Special offer
John Meussner, #MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852 (Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI)

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Abolish the code of ethics.  It's hardly enforced.  Incorporate the important aspects into the state's laws surrounding real estate professionals.  Then it carries weight.  If NAR asks you to leave their sandbox, big whoop.  You can still do business the same as any other day without 'em!  If the state kicks you out of their playground, you're hosed!

 

Next, I'd make membership optional.  I'd do away with expensive keynote speakers who betrayed our country.  I'd set it up in a place like Texas or Nevada, where freedom still rings.

 

Eliminate career leadership and make performance a requirement (ie they have to have X number of transactions per year in the X years leading up to nomination).

 

Require all buildings to be reasonable and cost effective, not monuments to spending money.

 

I'd also see what the membership wanted and needed.  I'd also go after our listings and make Zillow PAY AGENTS for the use of their listing data.

 

Having served at my local association level, there are many forms of waste that are forced upon us by NAR.  I'd remove that.

 

I'd also increase the barrier to entry and require a mentorship.  That should help improve the quality of agents.

 

In short, I'd reduce the size and bloat of leadership, cut spending, make entry into the field harder to dissuade "good times agents" and crooks and in short.

 

That is my campaign platform.  You may now all vote for me and we'll queue "Hail to the Chief"!

Mar 18, 2019 03:08 PM
Rainmaker
508,318
Joseph Domino 480-390-6011
HomeSmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Real Estate Made Easy

I think the biggest issue that I see with Associations and Fraternal Organizations is they lose focus on what they are supposed to be. They want to grow and become more profitable (even non-profits do it) so they begin to make deals that do not necessarily favor the members.

You have to stick true to your mission.

You start out being the Association of Hot Dog Eaters and then suddenly you begin to cater to Taco eaters, then next thing you know you are joining with Vegans.

Mar 18, 2019 02:03 PM
Ambassador
5,230,113
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Member owners with optional membership - listen to the needs of the members. 

Profits shared among the membership or at the very least spent ONLY where there is a need - not just willy nilly.

Listings are not sold to 3rd party companies.  

Mar 18, 2019 05:45 PM
Rainmaker
469,510
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

I guess I'm just dull in the head. We already have a large scale group that is suppose to be representing us and does so to some degree. I think the NAR did OK on fighting the Big Grab and probably does more for us than most of us know.  Not saying there's not room for improvement. It's just important to consider rightnesses as well as wrongnesses when evaluating anything. It or any group that replaces it will be as good or as bad as what thee and me (it's members) alllow it (or make it) to be by our actions and/or inactions.

Mar 18, 2019 04:53 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,409
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Up the qualifications for full membership to those with a real interest in the business. Stop spending money in areas where we don't belong and spend it in areas we need to control.

Sad to say, too late!

Mar 18, 2019 03:06 PM
Rainmaker
4,272,548
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Financials would be my focus and then attack how some companies require membership in NAR. A startup would be difficult to start....

Mar 18, 2019 01:51 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

John,

Start with the fundamentals of actually asking people in our industry:  What Is Needed And Wanted by the membership?  Take the list and address the most  pressing needs.  A

Mar 18, 2019 01:36 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Few that come in mind:

1. Buyer agreement to become mandatory. 

2. Seller signature on each offer to be mandatory ( at least, a buyer knows that it was presented and when, is it too much to ask?).

3. 3rd parties who use our information for free and scam us back.... 

Mar 18, 2019 11:19 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I need to think about it

Mar 18, 2019 08:21 PM
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

I'm representing me? Drink and cry! I'm a handful!

Mar 18, 2019 06:59 PM
Rainmaker
1,543,823
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Banning all non-brokerage companies from the MLS. Take back the buyers, take back the listings, allow nationally coming soon marketing to give the sellers and the listing agents a leg up on the Apple Effect.

Mar 18, 2019 05:55 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I'd quit.... the last thing I need is another PITA to deal with....

Mar 18, 2019 03:43 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I think that suit is nothing just like the other one just like it a few years ago was. 

I do not even want to think of starting my own union. In fact, I don't think I would bother with one EVER AGAIN. 

Mar 18, 2019 03:28 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Have you heard about big changes?

Mar 18, 2019 03:02 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

This is a question most suited to be answered by agents with 3 to 8 years of experience. These agents have completed enough transactions to know what is going on and what needs to change. It is highly likely they still embrace the courage to resist conforming.

AR agents are for the most part, winter agents who have survived many industry catastrophes. They have conformed. For these agents they have interest only in continuing what they already do but with an opportunity to do it easier, faster, cheaper and for some, better. Nothing new please.

What will the new breed see?
What will they call disruption?

Will disruption be imposed by action and forces outside the industry? (independent contractor status).

Or will disruption be driven by the many communication envelops that keep the agent, buyer and seller separated UNLESS they pay to be seen.

The good news is, the new leader of REMAX is a very young fellow who may still have 'courage' and choose a path that breaks from the pack of conformity.

What do I want to see driving disruption? The pre-emanate need to create transaction architects instead of order takers. The ability to protect buyers and seller from the scourge of syndication to be replaced by professionals who actually know how to market product and create a sale. To see visionaries who actually understand even half of that.

However, your question ended with "immediately in our industry."

That would be to hold Brokers accountable. This can be done by:

1. Compelling brokers to pay all agents,  or

2. Broker offices must predominately display if they are sanctuary, kindergarten or professional offices and/or

3. Banish teams because they are a tool to obfuscate responsibilities of the broker.

Mar 18, 2019 02:44 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,409
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I would focus on the changes that are needed in the industry and on the major surplus of real estate agents.

Mar 18, 2019 02:21 PM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I'm retired now but I had always wished there was a better way to weed out the unscrupulous agents and brokers. Why is it that there are alwyas some in every MLS and they never go away?

Mar 18, 2019 02:16 PM
Rainmaker
961,383
Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly Right Real Estate
Kelly Right Real Estate - Hood River, OR
Customized Choices for your Real Estate Needs

I would provide consumers choices.  Even with all the new companies using technology to disrupt the industry, there remains a likelihood the consumer can choose FSBO or traditional commission compensation. Henry Ford said customers can have any color of Model T as long as it is black.  That describes the real estate industry choice for most consumers; they can go FSBO or commission. Let's give them some other choices, with the personal service they need while maximizing technology to keep costs down.

Mar 18, 2019 01:56 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I'd cast my vote for Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA 

Mar 19, 2019 10:34 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Make being a Realtor a paid designation course instead of just coughing up dues that make your Realtor. Besides, a person who represents themselves has a fool for a client

Mar 19, 2019 06:59 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Too much work, too little return.

Mar 19, 2019 06:36 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,283
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hmm -- Can the words of Groucho Marx(or some variation of them) be improved?

I don't want to belong to any club that would accept me as one of its members

Mar 18, 2019 07:01 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Abolish NAR or NARc worthless. 

Mar 18, 2019 03:57 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

It is hard to regulate an independant contractor type industry so instead we have governing principals. This makes it subjective if we all don't follow the rules. That's why it is hard to find a professional as everyone touts the name but is not that "pro". All I know is there are certain people who perform in their chosen careers and make a diffrence as well as a living and everyone finds everyone if they search it out. 

Mar 18, 2019 03:17 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I don't believe we need such a big industry "spokesperson." 

Mar 18, 2019 03:11 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

I would above all standardize all real estate practices on a national level. 

Mar 19, 2019 01:23 PM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

Will read answers. Great question. 

Mar 19, 2019 07:31 AM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Waht a question! 

 

Mar 19, 2019 07:22 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,654
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Interesting. 

Mar 20, 2019 04:52 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Lots of inter sting comments.

We will never know whether NAR is a blessing or a curse unless NAR disappears.

And then a new love/hate relationship will develop with the organization that tries to be the new real estate agent organization.

Mar 20, 2019 02:32 PM