COVER STORY
The Responsible Realtor® Avoiding the Snares of 2020
T
he year 2020 has certainly been eventful, to recognize that we are one of the most unique, and put it mildly. From the COVID-19 pandemic specialized groups of professionals. We celebrate the and economic shutdown, to nationwide fact that Realtors® are such a unique industry, there is protests, to extreme political discourse, this nothing else like us in the world. Nowhere else do we year has been a crazy roller coaster ride. It’s enough find a group who fiercely compete like warriors, only to make us welcome the murder hornets back. But to come back around to collaborate and work together even amid all the turmoil and uncertainty, the world to get something positive accomplished. We operate as is still moving forward. one on multiple levels. People are discovering And what some people a new normal and don’t understand, is “Nowhere else do we find a group who businesses are pushing what one Realtor® fiercely compete like warriors, only to forward. During this says or does, doesn’t come back around to collaborate and time, the need for just impact them, it professionalism on all impacts 195,000 other work together to get something positive fronts has never been Realtors® in the state accomplished,” said Grooms. greater. As ambassadors of Florida as well, to their communities good or bad.” and a pivotal cog to the American Dream of Homeownership, Realtors® REMEMBER THE BASICS often find themselves under intense scrutiny. As Being a leader in your community means setting a Realtor® who is bound by the Code of Ethics, an example for others to follow by adhering to the the issues of equality, respect, discretion, and proper rules. Being a Realtor® means, in part, that you professionalism need to be at the forefront of are always being watched and remembered for what every step you take, now more than ever. you do. So when you are out and about in the public, follow all the recommended CDC guidelines and then REMEMBER YOUR ROLE AS A REALTOR® some, to not only protect yourselves and those around you, but to show others that you are committed to What we do and what we don’t do, has never been public health and hopefully slowing the spread. under the microscope quite like it is right now. “As responsible Realtors®, we must first remember DON’T BECOME JADED who we are,” said Barry Grooms, Realtor® and CoOwner (along with his wife, Sherry Grooms), of Most of us know these basic guidelines, but as Florida SunCoast Real Estate, Inc., and 2020 Florida the coronavirus carries on, there is the tendency REALTORS® president. “We are brothers and sisters to become weary and jaded. But the truth is, the that took a vow of professional conduct and we coronavirus will be part of our “new normal” moving
6 | ELEVATE [ AUGUST 2020 ]
