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Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert, Call me at 850-517-7098 (PMI. Destin)

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Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

How do other professions police their ranks?

Three local attorneys of the same law firm were defrocked in a very public fashion.

A member of law enforcement was fired then jailed for stealing identities and filing false tax returns.

A doctor selling pills from his trunk is now a 20 year guest of the State of Florida.

ALL of these scoundrels were brought down by somebody crying 'WOLF!" then the media did the rest. 

Had these been left to protocol, all would still exist.

So, take a measure of your courage, then decide what you will do.

It is when good men do nothing that allows injustice to grow.

Jan 23, 2016 10:14 PM
Rainmaker
469,510
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

I'm not necessarily in agreement that there's little we can do. Our industry will be as good or as bad as thee and me allow to be. One may consider it a hassle but make the formal written complaint with the specifics of the bad behavior - time, place, form and event. Or make the call and let the agent know directly, or call their designated broker. Everytime we see an ethics violating do something about it. If all of us did it all the time things would be much better. I'm not saying you have to go straight to the board with a formal complaint on every instance with every person. And the goal is correct behavior, not punishment. So you do what its going to take to get through to the person. For some, it will be merely mentioning it to them and they will shape up. For others it will take many formal written complaints by more than one person - a fat file of complaints - and it may take time. The wrong thing to do is nothing.

Jan 23, 2016 11:19 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Typically people stop doing business with them in most other professions

Jan 23, 2016 10:46 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,291
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I file complaints with the attorney general or that new financial policing group CFPB? 

I don't know if accountants have boards like we do. Just don't know & it's a good question. 

BBB & Yelp are lame.

Jan 23, 2016 10:09 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Disagree.

Agents have laerned not to hesitate file a written complaint and cite the codes with evidence, photo, incident to DRE to request getting these folks license revoked.

The thicker the complaint file is the more likely he will watch his behavior. Often these who remain in business are protected by their brokers because they bring extra $ in. If you can catch both they are out of business together.  Many of these folks have been behind the bar before or on a restricted license.

Jan 23, 2016 10:06 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Perfection is not an option. In our industry it is the public and the brokers who should be doing the policing.

Jan 23, 2016 10:04 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Complaints filed by the public. That is the case for attoorney's in Illinosi and other jurisdictions! The same happens on Florida whent the public lodges a complaint against a licensed agent!

Jan 23, 2016 09:57 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

If we are not part of the solution then we are part of the problem. I think long term gain not short.  I have filed more than one complaint. Even though nothing was done because the board protects their own (very politically tied) it won't stop me from doing the right thing just because others don't.

Jan 24, 2016 05:01 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Annette Lawrence gave everyone the right answer....nothing more needs to be said....

Jan 24, 2016 02:35 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Peter,

I really think that is an exaggeration of numbers.  In our commercial real estate practice, the minute someone got out of whack, the word was out, and the few usually left town, or became something else.  It was taken care of without fanfare.  A

PS That was in Los Angeles.

Jan 23, 2016 11:58 PM
Rainmaker
556,536
Greg Cremia
Shore Realty of the Outer Banks - Nags Head, NC

Just like us, they don't. A local attorney just had his license susspended by the bar only to have the suspenstion stayed and the attorney was put on probation. Associations have a hard time putting one of their own out of business.

Jan 23, 2016 11:12 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

parked and reading

Jan 23, 2016 10:57 PM
Rainmaker
1,661,936
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

It's really a shame that a few bad apples can give the rest of us a bad name.

Jan 23, 2016 10:39 PM
Rainmaker
292,685
Jack Lewitz
Exit Strategy Realty - Evanston, IL

Ask Maddoff... I think he's in jail.. Ask Jamie Dimon... I think he has no criminal charges... Ask Steve Jobs... Oh wait ... he's dead..

Jan 23, 2016 10:11 PM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Peter - I am not sure other professions do any better.

Jan 26, 2016 02:26 PM
Ambassador
6,393,179
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Most have a tighter code of ethics, and they enforce them!

 

Jan 24, 2016 09:54 AM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

They seem to get away with it so we just work around them.  I would never boycott another agent but when there's a choice...

Jan 24, 2016 07:30 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

No, there are not just a FEW realtors that do not share high ethical standards, there are more than you think...and some are agents that you know and like on AR.

Problem is that very few complain and the punishment is never harsh enough.

Eve

Jan 24, 2016 06:12 AM
Rainer
80,653
Linda Guess
Keller Williams Tri-Lakes Branson, MO - Branson, MO
Branson area real estate sales.

If their actions are bad for realtors reputation as a whole, a complaint should be filed.

Jan 24, 2016 02:48 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Most other professions do just as poor a job as Realtors.  I'm thinking of the American Bar Association, American Medical Association, Police Associations, American Stock Broker Associations.  They all need outside oversight if they are to be effective.

Jan 24, 2016 02:34 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

The lawyers do a much better job on maintaining professional standards.

Jan 24, 2016 01:55 AM
Rainer
223,831
LUXURYSOCALREALTY COMPASS La Jolla
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network

Haven't most of the scoundrel loan officers and real estate agents moved on to multi level marketing since 2007?

 

Jan 24, 2016 01:18 AM
Rainer
150,416
Michael Thacker - Re/Max Real Estate Center - Louisville
Re/Max Real Estate Center - The Thacker Group - Louisville, KY
Your best friend who just happens to be a Realtor

Banking uses fines, but usually its the government that levies those, not any one individual bank telling on another. 

Restaurants by code violations, once again local government/health dept.

Companies for pollution, EPA levying fines.

 

Jan 24, 2016 12:58 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Most people are ethical . We cannot do much about others.

Jan 24, 2016 12:42 AM
Ambassador
5,049,058
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I suspect other than formal compliaant systems through their licensing bord those who dont behave or act unethically will also not have business. You wil likely also run across ratings and reviews online from consumers

Jan 24, 2016 12:41 AM
Rainmaker
175,614
Spirit Messingham
Tierra Antigua Realty - Tucson, AZ
Third Generation Full-Time Realtor® 520 471-6900

I agree that more needs to be done in our industry.

Jan 24, 2016 12:38 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Oh, there's plenty we can do:
1. Be excellent, so consumers know the difference between pros and hacks.
2. Use the power of your associations to the extent you can.
3. Choose your battles, and know when to charge in and when to wait for karma.
They ALL get theirs eventually one way or the other.

Jan 23, 2016 11:58 PM