, or an exercise in creative pondering; a long gaze at what might make our lives more interesting, more comfortable, more exciting, more manageable, or more tolerable.

After a long day of not eating properly, I was tempted by a late night delight that included a rich dessert, whipped cream, and an espresso. Being the health conscious individual that I profess... I deliberated before eventually succumbing.

I logged on to the Active Rain Real Estate Network, thinking that I might start a new post. But instead, I posted my indiscretion on Facebook and went to bed. Then it happened, this midnight snack now turned into a euphoric condition, and inspired this writing.

I had a strange dream that Real Estate Agents stopped showing homes to strangers. We would say ‘no' when a demanding phone voice barked for information on a listing. We would refuse to deal with anyone without an interview, a mortgage preapproval and a signed contract.

Open Houses would be reserved for builders' model homes, and not an opportunity to put ourselves, our clients' possessions, and mutual security at risk. Not to mention lessening the value of a true showing.

I envisioned a time when we'd never research properties, answer questions, or put anyone on the automated email searches without a written expectation of compensation.

I dreamt that it was illegal to work on Sundays.

I dreamt that Realtors found it unthinkable to put anyone in their car, write a market evaluation, or listen to wants and needs without having a signed agency agreement of some sort.

I imagined that buyers and sellers spent the midnight hours deliberating on which agent to sign up, rather than how many of us to call to line up showings on a Saturday afternoon.

I imagined the real estate buying and selling public being serviced loyally and faithfully by their respective Agents. I saw good faith replacing contempt, servicing replacing promoting, educational time substituting motivational hypes. All consumers would have their interests protected by agency.

I dreamt of an AR membership that included every licensed Realtor in North America, all proudly displaying our AR pins neatly embedded in our jackets, and business cards identifying our new standards.

The dream included the Canadian Competition Bureau taking offence (as though they need a reason). A small skirmish; consisting mostly of throwing rotten tomatoes, and small militia overthrowing the agency. The public cheering as the entire bunch are sentenced to penance by re-employment at a motor vehicle licensing office. (Hey! Those people work hard and suspend licenses for real infractions of the law)

I awoke questioning the possibility of real fundamental changes to the real estate business. Have we trained the public to treat us like unpaid servants? When did this happen? When did it become acceptable to work for free, without a retainer, or a promise of payment, or an accord of loyalty? Did we do it to ourselves? If so, can we undo the damage?

Was I dreaming of things about to unfold, a future ‘new normal' that will grow out of consumer awareness, or from advances in our industry?

Or, was I just having a fantasy moment caused by poor digestion?

Do I dare keep dreaming?