When we speak of HONESTY, we often are referring to those who lie and cheat and take advantage of clients. I really think that the majority of professionals do not do these things. Honesty is more than staying out of jail.
Honesty is not promising more than what you can deliver. How many times is a Real Estate Agent pressured to promise that they can sell a house at a certain price so that they can obtain a listing? it takes a very honest agent to admit they cannot sell the home at that price - especially when they know they will lose the listing to others who are not so honest. But in the long run, the client will not be satisfied and the not-so-honest agent will lose all chance of referrals. In the long run, referrals are the lifeline of success.
The trait of honesty is also composed of being honest with yourself. Ever know anyone with a bad attitude? Did that person ever admit they had a bad attitude? Not likely. If you are lacking a trait for success you are not going to obtain that trait unless you are honest with yourself. You cannot improve unless you admit that you need improvement. if you do not know where you need improvement - then you have just admitted your first weakness. Without improvement, we will fall behind. Out of the people who fall behind, many of them will never catch up.
Have you noticed before that those that are successful are usually the ones spending time improving their skills? You would think that those making less money would be the ones focusing upon this effort.
I guess this is why the Rich get Richer... 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Are you are looking to buy or sell a home in Frisco or another city in North Texas? Perhaps you love your home but would be interested in refinancing to a lower interest rate? If so, then I can help. I am a licensed Mortgage Consultant located in North Texas with over 15 years experience in the industry. I can help you get pre-approved for your new home loan in Texas and even suggest some very knowledgeable and professional Real Estate Agents in your area of choice. If you are available to talk, I am available to listen. Give me a call any time or visit my website for more details. Always available for your Frisco Texas Mortgage needs! John Cannata Reliant Mortgage p# 214.545.5604 Frisco Texas Mortgage Consultant Copyright © 2009 by John Cannata (Reliant Mortgage Ltd) - More than just staying out of JAIL
*********************************************************
Are you looking to purchase a Texas home? Perhaps you love your Texas home but would be interested in refinancing your Texas mortgage to a lower interest rate?
I'll help you get pre-approved for your Texas home loan and even suggest some very knowledgeable and professional Real Estate Agents in your area of choice. If you are available to talk, I am available to listen. Give me a call or visit my website for more details.
Do you want to know all of your mortgage options? Call me today and let's discuss them further.
Always available for your Texas Mortgage and Home Loan needs!
John R Cannata P#214.728.0449
NMLS # 322646
The views expressed on this site are mine alone and do not reflect the views of my employer.
Honesty is so important in this world and sometimes hard to find. You are right, it's more than just staying out of legal issues, you have to make an effort to be honest in all situations and remain true to your word.
John, nice post could have written it myself, but not as well ( I would not have had your great pictures). As for your point about Agents taking listings that are to high, in many cases they do this because they know that they can "work the price down" to where it should be. Does the listing end up selling? In a normal market it does, because when you take it for 4-6 months you have the time to work it down. I don't like working that way, but its what I've seen during my career.
Some people think honesty is subjective, especially when they're lying by omission... someone really needs to invent an honesty test!
You are right we do all need to work on ourselves we need to be honest about it. Thanks for sharing we could all improve by working on ourselves.
When someone talks to me about HONESTY, the first thing I would think of is about speaking the truth. I wouldn't even think of telling lies that could end up in jail. I sure hope that people that I deal with would not even think about Honesty in terms of landing in jail.
I really hate it when folks say "to be honest with you...." like the rest of the time they are lying?
If you are always honest with yourself and your clients you will never have to worry about being caught in a lie.
It is best to be honest from the get-go. I have lost several listings by being that direct and honest, but hey, it is another agent's loss, not mine. As the saying goes, the truth will out....
Great post, btw...
I completely agree JL. Thanks!
Christopher - I am sure there are many that will take the listing and then work it down. But that is another reason that our marketing is a little out of control. Houses are staying on the market much longer. Although I am sure the argument can still be made that the price is not whats causing the longer DOMs. If you price it right, its possible the house will still sit. In most cases, we will never if thats true.
Yeah, Im sure it will be on the market soon Donna. Perhaps some sort of 'peeing on a stick'. LOL
Thanks Pat.
I could not agree more Loreena. Truth and Honesty are the same, and hopefully the people you surround yourself with feel the same way.
LOL Kristin. You may need to ask yourself that question when someone uses those words.
Very try Naoma. Its the safest way of ensuring you are not caught later on.
Good point William. its best to just be honest up front. Why mislead them, and then have to say 'well I thought it was overpriced to begin with'. How do you justify that without saying 'well Mr and Mrs Seller, you just would not have listened if I told you in the first place'.
John,
I agree with William; I'm always bruatally honest and won't take an overpriced dog whatever.
John,
Great post...and what a good reminder to those that might "think" they are helping seller's when they are actually LYING BY OMISSION...right? Yeah, I know those are "fighting words" in Texas, but come on let's call it what it is!
Not being honest only causes trouble in the long run!
Good decision Terry. I agree with William also.
Too much trouble Sheila. Im not offended by you saying that. On many deals I've had to explain to the customer how WAY off the other persons offer and how they were misleading them.
John - I am typically honest to a fault, by which I mean that I often tell the truth even when I KNOW it won't benefit me to do so.
John-Honesty seems to be in very short supply these days. Our Congress and Fed. Govt. seem to have run out of it completely. Too bad they can't print it like they do with $. You're so right that honesty is the foundation for building referrals.
Jason - From talking with you and from many of your posts, you can tell thats the personality that you have. Its great to be associated with someone with this characteristic (amoung others).
Lydia - We have to start somewhere. People are misled all the time, so we just need to establish ourselves as the honest agents (or LOs in my case).
Hi John... interesting observations. I always tell my clients that I am a WYSIWYG kind of person and that transparency allows them to see that I deliver what I promise.
Its important now a-days Steve. Too much garbage being passed around in our industry. Im sure its refreshing sometimes when someone runs into an Honest Agent or Mortgage guy/gal. But there are still some that want to hear what they WANT and not hear about the truth. Not that they want someone to lie to them, but they don't really want to know the truth either (if its bad news).