I've been in the business world for 45 years so very little surprises me anymore. With regard to your points: 

1. Nothing new about the the first two points... it's always been that way in real estate and in business in general.

2. Compared with training available 25+ years ago, I feel that it's improved exponentially over the decades. Every firm I've been associated with (some of the biggest names you'd recognize) has provided excellent training. It's not the provision of training, it's up to the agents to make hay with it.

3. I haven't seen Brokers allowing agents to do anything they want so long as they stay. The liability these days is great. And I've been in firms where top producing agents have been asked to leave precisely because they skirted ethical and legal issues and were too much of a liability.

4. I haven't seen the negativity or self-centeredness, myself. Again, there will always be people/companies like that... but I haven't personally experienced it.

You can generalize about most anything, but I think it's dangerous to do so. Because there will be exceptions to every generalization.

I agree with ALL you said.

Fortunately, we're in a position to counterbalance all that with fabulousness and excellence.

Maybe not the point hoes. LOL

I am reminded, though, of the immortal words of Kid Rock:

🎶You get what you put in, and people get what they deserve🎶

Why does "this" industry attract all that? The bar must be raised!

I agree with all but, the brokers in our area do not hold onto liabilities - my company has let several go. It's more about reputation and customer service; when you achieve that, the numbers/income follows.

For me, it's the online lying - either about 'who you are' or about your stats. That makes me crazy! Although it's so easy to check their data, duping the consumer is what bothers me.

Is this a question about today's education system or real estate new agent training?   We can look for the "negative" and there is a certain segment where the evidence may be overwhelming or we can see the strides made in improvements in anything.  Or maybe I could just say "it depends" because in real estate and life that simple response really says so much.

Dennis Swartz , reflecting back to my early days I'm going to say my biggest surprise is with Brokers even more so than agents and you address it well in your 4th point.

Brokers who let agents do very questionable things as long as they produce.

When one becomes mentally fatigued, everyone else appears stupid and inadequate.

1 Lazy...not true. They just don't work on what others want them to work on.

2. One word. They are saying, "I see you." AR is a community.

3. So you don't like what KW is doing.

4. Brokers must/should allow business models that align with consumer expectations. Most old timer agents only know what works for them. And that can look like a small world.

5. Negative and self-centered. One could construe my comments as negative and self-centered. See #1. 

Best of success,
Annette

What DOES NOT surprise me is the business of real estate agentcy, as it exists today and directed by constultants and traines is all about lead genberation, NOT providing exceptional service or guidance. And the root of this problems lies in the lap of irresponsible brokers.

What surprises me is how tribal agencies have become.  When you think about it, we all work as Realtors under the Code of Ethics and also the rules of the MLS.  Brokers just sign the commission checks.  My analogy is all players in the NFL have to play by the same rules, the individuals can easily be traded, but they all must follow the established rules of the league.  All lawyers must abide by the rules of criminal procedure or civil procedure.  

Yes

I feel there are the bad apples out there and yes the 80/20 rule applies to all industries but I see some excellent training, mentoring and  lots of positive energy being expended in raising the bar in real estate. Every state is different and practice real estate differently. I surround myself with positive people and my environment. I see may not making it but then maybe it wasn't for them to begin with. It's not easy and constantly changing..if you're not up to learning and staying abreast of how to reach consumers you won't make it

I'll tell you what I tell my husband about people: You're noticing the bad ones. There are plenty of other good people who are minding their own business, trying to do right, and working hard.

I'm thinking that you've had a run of running into the bad ones, and it's coloring your outlook. Stop and look around - you'll find good people.

Meanwhile - I agree that real estate training could be much better. I've even written about all the things that real estate school and/or brokers don't bother to teach new agents.

Welcoming us all to the dark side. 

Be the change you want to see in the world. 

If all we focus on is the negative and the things we don't like - that is all we will ever see - where we put our attention is where we put our energy. 

I prefer to put my attention on the things I do, how I treat people and my thoughts. 

Every day I am all in  ... giving it all I've got. 

Dennis,

I agree with Nina Hollander .  I am priviliged to work with some of the best people in our industry, people who care about others and are consummate professionals.  People who go out of their way to contribute to their communities from joining in the "mud" brigade when we had our mud slides by filling with their hands buckets of mud away from homes and passing them down.  I have clients who helped their elderly sellers pack and organize their moving,.  And the incredible deeds go on and on.  Like Nina, I really dislike generalities of all types, and I do my best to steer clear of them, let alone repeat them.  A

  Hi, Dennis.   

         The real estate business has always been subject to the "80/20 rule".   20% do the "research", 20% make the money, 20% are ethical.  The other 80%, not so much.

What surprises me most is their reaction to the word NO. Can I make it any more simple than that.

• How lazy agents have become- There's no easy money. If you don't like work you will not make any money. Lazy agents don't make a living doing this. Active agents who are lazy do a bad job. Some do it as a hobby so they simply don't care to work that hard.
• How many people here respond in one word to questions- I see that.   
• How bad training is for new agents- what training?
• How Brokers allow agents to do anything as long as they stay- Depends what the offense is. Not everything requires you to let go of someone. My Broker has fired Agents. 
• How negative and self-centered companies and employees have become- I haven't noticed, not concentrating on others, too busy doing my own thing. Is that self-centered? Not really because we're all adults & we all have to take care of ourselves. 

This is a very interesting discussion. It is not unique to our industry, but also a reflection of society in general, especially of the younger generation - such as instant gratification, unwillingness to put any effort into anything. 

In our industry,  brokerages are also a major issue of the malaise. Many of the franchise brokerages compete on the quantity of agents summing up transactions for shared income stemming from the sheer volume of agents and market share. Big name brokerages are boxes of agents, regardless of quality - in the name of making the maximum amount of money for the owner(s).

Managing brokers are no longer there to protect the agents seeing to their best interests - they are there to protect the brokerage serving the best interests of the brokerage. Most employed managing brokers make less than a quarter of the income of the top agents. So why would anyone (most) very good in real estate choose to make a 1/4 or much less of the income they could be making if they were any good at all. So, even in managing brokers - there's a significant quality issue. 

Our depts of real estate are also to blame. I can only speak of my own market and state, but I have been a proponent of changing many of the rules. For example, when I spoke to my dept of real estate on changing the business and the rules, I was looked at cross-eyed, mouths gaping. The people that run the various state depts of real estate and the way too many associations are all from the 'old school' and are resistant to change - because that's all they know, and don't practice real estate, and keeps them employed - protecting their jobs. When they claim they did actually work in the business, it was like 25 years ago - that's what they know and remember - they don't live in today's real estate.

And this translates all the way to NAR and the discussion of forced unionization.

There are ways and solutions to improve all this and it is up to us to do it. Lets not wait until we get legislated.

I prefer a more postive perspective. I have worked with many outstanding agents.

I would agree with much of what you have said.

• I'm surprised at the filthy language some agents use

I have to agree with everything, Here in my area, there are a couple of companies that hire anyone and everyone, i run into agents no way ready to be out in public and representing anyone. I think alot new agents want things now, want it done for them and have not been taught communication is king

It may be a reflection of the times we live in Dennis.

To be perfectly honest with you, I try very hard to stay on the positive side of things and when I read the responses I had to agree with many.  But if I had to answer the question, I never understood how since we are all in the "same profession" that there coud not be more comradieship ... 

One of the things I like about Active Rain is we have an opportunity to learn, share and even complain amongst our peers and not have to feel competitive -- and in many cases gain many new friendships! (Sorry if I went off track) Happy Thanksgiving!

Nothing surprises me....

I am not surprised at all. What I am tired of is the people that won't even investigate an answer to a question (here on AR) & we have to answer the damn thing over & over. Had a guy a few weeks go tell me 'get off his thread' as I am not helpful.

I'm not helpful to the same boatload of boneheads that ask the same questions. What is the best ....... fill in the blanks.

How so many agents get freaked out when they don't get an offer after two weeks... or 40 days as on question on here recently showed.  The lows that some agents will go to as well, like on that aforementioned 40 day listing where the agent hired scantaly clad fitness models to pose in the house, or the one agent in San Diego who also ran "swinger parties" and made those fitness models look over dressed.

I just had a deal with a green agent from another company. She didn't even know what forms to use to make an offer. She didn't know how to read a listing, and the deal eventually fell apart. She was not ready to be in the field, but there she is. Zero training in the simple things.

How agents can't seem to stop themselves from inserting themselves in a transaction, paying no mind to risk, with phrases like, "My home inspector..." "My lender..,"  and on and on.  Want a serious problem?  Have someone you have claimed as YOUR lender or YOUR home inspector miss something or screw something up.  The level of risk that agents will bring on themselves, or their companies is something most seem to be blind to.  Hiring contractors and paying for repairs, "Just to get the deal done."  No.  No, no, no.  You get the picture.  Be the source of the source, providing multiple sources.  Never pay for their services.  You never want to be the deepest pockets that can be sued when something goes awry.

I think we get what we focus on, I see plenty of amazing agents every day.

why do the points on that list "surprise" you???  

it's not new behavior for either agents or their brokers.... brokers are also lazy... they don't want to go through the process of interviewing properly....pulse and license and you're in.... do whatever you want to do... oh don't get me started....

Lazy agents, nothing new!

Sometimes a short answer is the best one.

Bad training, nothing new

Brokers who want untrained agents to stay are under pressure to recruit bodies, not agents!

And, as a result of the above you have some bad agencies!

And what are you doing to change any of that?  

Was there a point in a negative nelly list?  

I try not to notice the bad or irritating things in life and focus and good and stive to make things better.  And for the record... I am a broker who reviews everything having to do with real estate that my agents do.  I do care.

I can't say I'm surprised by much, Dennis.  I am, however, dismayed by much.  The points you make and many others. 

I agree with Nina’s comment

I believe in the Laws of Attraction.  I work with Accomplished Agents, Sensational Sellers and Bodacious buyers. 

I believe you are merely making general observations of the entire human race. Complacency, lack of initiative, imagination and motivation. Need I go on?

Well, i'm not responsible for others, and what they do is not my concern. But it is extremely annoying to work with an agent with low ethical standards and large ego. 

Had one agent use a contract from 5 yerars ago, state changes it every year.

How many Brokers (brokerages) follow the most common business model of basically quantity over quality.

Nowdays not much surprises me.  We have become a nation of a lot of lazy expecting people

You have valid points!   I closed a transaction recently where the agent had not done a transaction in three years, and she argued to the hilt, because that is how she did it.    Her broker finally told her things have changed.

You mean we get points for doing this?