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Naughty Real Estate Agents

Ranked #8,605 in Internet, #376,438 overall

Honesty - Guerrilla Marketing's Golden Rule #12

A 2005 Gallup Poll "Survey of Honesty and Ethics in Professions" ranked real estate agents at the 50th percentile. (Not exactly a statistic to be proud of.)

Real estate agents collectively are a huge marketing group. So, when Levinson cites a poll where 53% of Americans polled sensed a "feeling of deception" about marketing, real estate agents should take even greater notice.

"So what is this lens about?" you ask. Good question, and I'll get to that, but first:

Real estate agents who are members of the National Association of Realtors and/or the Canadian Real Estate Association are bound by "Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice" which dictate behavior and interaction with clients, customers, the public-at-large, and other Realtors.

Real estate agents both compete and co-operate. And no where is this more evident than on the Internet, where we see virtual "Handshake" agreements (for cross-promotion of listings), template-based web sites rapidly deployed in cookie cutter fashion, and jostling for page 1 on some search engine's results for some money making search phrase.

But with the technology changing so fast, most agents lack the skills and knowledge to credibly market themselves online.  The "result" is either DIY or being left to marginal "Internet marketing professionals".  And herein lies the danger...

Real Estate Agents Exposed!

The Growing Problem of Trademark Misuse

This lens will look at members of the Canadian Real Estate Association who plainly misuse CREA trademarks. We look North because:
  • the Canadian Real Estate Association owns registered trademarks to REALTOR and MLS. In the US, the National Association of Realtors was unable to register MLS as a trademark.
  • Article 26 (CREA Trademarks) is less permissive than NAR's Membership Marks Manual when it comes to meta tags.
  • Violators are sent a polite letter to comply in 14 days. However, non-compliance is more the norm than the exception.

The Daily Dis

Are You On "The List"?

Joining the dishonor roll is easy. You'll be in good company, joining other well-known (or self-proclaimed) top producers.

And wait, that's not all. This service is absolutely, 100% free!

How Do You Choose A Real Estate Agent?

1

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Honesty, Integrity, and Competency

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2

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Trusted Referral

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3

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Best Marketing Plan

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4

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Highest Market Value Appraisal of My Home

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5

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Promise to Sell It Fast For the Most Money

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6

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Lowest Commission

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7

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Someone I Know

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8

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Advertises A Lot

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9

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No One Else Would Take Me On As A Client

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Disclaimer

With caching and archives, the Internet doesn't really "forget".

That said, if you request editorial censorship, we will respond accordingly to the best of our ability. These are the conditions for editorial censorship:
  • You must correct the trademark misuse.
  • Promise not to misuse CREA's trademarks in future. You will do so in a written letter to CREA Legal Counsel or your board's Professional Standards committee.
  • You have to send me an email request. I'm not a mind reader.
  • And lastly, please make a charitable donation to your local chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

by

Guerrilla-Marketer

I am not Jay Conrad Levinson.  I'm just a believer and practitioner.

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