85% plus, of all buyers are shopping the Internet for real estate prior to ever contacting a Realtor. Here are some questions to ponder: 1. Is it our duty, based on Article 11 of the Realtor Code of Ethics to provide our sellers with the adequate information on the quality and quantity of tools made available to expose the sellers home to the marketplace? 2. Are we competent in marketing real estate to today’s e-consumer? 3. Are we demonstrating the skill and the knowledge that is needed to be competent?

Here’s what Article 11 says: (Please note: I am referring to service only. Property type is yet another issue.)

The services which REALTORS® provide to their clients and customers shall conform to the standards of practice and competence which are reasonably expected in the specific real estate disciplines in which they engage; specifically, residential real estate brokerage, real property management, commercial and industrial real estate brokerage, real estate appraisal, real estate counseling, real estate syndication, real estate auction, and international real estate. REALTORS® shall not undertake to provide specialized professional services concerning a type of property or service that is outside their field of competence unless they engage the assistance of one who is competent on such types of property or service, or unless the facts are fully disclosed to the client. Any persons engaged to provide such assistance shall be so identified to the client and their contribution to the assignment should be set forth. (Amended 1/95)

Here’s what Article 12 says in part:

REALTORS® shall be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing, and other representations.

What stage do we as Realtors fall into when it comes to marketing homes in today’s market?

Here’s what Wikipedia Encyclopedia says about Competence.
 
Competence is the ability to perform a specific task, action or function successfully.

Competence a standardized requirement for an individual to properly perform a specific job

 In psychology the four stages of competence relate to the psychological states involved in the process of progressing from incompetence to competence in a skill:

1. Unconscious incompetence

The individual neither understands or knows how to do something, nor recognizes the deficit or has a desire to address it.

1. Conscious incompetence

Though the individual does not understand or know how to do something, he or she does recognize the deficit, without yet addressing it.

1. Conscious competence

The individual understands or knows how to do something. However, demonstrating the skill or knowledge requires a great deal of consciousness or concentration.

1. Unconscious competence

The individual has had so much practice with a skill that it becomes "second nature" and can be performed easily (often without concentrating too deeply). He or she can also teach it to others.

My point in asking these questions is to make a point, that we can never stop learning in real estate.  There are many wonderful opportunities for each of us as practitioners to continue our education. What do you think?  

"Expect the Best" Mike

Mike Bowler Sr. ePRO, CRB, GRI, SRES
Cetified ePRO Trainer

email: mike@mikebowler.com
Visit: MikeBowler.net

As a real estate trainer and consultant, I’m available to assist you in all your marketing plans, technology, and taking your real estate career to the next level. Contact me if you’re interested in hiring a personal coach and consultant to help develop your business.

Many articles and comments have been made in reference to Saul Klein’s recent White Paper on the MLS 5.0 concept. It is very well detailed and comprehensive when it comes to presenting a vision of what we as Realtors need to prepare for in the future.

Danilo Bogdanovic made some great points in his post today on Agent Genius that challenges some of the content of Saul’s White Paper. I think this is healthy and the purpose of throwing this out to the visionaries of our industry.

Some may criticize Saul’s points, not understanding that the purpose of this presentation is to open up the dialogue for developing a plan vs. being reactive like we have with the whole mortgage fiasco, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the foreclosure boom we seem to be stuck with for the next couple of years. The unfortunate part is that the broker/owners who need to be smack dab in the middle of these kinds of conversations are struggling to cut costs, deplete inventory, and keep their doors open.

The other unfortunate fact is that most real estate brokers and agents are not spending the time and effort, when it comes to grasping web2, blogging, portals or the future of MLS changes, let alone decide what we need for the future.  We are a changing industry, that needs to be re-educated, starting at the top it needs to be fully supported by the broker/owners.  Let’s hope they’re not cutting their training and education budgets, if anything, right now would be a good time to throw out the newspaper print and put it all back into educating your assets. (Agents) We have many people to learn from including the two gentleman above. Have you started your Future plan yet?

“Expect the Best” Mike

Mike Bowler Sr ePRO, GRI, CRB, SRES
Direct Line: 517-492-3400
Fax: 888-832-6203
email: Mike@MikeBowler.com 
Website for Agents: MikeBowler.net
Website for Clients: MikeBowler.com
Take the ePRO Class: http://mikebowler.certifiedeprotrainer.com