Trust - Such a small word, but one packed with tremendous meaning.
I just received an e-mail from Stephen Covey's (author - The Speed of Trust) organization which indicated that according to the Edelman Annual Trust Barometer, trust in business in the United States dropped from 58% to 38% since 2008. Given the current state of the economy and the many individual real estate, job loss and other assorted hardship stories I hear daily, I don't find this very surprising.
As a Realtor I have always known that trust is a bedrock value that we must operate from. A home purchase is generally an individual's largest lifetime purchase so the entire experience is often fraught with emotion and trepidation. (My team always strives to make each real estate purchase a joyous event and a win/win for all - a transfer of pride of ownership from one homeowner to another - but that's another story for another day!)
But do all real estate practitioners operate from a core value of trust? I have just completed my "Ethics" continuing education training; a requirement Realtors (members of the National Association of Realtors) must complete every four years. Interestingly enough, our instructor pointed out that only 55 to 60 percent of all real estate practitioners in the state of Florida are members of the National Association of Realtors, so the remaining 40 to 45 percent have no Code of Ethics that they adhere to.
And why is a Code of Ethics important? Well, as I'm sure Stephen Covey would be quick to point out, without a Code of Ethics that is agreed upon we might just find ourselves back in the Wild, Wild, West - particularly in tough economic times when real estate practitioners are trying hard to hold on to their livelihood just like everyone else. Commission sales have the potential to make normally upstanding individuals dance around the issue of black and white vs. gray in a very provocative way!
As I look at my dealings with real estate customers, associates and allied professionals I am more and more aware of the fact that trust is confidence. I recently saw a quote by Dr. Laura Schlessinger that sums it up, "If you want to be an irresistible positive force, combine personal responsibility with compassion and respect for others." This is something that we strive to do in our practice of real estate and I find that it is contagious!
