We’re laughing at you, not with you – Realtors should be fired

Thank you for the shout-out, Benn. And thank you even more for your thought-provoking post. I have often considered why there are so many gaffs in the MLS and in real estate ads, for as you point out, we have a responsibility to our clients to provide professional marketing. As a youth, I was taught that one’s Word means everything, as does one’s Words.

Have we lost all pride in how our words reflect us as professional, thoughtful individuals? Honestly, I would like to believe that for the most part, such is not the case. If I am wrong, please don’t burst my bubble, as I need to believe that most of us still care how our words help to define us as human beings, and as professionals.

In my past posts, I have mentioned the obvious causes of such sloppy verbal presentation: “Ham fingers” when typing (my specialty!), English as a second language, formats that do not provide spell-check, failure of spell-check to detect homophones, and the brain’s ability to fill in what the writer intended to say, rather than what the writer actually wrote. (Exp. I once signed a letter “Best Retards”; and let’s not forget my favorite gaffe from our Los Angeles Open House Guide: “Live near the Hollywood Bowel!”)

When I was composing listing remarks recently, I realized there is yet another problem. On our MLS, we are limited to a finite number of characters – much less than in other multiple listing services. Thus, we all tend to abbreviate constantly to assure that the salient features of a home are included (FP, Hdwd flrs, appl, etc.) This presents a challenge, as spell-check then becomes fairly useless. Thus, I think many agents, myself included, have stopped using it.

What, then, is the solution? We certainly need to be more aware of the impression our words make. We owe that to ourselves as well as to our clients and our companies. HASTE is our biggest foe. Thus, I urge people not to compose in haste. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, use a PROOFREADER if you are spelling-challenged. In fact, use one even if you consider yourself a spelling wizard, as one’s eye will often fool one’s brain.

If spell-check is not available, copy and paste your composition into a Word program or an email draft to check the spelling. Read your words ALOUD to see how they sound. (Exp. How does “Great for horse livers” sound? What about “Drawing for free Ppad”? And I can assure you, “High in Laurel Canyon” has a different meaning to local denizens who are aware of my beloved canyon’s rock-n-roll roots.

It’s impossible to be perfect, of course. Worse yet, I would have no material if everyone could suddenly spell. Nonetheless, professionalism is a goal we should all strive for, and proper spelling is a tool we all need to achieve that objective. Without it, we are just a branch of itinerant socks. Uh, I mean, “a bunch of ignorant sods.”