TheDawgByte

"We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home."  -- Edward R. Murrow

     The National Association of Realtors' educational program, At Home With Diversity, is an excellent program for those in our profession looking to enhance and improve their skills and abilities when working with diverse cultures.  It does, however, have a significant piece missing.

     The National Association of Realtor' Code of Ethics states:

 1.   Realtors shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.  Realtors shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. (Amended 1/90)

 2.   Realtors, in their real estate employment practices, shall not discriminate against any person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.  (Amended 1/00)

      I encourage the National Association of Realtors to include in their Code of Ethics the term "sexual orientation".  This protection for the LGBT community (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender community) isn't the major leap that many in our profession might think it is.  The phrase "sexual orientation" is already included in The One America Principles referenced in the At Home With Diversity educational course.

      I decided to write this blog entry on the 4^th of July because I believe in Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for all in this country.  What better day to encourage the National Association of Realtors to include "sexual orientation" in their Code of Ethics than the day that celebrates our nation's commitment to freedom for all.

     Lately, I am hearing and reading about what real estate agents will and won't do when it comes to returning phone call, responding to emails, being available for clients and other agents.  In a word: sad.

      Some have indicated that they won't return calls after hours.  Maybe I'm just old, but when did real estate have hours like banks and retail stores?  Some have said that they differentiate between calls, emails, and questions of clients from those of other agents.  Maybe I am just old, but when did the other agent in a transaction not become our client, too?  Some have written that they only have 24 hours in their day.  Maybe I'm just old, but when did a day have anything but 24 hours?

     It got me thinking...all these blog entries and social networking comments about real estate and what some real estate agents will or won't do when it comes to returning calls, responding to emails and being available for clients and other agents.  No maybe about it...I am old.  To quote the wonderfully funny, Moms Mabley, when asked about old age, "You just wake up one morning, and you got it!"

      I love being a Realtor.  I enjoy seeing people achieve the goal of homeownership.  I am proud of my small role in helping that to happen.  It touches deep inside me when a five year old gets to romp in a big back yard after spending his or her first four years in an apartment with only a patio for outside playtime.  I feel honored that a senior citizen selected me to help them downsize from their large two-story home into a more accessible one-story senior condo.

      It costs me nothing to return an agent or client call at 9:00 pm.  It doesn't prevent me from going to one of my grandkids' school events to respond to an agent or client email on my fancy wireless do-dad phone, before I take my seat in the front row.  It doesn't impact my vacation to respond to a concerned agent or a nervous first-time home-buyer when I'm camping or traveling Tuscany.  It's the nature of the beast and I freely decided to ride it.

      So one day I just woke up in the morning and realized I'm old...old school when it comes to real estate.  I believe strongly in professional courtesy between agents and brokers.  I believe in being client-centered.  And I believe you can do all of this without sacrificing time with family or friends.  So here's my blog post and now I am going to go pickup two of my grand-daughters that live near me and we are going to go see a movie titled "UP" and we are going to have popcorn, soda and candy.  The tickets are cheaper for the early movies, you know.  Family time doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.