I’m the number one agent
Top 1%? The top 1% of what, the U.U.W.S.O….the Unprofessional, Unethical, Whiney, Show-Off Group of Realtors? The top 1% of Realtors with brown eyes who have the most clients named Kathy, the top 1% of Realtors who over price their listings, or how about the top 1% of Realtors who sold big white homes with red roofs on Friday afternoons? There is a category for everyone.
I’d like to give honorable mention to all those Realtors who are actually top producing Realtors but fail to mention that they have 50 other agents working under them.
The million dollar producer. This is not hard to accomplish people. Any Realtor who sells a million dollars worth of real estate gets to use this great title.
What about the I’m Awesome Club?
Then there are the Realtors who just love to tell you what clubs they are in such as the presidents club, platinum club, the 100% club, the I make more than you club, the I sell more properties than anyone in my office club. Where are these clubs? Do they meet every wednesday night and is there a secret knock? I bet there is even a Grand Poobah of the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes too?
How about the Realtors who list all of the designations they have such as the I know how to work with older people designation or the I know how to use a computer designation or how about one of my favorites, the I just bought a home for $10k this morning and I am going to sell it to my poor unsuspecting buyer this afternoon for $100k, who is already paying me a commission and a finder’s fee designation (you know who you are) or the I know how to work with a buyer designation, the my broker also knows how to work with buyers designation, and finally the I know how to sell a home designation. C’mon people, isn’t that our job?
The Harriman Team
February 3, 2010 at 12:50 pm
You put a smile on my face with this one! You deserve the “knows how to put others in their place” designation! Personally, I’d like to see a “My Actions Speak Louder than Acronyms” designation, to be awarded to agents by other agents. Or a “My Agent is the Only One I’ll Ever Use” designation, given to agents by their clients (objectively, of course!). I’d display those designations proudly…but unobtrusively!
Anna Altic
February 3, 2010 at 2:45 pm
This is quite funny and mostly true. I don’t think the majority of our clients have a clue what any of it means so it seems pretty silly. I do wonder about those of us who specifically work a niche market. I am an EcoBroker and have NAR’s green designation, I do use those in my signature. Even if folks don’t know the cost or time i put in to these, it should be obvious I’ve invested in educating myself about the environment and how it relates to real estate.
Julie Ross
February 3, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Renee–
I love your honesty. You are not trying to impress anyone–you are just doing your job to the best of your ability. I especially liked your line about it just being your job. Being a realtor means that you have to work with all types of people in all sorts of unique situations.
Julie
Brian Block
February 3, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Renee,
Too true! I have a box full of plaques sitting next to my desk in my office and an envelope on my shelf with certificates. Yeah, they are supposed to be impressive looking hung on the wall of my office, however, the problem is that I’ve been too busy doing business to take the time to hang them up.
An agent in my office asked me the other week (I’m the Managing Broker) whether she can use “Top 1% in the U.S.” etc. on her cards since she’s seen it on others. I said that with her production, she’s almost certainly in the Top 1% or so, but that it’s mainly a BS designation that agents use to stroke their own ego.
velda
February 3, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Hey, I’d like to have that donut trophy and I’ve probably earned it!
ross therrien
February 3, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Ah come on Renee, If it makes the agent feel good about “their” accomplishments good for them. Even though some of these initials people have after their names baffles me. Realtor/broker works for me. All my other designations I keep mostly to myself. By the way, what kind of car do you drive?
Duke Long
February 3, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Renee,
Preaching to the choir..girl…:):):):)
Amy Paternite
February 3, 2010 at 9:35 pm
I laughed, I cried, I’ve already re-tweeted it! How about “the best realtor in the world”
page down to disclaimer, according to my mom and all her friends…
Renee Porsia
February 4, 2010 at 6:47 am
Thanks for reading my article Amy. You made me laugh!
MIssy Caulk
February 3, 2010 at 9:38 pm
I think Owners/Brokers “think” we like them. I’m sure some do, but mine are in a box somewhere in my basement.
Brandie Young
February 3, 2010 at 11:26 pm
As a consumer, I could not care less where you fall in the percentages – just what you will do for me. As my service provider, it’s all about me, not your ego … Great post. Thanks.
Thomas A. B. Johnson
February 4, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Here’s one: Number One Top Agent in Pushing My Broker’s E&O Premium Through the Roof
Rob McCance
February 5, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Great post. Nailed!
It’s just one of the many small things that, when summed up, gives the real estate profession it’s slimy sheen.
What other professional organizations continually brag about their accomplishments, especially the pathetic little ones that are achieved in a weekend or 3-hour CE course (with no test)?
What other professional organization promotes the wearing or lame fake-gold 10 pound name tags, even when sitting around the office with nowhere to go.
And gold jackets and hot air balloons.
I could go on, and from the tone of your post, I’m sure you could as well.
Fred Glick
February 5, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Botton line is if you have self confidence, you don’t need awards.
I actually dislike when people congratulate me.
Melissa Zavala
February 6, 2010 at 1:07 pm
It’s not about who you are, it’s about what you do. If you keep on plugging away, the public will figure out that you are x, y, and z.
Sales is sometimes a bragfest, isn’t it?
Linda DeVlieg, Associate Broker
February 7, 2010 at 11:54 am
We have a ‘Realtor group’ here called Elite 25. The requirements to join are a big checkbook as dues are (I believe) around 1K year and you get to run around and have lunch once a month at someone’s listing.
Once every few months you get your picture in the paper saying you are a member of Elite 25 (oh and there’s another group that does the same thing)…
The other requirement is that you need to have sold 3-4 houses over 550K…so if you did that, and only that, you basically couldn’t afford the membership fee.
I did it for a year…and then realized not one client really knew or cared what the group was for – and I could really take alot of clients out to lunch for 1K a year.
Especially now I see so many ‘designations’ that are just a new way for someone to make a buck. I’m eliminating my dues on alot of mine that I have participated in over the years, looking to see if I have really received any good educational pieces or nuggets that help my knowledge of the business.