Is NAR Moving In The Right Direction? Am I?

Matt, NAR is really all of us. I think that it is great that they are reaching out to those newer in the business for some fresh perspectives, and I believe that you will be amazed at the workings of the organization. It is always so easy to complain about things from the outside, but NAR is a member driven body which has done many great things for real estate and the consumer.

So yes I think you did the right thing getting involved and I have enjoyed reading your posts and think you will be a good voice.

Glad you made it to blog world!

Matt –

I think it’s great that you stepped up to the plate and volunteered to help on a committee.

NAR is a member driven-organization, and unfortunately, many of the “old timers” are also “old thinkers.” They have been running all the committees for many years, and probably don’t even know that the world is changing.

Newer agents are often given the impression that you have to be in the business a long time to have any credibility in making the decisions, but it may also be true that the newer agents are just intimidated and assume that they don’t have enough experience to be a contributing member.

Congratulations on being “recruited” to represent us an an NAR committee!

Eat or be eaten?
If you’re not my ally, you’re my enemy?
Are you freaking nuts?
No booze, my friend — just questions.
…randy

Jeffrey – You first line sounds like the new NAR commercial (that has yet to be made): “Matt, NAR is really all of us.” I certainly would like to think so and this will give me the opportunity to see that for myself.

Todd – First, thanks. Second, your answer is obviously something I agree with. I’m a big fan of the “new agent” – and not just because I am one, but because they represent an opportunity to look at things from a fresh perspective and sometimes in their naivety they might ask questions that might solve the problems. It will be interesting to see how other committee members react to the idea. One thing is for sure, I plan on making the most of it and trying my best to learn, add what I can, and have a good time doing it.

Vicki – One of the things I’ve sort of “fought” against in my time as a real estate agent is the concept of new vs. experienced. I will never knock an experienced agent for working hard and getting where they are, but I’m always the first one to mention some of the shoddy work I’ve seen out of some very experienced agents. I really think experience has little to do with competence. That’s not to say that all experienced agents are incompetent either! There is a certain “I’m new and don’t know if I fit in” kind of state that new agents go through – which I think helps weed out those who will last and those who won’t. Real estate is a pretty tough career to start, but once you get that confidence that says “I do belong here” suddenly it all starts to flow a little better. Perhaps this move by NAR will help showcase this to newer agents and they will be more likely to step forward.

Carolyn – I would have never thought of stepping up had it not been for the Google/Scraper saga. I really owe much of my fire when that happened to Jay Thompson and Paula Henry. They not only showed me what was going on in the Associations/Boards, but made me realize that sitting and crying about would do no good. My own “fire” was only fueled when I spoke about it here on AgentGenius and I saw how everyone was encouraging and wound up giving me tons of advice. Benn and Lani were ultra supportive of me in it and seeing as how I think of them as a mom and dad figure to my real estate career, it only made me more determined. I hope that I can add some real quality value to the committee and NAR in general.

Jim – I’m curious – how long have you been a member? One of the things I know about NAR from reading, listening, and asking questions is that it is a slow-to-change behemoth of an organization. With so many members, I imagine it’s hard to please all of the people all of the time, but I don’t think that should ever act as an excuse. I’m hoping to learn a lot so that I can understand how it works and will most certainly encourage and positive signs I see. I remember thinking that bringing Todd in was a good idea, but also worried (publicly) that it might soften his voice. I don’t think it has, although I do remember thinking some of his stuff seemed a little to “company line” once or twice…and spoke to him in regards to that as well (right here at AgentGenius). What I applaud is that NAR knows I can be vocal about what I don’t like. In some ways they take a risk with someone like me, because I’m not going to report back and say “everything’s fine” if it’s not. I think they know the value in that though, both from a “change” standpoint and a “PR” standpoint. Taking on Jay Thompson was a great example of that. Jay’s a mouthpiece for no one except himself (and those he chooses to be one for) and I give him a lot of respect for that. NAR knew his feeling on the MLS and invited him to engage rather than to wish he’d shut up. That is most certainly a step in the right direction.

“Is NAR moving in a good direction?”

That they are moving at all, and taking a BIG step they never would have before has got to be a good thing.

“Is it a good idea to let less experienced agents loose on NAR committees?”

Absolutely.

“Have I made a good decision by accepting the invitation?”

I certainly think so!

“Can I add something to the conversation?”

Of this, there is no doubt.

Welcome to the machine Matt. And thank you.

Matt:

That’s awesome. You wanted it, noe here it is. Don’t waffle – go for it.

Even if it does not end up being a path you ultimately want to pursue, you will gain the experiences and know you made the right choices.

Maybe you will love it and move up the food chain and that would never happen if you didn’t try it in the first place.

Go4it!

Rob in Atlanta

I, for one, welcome this entire concept with open arms!! And, quite frankly, it’s about time. 🙂

Good job, Matt.

“While they/we might not move as fast as bloggers would like,…”

Dave, NAR does not move as fast as most of its members would like. Those members blogging are just the ones that get heard. Matt proved that.

Matt,

Congrats on your invitation to join the NAR Committee. I just rec’d mine yesterday also. Looks like we will get the opportunity to work together and become friends in 2010.

Let me know if I can support you in any way. Have a great weekend.

Drew Burks – Broker
San Diego CA

>>” I talked with Todd and NAR folks about this quite a bit”

Daniel, Jay Thompson and Jim Duncan were all a tremendous help in the effort to push this pilot program forward. Both in their advice, and in the examples they set by serving. Thanks Guys!

Joe – I’m very excited to see the actual workings of the committee – not just the “what we need to do”, but the “how we do it.” As you mentioned the slow reaction of NAR in regards to MIBOR seemed to leave many scratching their heads. It seemed like it was going great and then the brakes hit the tires and we wound up at a standstill with little to show for it.

Jay – I’m sure I’ll talk your ear off in Vegas about it (which by the way, I can’t wait for). I asked most of those questions in the rhetorical sense. I knew what I thought, but of course, having just been asked to join I was a little on the biased side. I was also curious to hear from the people that have more or less helped make me the agent I am today.

Missy – That’s awesome that she will be there too. At least now I know I won’t feel too new, as I’ll at least have someone to talk to on day one with a common link.

Benn – I definitely think there is always something to be learned from both sides of any coin. I read blogs that I disagree with all the time and then go back for more. Why? To understand why someone might see if from that side. Sometimes, my opinion shifts because I read something I may not have thought of before. (Go see my comment on your post about social media strategy – having fluidity is useful in many places in life.)

Jim – I’m going to guess you’re not a big fan of the Ethics course then. I took mine last year and was pretty shocked at how it was done. Education is constantly debated here (and everywhere else) and I hope perhaps some of those that wind up on the committees affecting education (and ethics) might be vocal about that. If we’re going to get the respect we clamor for as Realtors®, I think this would be a huge task to take on to help improve upon that.

Rob – There is certainly no waffling here. I did want this. And I’m going to take it and see where it leads. I’m chomping at the bit to learn and know more already. I’m very thankful for NAR picking me (and some of the others they’ve picked as well) and more than happy to do my best and tell others about my experiences.

Dave – In my limited experience with the Association itself, I have always thought that the problem may not lie within what it wants to do, but rather with what it takes to get it done. That’s not to say that every choice they make is going to be stellar (especially since we all have so many differing opinions), but perhaps if the process is improved, along with good ideas going in to change/create/adapt policy we might come out the other side with a amazing Association.

Clint – When I saw your name, I was pretty sure of what I would read. I know you’re big on the idea of new ideas, strange ideas, and taking chances (that are calculated risk). You’ve never been one to act as if someone’s lack of experience should stop them – instead, it should fuel them.

Tim – I have often “spoken out” on the subject of experienced vs. inexperienced and what it means. Of course since I am a new more-inexperienced agent (in terms of years and transactions), it often sounds like I’m just defending my newness I think. Although I am, I also disagree with the idea that only a well-experienced agent can perform this or that task. To me, the best thing I have is the ability to come to the “experts” and ask them questions so that I can a) get the answer I need to perform a task and b) learn.

Bob – I think bloggers are always seen as wanting everything quicker, but only because they’re the first ones to react in a (large) public manner. Because I can write a blog post the minute an announcement is made, I am capable of being the “thought leader” on a topic, while those who don’t blog are probably having the same thoughts, but can’t get them into the public view without sending them out via Pony Express.

Tina – One thing I’ll be curious to see is how some of the tech-solutions might affect future NAR meetings. At the speed with which a tweet can spread, will they need to control it in order to be sure that the correct facts get out there? Remember how bad the twitter-spread of the changes to the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit (saying they were allowing it to be used as downpayment) were? In one day, we caused more problems than we solved. HUD and NAR both had a headache on their hands and a lot of agents had some explaining to do.

Drew – Well congratulations to you as well! What committee will you be on?

Daniel – What committee did you get @LilZebra on? Seriously, since you were one of the people that helped make this happen, I thank you. Forward thinking by others may be the catalyst to more new thinking. I like that. One of the things I wonder is what will be the effect of people being brought in instead of people working to get there. Will the “selected” members have a different sense of purpose? Will they take on the task with a different view? For me, it was a goal, but not for a few years (after I had built up some experience at the local and state levels), but because I’ve been given the chance, it becomes less of a goal and more of an honor. Because of this, my purpose in being there seems more important to me than had I worked towards it if that makes sense. I don’t know the committee members that are out there in the system already, but is it possible that some of them are doing it for career more than purpose (I wouldn’t dare suggest that all of them have that goal), but since there was a group selected, we might feel that we have to “perform” in order to honor the privilege of being asked to serve. Just a thought that popped into my head.

Todd – Well I’d most certainly like to thank them all, as well as you and anyone else that was involved in this idea. Obviously, I benefit from this decision, but I must say even if I hadn’t been selected, I’d be applauding this move. I hope that it proves to be a good one for NAR so that it might continue.

Susie – Thanks. I hope I can offer something new and learn a lot. I’m really excited by it and can’t wait to get started!

Joe – I definitely will do my best! If I don’t you can personally call for my impeachment.

Bill – Perhaps one of the things NAR could do to improve volunteerism is to push this new idea as well as making the committee sign up seem a little less daunting. I wanted to give committee membership on the national level a try, but unfortunately it seemed that the cards were stacked against me in terms of experience on the state and local levels. I can see why NAR would prefer someone with some experience in these areas (much like being President, it’s obviously preferred if you’ve done some government work on state or local levels before you get there). That’s why I didn’t volunteer this year, but instead worked to move into state and local. I’ll be curious to see if the national work I do gives me a boost to the other two (I would suspect it would).

As for the Ethics issue regarding Jim’s comment, I would like to see the questions become a little tougher. I took my quadrennial online class and found it to be pretty easy. Ethics is a difficult area and perhaps we should be tested at a higher level in order to raise the ethics to a higher standard. Perhaps if you fail, they can push for a mandatory class that you must take or a more in depth class lasting longer and covering more points of ethics would be made available to help strengthen those skills for the future. I would gladly welcome a change like that.

Jim – I admit, I’m not a huge fan of the online courses overall after having taken one. I found it to be a little too easy. I do see Bill’s point though that admitting to it (whether bragging or not) on a public forum doesn’t look good. Instead of laughing at it and mocking it, perhaps you can speak with Bill about things to do to make it better. I know Bill listens to a lot of ideas and he’s one of those that would love to see the Realtor® public come away better, smarter, and more ready to take on the world of real estate.

Congratulations Mike! I think this is great that NAR is doing this. I am new to AG, so now I have alot of catching up to do on my reading past blogs and what has inspired you!