Perfecting your REALTOR -to-REALTOR relationships

Perfecting your

REALTOR®-to-REALTOR® relationships

With 2021 GCAAR President Jan Brito

On a particularly windy day in December, Jan Brito was showing buyers a home in Gaithersburg, MD when she noticed something no REALTOR® wants to see: a name rider sign hanging by a single twist tie and blowing wildly in the wind. Brito, a REALTOR® and GCAAR’s current president, didn’t have a hook on hand, or she would have fixed it herself; instead, she stopped, took a photo of it with her phone, and quickly texted the listing agent. “She was grateful, because it looked bad,” Brito says. “What we do for each other matters, and we must treat each other as well as we treat our clients.” We all know the real estate business is about relationships—and that showing courtesy, trust and respect to our colleagues (and their clients’ property) is expected of us as REALTORS®. Not only that, but how we treat others today may affect our reputation—and business—for years to come. That’s why we’re sharing some of our favorite tips, collected over years in the industry, for how to foster the best professional relationships we can. Whether you’re brand new to the field and just learning the basics or simply appreciate a refresher after many years in the business, the tips on this page can help you establish yourself as a trustworthy connection within your REALTOR® network. Be on the lookout; we’ll share more of these tips in future issues of our magazine!

Call ahead if plans change.

If you’re running late or need to cancel a showing appointment for whatever reason, contact the listing office right away.

Always use sidewalks and driveways to enter into a home instead of cutting across the grass.

There may be times where you or the client has accidentally stepped in something in the yard, and you do not want to track it into the seller’s home.

Keep the air conditioning or heat in a home as you found it.

By adjusting or tweaking a system, you might be launching a problem that you are unaware of, such as a leaky system.

Respect sellers’ belongings as off limits, including furniture.

While it’s acceptable to sit in the entertaining areas (kitchen, living room, on barstools) to discuss offer terms, furniture placement, changes the buyer would make, etc., it’s never okay to sit on the seller’s bed or to allow children to play with the seller’s children's toys.

If you see something, say something.

If you see an issue in a property during a showing, i.e. water in the basement, shoot a quick text to the agent to let them know. Whether you’ve simply found a door left open upon arrival, or something more serious that seems amiss, it’s always a good idea to let your fellow REALTOR® know, so they can address any issues promptly.