09/07/2026
I am honored to be featured in the RISMedia Article discussing public trust and how we can elevate the real estate industry! 🏡
With nearly four decades in this business, I’ve seen how public perception shifts.
"Since I started close to four decades ago, there's always been that perception that real estate agents are like used car salesmen," I shared. "It's our job as an industry to not take it defensively, but take it seriously in order to elevate that perception."
Real estate is a professional standard, not a "get rich quick" scheme or a reality show.
"There's a lot of very young agents starting out with their licenses because they see 'Million Dollar Listings.' They see these young guys on TV walk into a $40 million house; five minutes later they have a listing, and 30 minutes later they have it sold. So these young people see that and think, I can do that and make a lot of money. They don't realize that it's fake, and it's a professional industry. I think that we as an industry and agents need to constantly elevate ourselves in the business."
That elevation requires commitment right from day one.
"We were all brand new at one time. However, in the real estate agency industry primarily, you get your license, but there's no real training per se. You don't really know how to sell or contract. That's just part of the after-license process. However, I think a lot of agents, particularly more so today than I've ever seen, don't take it as seriously as they should."
To serve clients at the highest level, we have to keep learning and adapting—from new technologies to modern consumer habits.
"People now are basically using AI at every age as opposed to just Google or standard searches," I noted. Innovation isn't new to me. When I first embraced video marketing, "I had a lot of flak, and people were upset about that, but I did it."
Ultimately, growth never stops.
"Since I started at 18 years old, I didn't know anything about real estate. So I started learning from my company, going to programs and seminars, and listening continuously. To this day, 37 years later, I still do that. I'm always going to conferences. I'm always listening to podcasts, learning, and educating myself. I think it's critically important as an agent."
"At the end of the day, reputation comes down to ex*****on: "We will receive the respect we deserve when we provide the services that the clients expect and deserve."
Read the full article here: 👇🏻
One industry veteran argues that new agents “don't take it as seriously as they should.” But there are paths to improving perceptions.
