Crazy Sh*t In Real Estate with Leigh Brown - Episode #99 with Jessica Hickok

Are you INSPIRED? Jessica is, and she believes the #1 key to
being better and achieving more is finding your inspiration. As
the head of the Oklahoma Realtors Association, Jessica breaks
down the Code of Ethics, what it means, and how it is used to
uphold the name of realtors nation-wide. Tune in to learn why you
must be familiar with the Code of Ethics, whether you are a
realtor or a client, and how you can do your part to raise the
bar in the industry.


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Time Stamped Show Notes:

00:38 – Jessica is the head of the Oklahoma Realtors
Association

00:56 – She runs the association and has been in management
for 5 years, she was a real estate broker before that

01:30 – She manages over 11,000 realtors in the state

01:44 – Complaints filed and professionalism in the industry;
what has she seen?

02:32 – All associations offer Professional Standards
Administration and all realtors agree to abide by a code of
ethics

02:52 – Code of Ethics is administered by state or local
association; in OK the Association manages it state-wide

03:10 – Ethics complaints and arbitration requests can be
filed through Association



03:19 – Ethics complaints are reviewed by peer panel



03:52 – Read a copy of the Code of Ethics at
http://www.nar.realtor/

04:02 – Good realtors know the Code of Ethics

04:45 – Local association: new members start here, MLS,
education benefits, advocacy work, professionalism piece

05:05 – Conglomeration of local associations with oversight
and the voice of the state realtors and National Realtors
Association (NAR)

05:45 – Code of Ethics is broken into 3 parts: duties to
public, duties to customers and clients, and duties
realtor-to-realtor



05:55 – The public or a realtor can (and should!) file a
complaint when a breach has been made

06:10 – Not all realtors are created equal, and filing
complaints allows the bad seeds to be weeded out so they don’t
continue to hurt others



06:28 – What kinds of complaints come in?



06:35 – Article 12: Whether a realtor has displayed a true
and accurate picture in advertising

06:48 – Instagram or over-Photoshopped photos that look
nothing like the true home

07:05 – Some Photoshop is okay (lifting shadows, blurring
dead grass spot in yard)



07:14 – Example of inaccurate photos: removing power lines
from back yard

07:45 – Why is it bad to over-Photoshop?



07:54 – Being caught off-guard and surprised; many people
nowadays are purchasing their home online

08:10 – They may not even see the house until they’ve already
closed and are moving in



08:30 – Realtors and the public want realtors to raise the
bar of professionalism



08:39 – Turn in the people violating the Code of Ethics to
help raise the bar



08:47 – Code of Ethics also warns against slander, how does
this affect turning people in?



09:02 – You are doing worse if you slander online via social
media

09:20 – Do something about it but don’t slander, turn them in
if they are in violation



09:40 – What kind of realtor-to-realtor misconduct do you
see?



09:44 – Article 2: Exaggeration, misrepresentation, and
concealment of pertinent facts

09:59 – Revealing facts or confidential information; Agents
give away the client’s negotiation position via text message
trying to get a deal and the other agent turns them in



10:40 – How would you ever know if your realtor is doing
this? There is no way to know

10:51 – Keep educating members to remain upright and
forthright in everything they do; you never know who you are
dealing with

11:20 – Jessica was a consumer recently: What questions did
she ask to select a realtor?



11:49 – She chose someone in leadership in the city where she
was buying

12:09 – Ask questions before agreeing to work with someone

12:19 – How many houses have you sold? How experienced are
you? How many deals do you have going on right now?



12:45 – She went for someone in a volunteer leadership role,
she thinks the public should, too



13:38 – Leader will have a vested interest in the realtor
organization in general, are committed to Code of Ethics, giving
back to association, and a higher level of professionalism

13:56 – People that are not volunteers can be professional,
too, volunteers are just more likely to uphold standards

14:14 – Great realtors should consider volunteering to be
heard; 1 in 287 Americans is a realtor, stand out as one less
likely to cause trouble



15:18 – Realtors can be on top of their game with a desire to
serve, get educated, and do a better job

15:53 – If a midline realtor want to get better, more active,
and more educated about entire picture



16:20 – Find inspiration (mentor, group, giving back)

16:59 – She finds her inspiration through her support system
at home

17:24 – If you aren’t at the top of your game, there are
resources to get better and stop selling consumers short

18:13 – Oklahoma realtors can email Jessica directly at:
jmh@okrealtors.com

18:29 – Follow Jessica on social media: Twitter &
Facebook

18:30 – Reach out to your state association leadership to get
involved and heard

3 Key Points Become familiar with the Code of Ethics whether
you are a realtor or client. File a complaint if you see a breach
of the code; this is how the bar of professionalism in the industry
can be raised. As a client, ask questions to ensure your realtor is
a good fit and as a realtor, step up your game, get involved, and
strive to be better.