Gabrielle Jeans’s Weblog

The online discussion of this matter amongst real estate professionals and the public has been very heated and predictably polarized.  Most of the public who commented think the changes were overdue, chastising real estate professionals as being overpaid and underworked and not bringing much (if any) value to the table for their buyers or sellers.  Predictably, most Toronto area real estate professionals were vigilantly defending the status quo.  Most of them made very self-serving comments, some with really warped logic.  Here are some of the biggest offenders:

“Its a sad day in history when Kapitalism falls to Sokalistic behaviour! One is worried about “agents being paid too much” — we are supposed to be in Kapatilist sokiety — Tell your government to regulate gas prices, and allow people to sell alkohol tobakko and set up gambling kasinos! Its like there are laws for the peasants and no laws for the government. Its one step kloser to Kommunism!”

“I have tried selling one of my own homes, on MLS for less than 2.5% to CB. Other agents would NOT show it. Some others will not show listings of particular competitors.”

“i’m a TO realtor and i don’t know anyone who would have the capacity to sell their own condo/house here.  ha! all i can say is i work 7 days a week, lots of late nights and every weekend. don’t forget, i also work for free for many time-wasters. i don’t get paid vacations, benefits, a pension.”

“There is no pension, no sick days, no paid vacation, he/she is liable for all office and business expenses, provides a vehicle and supplies his/her own gas, has to be available 24 hours 7 days a week. Come on let’s be fair. If it is so easy, why do 90% of those entering Real Estate quit in less than one year?”

“If people think that real estate agents make a lot of money…..then why not become one yourself??? Seriously, if you think they make too much money for the amount of work involved, then why not quit your current job and become a real estate agent yourself?”

The “I Work So Hard”, the “No Job Security”, and the “If I Don’t Sell, I Don’t Eat” arguments were the most common justifications for a high salary.  As if working hard, being self-employed and having no safety net necessarily entitled one to making a high salary!

I believe Canadians in general suffer from a peculiar malaise, and it’s called the entitlement mentality.  For some reason, we believe we’re entitled to a lot of things just because of who we are, that the government and society “owe us something”.  So when something comes along that forces us to do more, many of us bristle at the very thought.