Last month, the REALTOR® EDGE newsletter published some tips from guidelines produced by the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR). The following is another excerpt from the guidelines, taken with permission from LSTAR.
Treat your colleagues, clients and customers the way you would like to be treated. It’s not only nice; it’s smart. Good ethical standards can and do lead to more business, while behaving badly may have a negative effect on your career. Remember: real estate is a reputation business. What you do today may affect your reputation and business for years to come. Here are 10 tips to help you follow the Golden Rule’s three Cs in real estate: courtesy, communication and common sense:
- Always request an appointment to show a property through the listing firm or salesperson. Don’t call the owner unless the listing firm has given prior permission. Think about it. Would you like a fellow salesperson to contact your seller directly without letting you know? Always follow a property’s “How Seen” instructions to the letter.
- Schedule appointments in such a way as to leave yourself sufficient time to get there on time. Anticipate rush hour traffic or winter driving conditions.
- If you are going to be out of town, arrange for someone to cover for you.
- When speaking to another REALTOR® about a property, make sure to identify yourself right off the bat as a REALTOR® rather than as a member of the public. That’s simple professional courtesy.
- When dropping off or picking up courtesy keys . . . be timely. Too little, too late doesn’t add up to courtesy.
- Promptly return any key you have to the listing office after a showing.
- Face a problem situation promptly and squarely. Consult management immediately when a
problem develops.
- Never criticize a property in the presence of its occupants. Leave the property as you found it (i.e., lights on or off, pets in or out, all doors locked, etc.). Don’t turn switches on or off if you don’t know what they control – it could affect the furnace, air conditioner, garborator or alarm system.) Check the thermostat – buyers often fiddle with these. Check the elements on the kitchen range and make sure the fridge door is shut. Listen. Are any toilets running? Would-be home buyers are about as likely to flush a toilet as would-be car buyers are to kick a tire — very. If you think something is amiss (e.g., vandalism) contact the listing broker immediately.
- Don’t park or block the driveway access to a neighbouring property and/or sidewalk when showing a property or conducting an Open House. Neighbours are people too . . . and you don’t want them complaining to the seller.
- Remember to pick up all Open House signs when you leave. You don’t want people showing up at your seller’s door wanting to tour the house after the Open House is over.
The above tips are excerpted with permission from the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®. Read the full Miss Real Estate Manners document.
Leave a Reply