I posted this a few weeks ago and thought I'd add it to this site as well.

After a few mishaps getting to DC I'm happy that I can report that on Thursday May 17th I attended my NAR Professional Standards committee meeting. 

I love being on this committee and am in the second year of my second 3 year term. After 4 years the newness has worn off but this year I was really looking forward to this meeting as I knew Blogs would be discussed.

The first part of the meeting is the Professional Standards Forum, the forum allows all REALTOR members to bring up their concerns about the code and the enforcement process as well as sharing of ideas. 

As we entered the ballroom this funky looking tall guy in a white suit greeted people, congratulating them on being ethical and then poking fun at them! It was funny to see and I knew immediately who he was thanks to AR member Mariana Wagner who posted about how to be a slimy real estate agent, I think the majority of the attendees had no idea who Ted Truitt was. I could hardly contain myself as I watched their reactions!

We spent about an hour and half doing the open forum and then the committee meeting started. 

First off...We passed a new Standard of Practice prohibiting members from misrepresenting their status as members or designees of NAR's Institutes, Societies and Councils. This is a good thing in my opinion. 

Then we tabled the Internet-related issues...blogs to name a few until November.  The sub committee will be be looking at Article 12 to see if we need a broader more encompassing ethical direction guiding all forms of communication. They will also be looking at

1. A clearer definition of communications

2. REALTOR making anonymous comments on other REALTORS Blogs

3. REALTORS responsibility for monitoring/editing their own Blogs

4. REALTORS responsibility for Blogs run by licensees affiliated with them 

5. Disclosure of time lag (hours or days) in posting comments to Blogs. Must the fact that a Blog is not run in "live time" be disclosed?

6. Posting unfavorable/unflattering (but truthful) comments to Blogs 

I can't wait till November to see what the sub committee comes back with. It should be very interesting and being a blogger I have very mixed feelings about some of this.

One thing I learned while in DC is that there are many-many people who have no clue what blogging is and surprisingly people in important positions who do not see any merit in blogging and will not encourage their sales associates to blog!

What do you think? Should NAR look at having guide lines for Blogs? Do we need NAR policing blogs? I think it's going to happen no matter what but am curious as to my fellow bloggers feelings about this.

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This is pretty funny...sometimes you just need to look at things a little differently...life is just too short get all uptight and this is really an interesting way to start the new year...I hope you agree.

By Monika McGillicuddy

I pulled up to the house I was showing about 10 minutes early. It was a pretty mild day here in NH and I noticed a big shiny Harley boldly parked in the middle of the drive. I got out of the car to stretch and enjoy a rare warm 55 degree January day...unusual temps for us!  As I did so a woman came out of the garage and approached me. I asked her if I was blocking her in...since I wasn't expecting a co-broker to show up I assumed she was the seller and would be leaving.

"Nope" she said.

She was dressed in jeans, big heavy work type boots, tank top and denim jacket..she had on lots of big silver jewelry and a big heavy looking chain link type belt around her waist. She held a key ring in her hand full of keys...so many keys it makes my hubby Jay's key ring look petite and he easily has 10 keys or more on his...anyway she clipped the keys to her waist and came to stand near me.

I introduced myself and told her I was here to show the house.
She said she knew that and mumbled her name...which I couldn't hear.  I felt stupid for having said something as lame as I'm here to show the house...which is just as bad as saying "This is the kitchen...the bathroom"  blah...blah as if you can't tell it's a kitchen...a bathroom. Talk about dumb things to say.

Me..."I'm a few minutes early"
She.."Yeah...I figured" now I really felt stupid!
Me..."Buyer should be here any minute"
She.."Okay" and light's up a Marlboro and I admire her nose piercing....little cute tiny diamond (looked real) as the smoke comes out her nostrils and nearly goes up mine.
Me..."Sure is a Nice day for a ride"...I'm trying to make small talk as I step back a bit.
She.."Yup...sure don't get many like this... this time of year" I watch as she expertly handles the butt between her fore finger and her thumb....she smokes like my son does. As a former smoker...I notice those things. I also notice to my dismay that close up she doesn't really look any younger than me. Certainly more comfortable but no younger.

Her cell phone rings and she crushes the butt out and excuses herself to take the call....mumbling it was her husband calling and that he was out on his bike and she was joining him. 

While she's jabbering away on her cell my buyers drive up.  Now I didn't catch her name so I figured I'd just quickly wave to her and take the buyers and go inside...

She.."Hey wait up will ya" she hollers.
Me..."Oh okay.. we were just going to go ahead inside"
She.."Naw I'm done...lets go" and she extends her hand to the buyers and introduces herself as the listing agent of the house.  Me...I had all I could do to not crack up laughing.

It was a pretty hilarious showing and I never ever would of pegged her as an agent...afterwards my buyer asks me if she was new or something..or maybe this was a part time job as she just didn't look or act like a real estate agent. I didn't know how to respond.  But Yikes..I thought to myself...how true!  I wanted to ask the buyers just how did they expect a real estate agent to look and act...but I didn't.

So it got me thinking about NAR's Field Guide to The Polished Professional ...because when I first read it I laughed and thought how backwards of NAR to publish something like this...In fact I thought maybe it was a throw back from the 50's or something. I'm still not sure if its not a joke....Did NAR really need to make suggestions on how REALTORS® should dress??

Have you seen the Field Guide to The Polished Professional?? It is an interesting document and well worth the read.

  
National Association of REALTORS® field guide...Pointers for Becoming a Polished Professional.

(the bold is my added commentary)

Keep your wardrobe up to date with age-appropriate and stylish clothes in your correct size.Choose colors that flatter your skin tone and hair color....Good Grief...age appropriate...do I have to dress like my mother did?? Jeez I should even strive to make sure my clothes fit...and are stylish... what a novelty!  Flatter my skin tone and hair color...yikes I just wear what ever colors I like...plus my hair color changes often...I can't afford to buy new clothes just to match it.

 
Enlist the help of a salesperson or personal shopper at your favorite department store.Or, if your budget allows, hire an image consultant...Are they serious ...a personal shopper??? I know the code of ethics says that if I'm not competent I should engage the assistance of someone who is and who can help me  but jiminy christmas... I'm a real estate agent...not a millionaire!

Shoes should always be polished and the heels in good shape; no sneakers or flip-flops while on the job.  No Flip Flops...I have pretty feet even when I don't have a pedicure, I just can't get rid of my flip flops and sandals! They make gorgeous sandals nowadays, I'm just not getting rid of them even if that means I 'm a not professional!!!

Makeup and perfume should enhance, not mask. Get a professional makeover at your local cosmetic counter to find out what best suits you. Is this a joke...I wear make up to hide my imperfections...not enhance them LOL!

Get regular haircuts and keep facial hair well-groomed.  Well okay I agree with that...my hubby has a beard and I like him hairy but trimmed.

Make sure that your nails are clean and manicured. Ummm....I don't need NAR to tell me to do that...do you?

Jewelry and accessories should be modest, not flashy or distracting. I love my Jewelry and my motto has always been the more the better...what fun is it if I have to keep it hidden???

 
Keep your smile nice and white - don't let it betray your age or your habits.  Hmmm...promoting teeth whitening...I think! Does NAR hold stock in  teeth whitening companies too??

Always use proper grammar. Use of slang, profanity or improper grammar shows your breeding and education, or lack thereof. Breeding and Education...oh my...really breeding? I  jus dunno!

No gum chewing or smoking when you're with a client - it's just rude.  I agree 100%...BUT hey how about No answering your cell phone when you're talking with a client..."oh excuse me Mr. client while I take this call cuz he's more important than you are"

 Mind your manners - open doors, extend small courtesies, and say "please" and "thank you". Okay I like it very much when my husband does that...his mom taught him well.

 
Get some exercise. You'll stand taller, and exude confidence. Gimme a break...get some exercise??? Stand Tall..that's my  mom talking..not NAR...is it? She used to tell me stand tall or you'll get grandmas hump....

 
Express your personality in how you dress, but do it subtly. There's no need to be a carbon copy of everyone else, but leave the exotic animal prints and the loud plaids at home. Express my personality...I wish I had taken a photo of that agent...she was definitely expressing herself.  Does that mean I don't have to dress appropriately and wear stylish clothes???Sounds a bit contradictory...no?