I am proud to be a REALTOR®

84.1% of our members agree: “I am proud to be a REALTOR®.”

I have just been reading some of CREA’s member survey results and this is the statistic that jumped out at me. This is an exciting figure because it is at the highest level ever. But why wouldn’t we feel pride?

Moe Veissi, the 2012 President of the National Association of REALTORS®, used a motto that I love and have adopted as well: “REALTORS® are the heart of the deal.” For me, that says it all.

What a terrific profession we belong to. It’s not just about our data knowledge and technology tools but also the human elements and community understanding that we bring to the transaction. We are the living centre that unites all the disparate interests.

We work in a business where our focus and training teach us that “win-win” is the best of all worlds. What better profession can there be than one that strives to meet the needs of all parties involved?

Every day we are out in the public domain working for our clients and volunteering thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars to our communities. I’m an avid reader of stories on REALTORSCare.ca and am constantly amazed at the commitment of so many REALTORS® across our country to so many different causes and charities – as a group we are truly making a difference.

As part of our jobs, we are educators, negotiators, tour guides, advisors, facilitators and friends. Sometimes we clean homes, rearrange furniture, water plants and occasionally mow lawns or shovel snow and with every deal we apply our knowledge and experience to the paperwork. We lobby government and seek political changes that help our communities because we see the bigger picture and feel a responsibility for our Canadian quality of life.

Just like homeowners have pride in their purchase, we too should have pride in what we do. Did you know that Canadians seem to be just as passionate about real estate as we are about hockey? A recent study showed that just as many people reported talking about real estate on a regular basis as they did about hockey. An industry that rivals hockey for attention with Canadians? Now that’s something to be proud of.

Let’s continue to work together – selling homes, growing communities, providing leadership, adding to the economy and improving lives. I am proud to be part of the REALTOR® community… and you should be too!

How can we encourage further pride in our profession? Let us know what you think in the Comments below.