Does Anyone Know A Good REALTOR?
So, What's The Difference
The question as to whether a real estate agent is the same as a realtor is a common one. The equally common assumption is that they are the same. However, while many real estate agents are realtors, not all realtors are real estate agents. Confused? We can clear the confusion quickly by telling you that a realtor is actually a term that is designated specifically to real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). This organization is proud to call itself the "Voice of Real Estate" and, while the name implies the organization is confined to one country, it is, in fact, found in over 60 countries worldwide. To be a member of NAR, one pays an annual membership fee in return for ongoing training and education, representation in government by way of lobby groups, access to data bases that are REALTOR only, various consumer awareness campaigns, and many other benefits. They are also held to a very firm Code of Ethics. Of the various professionals who are REALTORS, you may find appraisers, property managers, brokers, loan and escrow officers, insurance people and others.
The Code Of Ethics
While there are some very good real estate agents who are not REALTORS, the main reason people tend toward an agent who is NAR is because of the strict Code of Ethics. This code helps to ensure all interaction between agent and clients/customers is clean and aboveboard and that your REALTOR is bound by a code of honesty and integrity. It is against the code for a REALTOR to exaggerate or misrepresent property values and market situations. They are bound by this code to guarantee confidentiality and maintain communication. Although you would think that most people in business would uphold this type of creed, the fact is that many don't. So, when you hire a REALTOR, you are dealing with someone who has ascribed to a Code of Ethics and is bound by it. For many people, that's a very comforting thought.
The Proof Is In The Pudding
Depending upon which side of the equation one sits, the opinions of what makes a REALTOR worth his/her salt can be a bit polarized-for obvious reasons. The question is, can a REALTOR be measured against a standard of quality? Of course, with a stringent Code of Ethics in place, and the ready access to many helpful tools, a real estate agent who is also a REALTOR is far and away more equipped to rise above the rest. However, as the old saying goes: "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." It means that the true value or quality of something can only be judged when it's put to use or tried and tested. The meaning is often summed up as: "Results are what count...it's not how you start, but how you finish."
The Best Judge
So, at the end of the day, the client is the best judge of who makes a great REALTOR. It may be the person who comes along and fixes a mess left by a previous agent with no put downs or derogatory comments about the former agent. Or, it could be the one who spends time explaining things in simple language so the client actually understands what's going on.
