Bringing real estate ethics online
Realtor Notebook
By Teresa Boardman, Thursday, March 18, 2010.
Flickr image by xJasonRogersx.I have an unusual hobby. I like to lurk on real estate Web sites like Trulia and Zillow. I lurk on the forums pages, where agents give advice and answer questions.
I rarely participate in the conversation, because I am not interested in chatting with people who don't use their real names online and who use the sites for a second opinion when they don't like what their Realtor told them. I just don't want to get directly involved.
The sites are a great place to get ideas for blog posts. Chances are, if one buyer has a general question, others are wondering about the same thing. And that is the main reason I hang out on the sites and monitor them.
It also helps me get into the heads of sellers so I can better answer their questions and objections.
The real estate agents who answer questions on the sites or participate in forums scramble to get there first and try to build a relationship, even if it means providing answers to questions that they are not qualified to answer, or contradicting another agent.
On one site, a consumer asked about the price of a home. Six agents looked it up in the multiple listing service and gave almost identical answers. Now that is what I call service.
As I lurk, I can see that someone needs to educate agents on some important rules. There can be violations of fair housing laws as agents tell prospective buyers which neighborhood is best.
Sometimes agents give advice to potential homebuyers that looks to me like legal advice. I am not sure if it is just a local thing but I cannot give legal advice or tax advice to clients or potential clients.
There are agents on the real estate forums who blatantly solicit business from consumers who are already under contract with another agent. Some real estate agents seldom ask a buyer or seller if they are under contract. ...CONTINUED
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Submitted by Jon DePoe on March 18, 2010 - 12:52pm.
Ah yes, it's the old issue of vicarious liability you are referring to. In many cases brokers seem to have lost all control of the agents they are supposed to supervise. The legal cost can be very high, especially in PA where the RE Commissions eyes are always roving for fresh meat and the buck stops with the broker.
Jon DePoe
KW Referral Co LLC
412-884-1720
www.swpaagents.com
Submitted by Joseph Marovich on March 18, 2010 - 1:13pm.
Thank you for your excellent observations. From an expert-witness point of view, I see a lot of real and/or accused violations of Code of Ethics as well as License Law. Greed seems to be the common denominator in most of them, followed by ignorance. We all know that ignorance is no defense to negligence. But, knowing isn't always translating into words and activity.
Joseph Marovich, ABR,ASR,e-PRO,GREEN,GRI,PMN,RSPS,SRES
Inductee REBAC Hall of Fame
MAROVICH BUSINESS INSTITUTE
www.MarovichBusinessInstitute.com
732 961-9618
Submitted by Liz Barkhordarian on March 18, 2010 - 1:36pm.
Bringing real estate ethics online - exactly.
This is a window into what's happening in the "real" world - why would you expect it to be any different online?
As for scrambling to get there first that's not how it happens in my experience. You see someone has asked a question, look to see if there are any responses, and if so - did they answer the question. When there is no response, I often answer if I can. By the time you've typed in your answer, you hit the button to respond and there are 5 answers there. Doesn't mean there was any scrambling involved.
Love the moment!
Submitted by Todd Held on March 18, 2010 - 1:47pm.
You're absolutely right, things are different everywhere. That's why I am amazed that sites such as Zillow and Trulia have survived. They don't reflect our local market in a true light.
I'm not sure I agree with your comment about soliciting business from someone though. If they ask you a question, you may talk to them. I think that this is an area that the legal eagles have yet to explore.Its my understanding that if the consumer posts a question on the internet, they've just opened the door for a lotta Realtors, licensees, etc to have a conversation, and if the consumer likes what they hear, then someone might lose out.
I don't give legal advice, but I do provide different points of view, and also input based on past experinces, as well as Real estate advice. I think most licensed real estate professionals will tell you we come across as Realtors, attorneys, home inspectors, pyschiatrists , baby sitters etc.
Todd Held
Associate Broker
Submitted by WestportMoves on March 18, 2010 - 7:04pm.
Teresa- I have answered a few straight forward questions on Trulia, but I love your suggestion of using Trulia and Zillow questions as a source of topics for blog posts.
Submitted by Keith Morrissey on March 19, 2010 - 6:45am.
Teresa,
I agree with much of what you have written but I would like to make the observation that the online behaviour of those about whom you write is reflective of their offline behaviour. It is also quite likely that the behaviour that you are witnessing online which is very open and very public is, again for those about whom you write, an inprovement on how they act in person.
Keith Morrissey
Association Executive