John, to bad we will never be accurately heard.

I make it a point to inform my clients what goes on when I am not in the car with them for the 2 or 3 hours showing homes.

I tell them about the neighborhood projects I am involved in, the times I have contacted our local representatives in an effort to better the community, the time involved with maintaining a proper education.

What ever I can do to let them know, I/we am more than just another guy on the other end of the phone waiting for them to put money in my pocket. I/we let them know I/we work a schedule, I/we have a family and I/we strive to exceed expectations of all of my/our clients, beyond the closing table.

Being self employeed carries higher cost of living, that most do not understand. Yet the media doesn't want to admit that the seasoned tire kickers drain our expenses, the same people we would like to avoid, but feel obligated to ensure they get adequate representation by a Realtor (R) who takes the profession and responsibility seriously.

Sure I love putting someone into a home they thought they couldn't afford, the same person who knows homeownership is a dream and has worked hard to achieve and will not take the privilege for granted. But to appropriately and adequately represent them I must afford to do so in the first place.

I have no problem with discount brokers who choose this profession as a full time career and focus on the individual client and not the quantity of clients, but I really despise those R.E. agents that do their "job" on a part time basis because the license was there for the taking. Most people are right, it is not hard to be a real estate agent, but it takes a lot of hard work and determination to do the job right, I sure would like a little credit for it from the media.

In CT commissons are negotiable.

I wish, we could get 6% or 7%.

I can compete with the discount brokers, if I want, apples to apples.

But most sellers and buyers want apples and pay want to pay for apple juice (apples that have dropped and made into jucie).

When I tell a seller that I'll charge them a flat fee NOT TO SELL THEIR HOUSE, they look a me a little weird. Then I say "you want to pay the discount brokers NOT to sell your house..don't you? They get paid upfront even if they don't sell your house.

We don't get paid unless we sell your house, until then it's a great big debt and liability.  

John, (a) you're preaching to the choir; and (b) most Realtors complain about how the 4th estate and the public critisize them.  And what's with the "Professional" Realtor?  The term is Realtor. What's next? Professional Doctor?  

IMHO, the negative press and misinformation campaign etc is an attempt to cause Realtors to feel ashamed/guilty about what they do and to confuse the public. In reality the discount brokers could disenroll from NAR, invest in setting up their own information exchange and compensation structure - MLS, code of ethics, policy standards and so forth instead of trying to ride on the backs of those with whom they disagree.  After all until now we do have a free market. Realtor associations are membership organizations no one is forced to join. Surely there is room to disagree agreeably?

So Phil, I am just curious is it just the title that makes the profession?

You're so right John, and believe me when I say I offer all those services myself and more as you say!!

Yet, between the negative publicity of Market Consultants to the general masses, the light approach to advertising of our profession -from the powers that be, all the unlicenseable do-it yourselfers and other exempt professionals out there, plus the lure of a possible and better way of life from the low paying jobs, and the perceived glamour and riches of this job, from those not in the circle - these are all reasons for a very competitive market. In the REALTORr ranks, as anywhere else, our service market will regulate itself, just like the law of supply and demand...

If I can't find clients at a higher percentage, it stands to reason that I'll either have to lower my price, limit the services included, or get out of the market... So much so that many newer REALTORr agents may be worse off now than before they got in the industry. Yet, the lure of money keeps us coming back, for more of the same treatment!!!

It's a vicious circle, I tell you...

The positive will have to come from deep inside of us!

Brady,  Why are you okay with "discount" agents that put pressure on all of us to lower our commissions, but have such a problem with "part-time" agents.

   I would be considered part-time because I have another job outside of being a REALTOR.  Why, because as you said the cost of being self-employeed is very high.  So just because I choose to work twice as hard to ensure my family is taken care of doesn't give you reason to despise me.  The way I look at it is simple, if another agent doesn't put in the time and effort to take care of clients, someone else will. Does it make an agent better to only be a REALTOR?  It comes down to service, some us of provide it by working "Double-Time".  

I've been in real estate since Feb of 1992. Watching this debate, I think it time for introspection. The press only knows how to report negatives anymore, that is what sells. Their investigative reporting, may have some facts, but it is rarely fair to the person or industry that is at the tip of the sword. It is full of broad generalizations, lumping everyone into convenient groups, and characterizing those groups in ways that fit their premise.

Reading posts like these here (and others), I can't help noticing that we "professionals" do the same, here when we refer to "part-timers" or "discounters" or....  It is especially noticeable in that Point2 piece called “16 minutes”. The premise of that piece is that “discounters” list a home for $350K (the presumed market value) and only get $300K for the home.  Someone pulled that straight out of a very dark place!?  Last I looked, the seller accepts or rejects offers, the agent just has to “present”.  

    May I suggest that the reason for the recent media hammering on traditional real estate is out of a lack of understanding and sophistication about our industry, shared by the public, at large. How often do people need us, maybe 4 or 5 times in their life?  I respectfully submit, that some of the distain and vitriol exhibited toward “part-timers” and “discounters” on these posts, are similarly misguided.  We all have complaints and gripes, let’s focus on making what we do, individually, regardless the label, the best it can be.  

Sorry, I don't post very often (no time) and clicked the wrong link. I am a P2 member and, by the way, a discounter, hoping to co-exist. Thanks!

Way to go Troy!  I don't care what you charge the seller...as long as ya pay me a reasonable rate when I bring you the buyer!   :)

I absolutely care but do not want to get into it.

Todd - a lot of us have more than one stream of income.  It's only smart.  Unless you've got a pipeline full of business & referrals, it's ridiculous to put all of your eggs into one basket, so to speak.  The things I do other than real estate take very little time away from real estate - I do bookkeeping and virtual assistant type stuff for small businesses in my area and I am an affiliate with several motivational type web businesses; i.e., if people buy the product using my url on to the website, I get a small commission - I market on a separate website that I won't advertise here.  I sell stuff on ebay and craig's list...lots of little stuff that adds up to some extra cash when we need it.

Amen John.  Amen.