‘Cutthroat’ has no place in real estate
Last week I read a write up in the Citizen where a real estate agent, opening a new real estate office here in Duncan, used the adjective “cutthroat” to describe the profession of real estate sales. It instantly got my back up as not only am I a real estate salesperson and an owner of a real estate brokerage, but I am also very proud of the years I’ve had working in this respectable profession with such a great group of people; the realtors of southern Vancouver Island.
Without question, real estate sales can be very competitive, but at no time did I feel that there were “fierce and intense” or “ruthless measures” (as by definition of the word “cutthroat” as an adjective) being employed. I belong to a very highly regulated industry and culture that embraces a high standard of professional ethics and one that requires us all to follow strict guidelines including continuing education and extensive training.
This is not a profession for the faint of heart and it has a very high attrition rate. I suspect that with a significant decline in sales as a result of COVID-19 we will see more realtors hanging up their licences and looking to make a living elsewhere. Real estate today only allows for one agent to represent one side of a transaction and act as a designated agent. Gone are the days of double ending listings, so it requires an exceptional amount of cooperation between a buyer agent and a listing agent to successfully conclude a real estate transaction.
I’ve seen realtors really do amazing things in their efforts to protect their client’s interests and at the same time make a deal with a realtor and his or her client on the other side of a transaction. Being creative, tenacious, amicable or equitable are words that I think better describe what happens in a real estate trade; ruthless or underhanded certainly doesn’t fit in anywhere here. The word “cutthroat” conjures up so many negative images that it just has no place in the vocabulary of real estate sales or salespeople.
Kim Johannsen
Cowichan Realtor