Want to be on our magazine cover? Here’s your chance!
We want to know what’s really going on in the real estate industry. What are the hot-button topics today? And, most importantly, what’s really true about agents? Make your voice heard by taking our Truth About Agents survey. Everyone who fills out the survey will be entered for a chance to be on the cover of an issue of Chicago Agent magazine! But don’t worry – although we need your name so we can contact the winner of the drawing, all responses to this survey will be kept anonymous.
Some of the responses that called for multiple answers wouldn’t allow multiples to be left. That may skew your results.
Hi Jamie,
We tested the form and all questions that allow multiple answers should be working. Email me if you experience further issues: editor@chicago.staging312.com
Thanks for taking the time to ask what we’re thinking! I enjoy your magazine – both online and in print – immensely.
Some great questions. Looking forward to seeing the results!
Truly appreciate your magazine and what you are doing to keep us informed about our industry (from an agent’s perspective). Thank you!
Please pick me, I would love the exposure!!!
Some good questions, thanks for trying to keep tabs on our profession/activities. I would have liked to see some questions relating to what type of professional/civic organizations we’re involved in as well as what, if any, international work we do.
Maria
Thank you for keeping us informed and in sync with our industry.
I think it’s a shame that our real estate industry only has a 20 percent rating for high ethical standards. Perhaps, we need to work on improving our behavior and image through better educational programs with both our agents and our clients.
I love the business and the challenges that come with it! If you are not a people person and you don’t have alot of patience especially in this market it’s not the right business to be in.
I will be interested in seeing the results.
Can’t wait to see the results! Some great questions!
Thanks!
Thank you…
I love the business and helping people fulfill their American Dream of owning a home!
I look forward to each new issue
Great magazine…I look forward to each issue
Great magazine! Very informative, yet not “stuffy”. Great industry articles as well.
The license transition was probably a good thing for those who could afford the trouble.
The license title change was silly.. a broker is just a sales person (you can’t sponsor yourself, and a managing broker is just a Broker .. It was just a silly thing to do to increase the fees paid.
Great Questions….
Can’t wait to see the results.
🙂
Would love to get the Siegel Gilberg team more exposure!
alrighty then…
Nothing to say
Stupid survey wiped out all my answers, I’m not doing it again. Get some better software if you want to compile a survey.
I will actually look forward to results of this survey. Should provide a good benchmark for agents to establish they stack up to their colleagues.
The survey did not ask if the respondent was the managing broker/owner. This should have been the first (qualifying) question.
Did “rentals” mean residential only?
Does this magazine survey only get sent to current active licensees, without fail?
Some of the survey questions need a “none” or “n/a” option. I instead chose “other” and then typed in “none”.
I’m not sure what worthwhile information will come from this, if any. It seemed pretty non-specific and at best will produce anecdotal results that do not get to the underlying reasons for the responses.
Other than that, best wishes to all who took it and/or read the results!
it is such a changing market but i feel a turning point has been reached
Being able to advise clients regarding real estate matters has been a fulfilling experience in my 35 years in this industry. I find it amazing how little the consumers understand about real estate. Since it is the most expensive acquisition a consumer makes in a lifetime, there should be more education starting in high school as to the areas of finance and the process of purchasing homes and how it can affect their lives. I have also enjoyed the friendships with fellow agents and how hard we work to finally get to a successful close.
Thanks for a great magazine that keeps agents in the hub about current trends and economic factors affecting the real estate market. The surveys present a forum for exchange of opinions, ideas, challenges and rewards of the multifaceted real estate industry.
None.
Thank you! Looking forward to seeing the results!
Looking forward to reading the survey results.
Thank you
Glad to participate. Will look forward to the results
Good survey!
Look forward to seeing the results!
Well I guess I’m curious to see how my responses stack up against other agents… things like amount of voluntary training, expenses, etc…
Love your mag. Can’t wait to see the survey results!
Thank you,
Looking forward to results –
Thank you,
Looking forward to the results!
I hope the survey was well received and will be done more frequently due to the changing market.
Great magazine and website. Looking forward to these survey results.
Thank you for checking in
Look forward to seeing the results. Thank you!
Thank you for tackling the job of educating your readers regarding real estate agents.
This survey is a good start in providing insight into the realities of our industry. There is a general misunderstanding by the public about the time, tasks, investment etc that goes into being an agent as well as the income produced. Questions such as:
how many hours a week do you work?
what was your net annual income in 2011, 2010?
what percentage of your gross commission does it take to run your
business?
how many years have you been a Realtor?
what level of education have you completed?
What equipment do you personally own; computer, printer, scanner,
fax, smart
phone
etc
what type of health insurance does your brokerage provide ie major
medical, etc.?
would provide a more complete truth about agents. Perhaps you already have the answers to these questions from other surveys.
I look forward to reading the results of the survey and learning the take awy your readers will have of our collective efforts.
Thanks!
It will be interesting to see the results of the survey.
I found that your questions were right on and very relevant to what is currently happening in our
industry. They were the type of questions that one often thinks about but rarely discusses with
colleagues.
There should be “n/a” for some of the answers since all questions don’t apply to all respondents
Thank you for this opportunity. I hope our industry raises the bar and offers better continuing education.
Chicago Magazine is a great resource.
I have changed companies in the last 5 months, and I am still learning
their systems that are more sophisticated then my last company. The public has no idea how hard agents work and the training that is involved. The biggest problem that we had in the past was letting new agents obtain their Broker license without experience. It was a disaster.
I’m sure Springfield had complaints. The more education and training that an agent has will protect the public. I have been a Broker/Manager in my past, and I have experienced the problems when agents are not trained.
Hurrah for Education!
Thank you for this opportunity
More detail should be measured, common challenges of practice shared, how transactions have changed, how financing and the process of short sales vs conventional affects time invested in our day to day business
I look forward to the results
Looking forward to the survey results.
Taking the survey was a good reminder to myself that it is helpful to track our own business, to get a better understanding of how our efforts are working.
Thank you for asking our opinion. Look forward to the results.
I would love to see a survey about accessibility to listings. Lockbox vs. listing agent present. I personally am frustrated when an agent tells me they can’t show because they have other commitments. Would you consider doing a survey/article concerning this topic?
This is a great publication. The marketing you folks do I am envious of daily. I also think it is so impressive that your company it seems is primarily all women. I think I am going to take up how to write AP style if it gets me to write 1/10 as good as you folks do. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your magazine over the last few years.
Great survey. Thank your caring. Our business has changed tremendously, and true professionals have had to change with it. Glad to have seen “should it be harder to get licensed” question here. No doubt, YES. As I mentioned, we need to treat ourselves as professionals before the buplic views us as such. You can’t demand respect, you have to earn it…
I’m interested in the final results, but I do agree with some of my colleagues; it’s crucial to reinvest in your continuing education and business for success!
Great publication for our industry!
Only the strong will survive I’ve been in the business 17 years in Dec. and this has been really hard. But I love helping people make such an important decision without this business I don’t know how i would have made it with a 20 year and 19 year both college and same time. take you for caring looking forward to see results.
Thanks!
This survey was a good opportunity to share that type of information. we need to do more of those, and I propose a semi-annual survey on different issues.
I felt that the questions as a whole were good, but some of the answers are really not relevant today, like magnets, etc. I for one will continue investing in internet marketing, however, always mindful, that in some neighborhoods(if age targeted) postcard marketing will bring a excellent return on investment. Strategically, to be effective today, you have to analyze each listing you take and develop a plan of who is your target audience(both agents and consumers), why they are, what is going to turn them on,and what resources do you need to be effective in your marketing and lay out a budget. We are in business and you have to recognize what tools you need to be successful, and what tools a brokerage will provide to you that fits your marketing thrust. The more you and the company are aligned, the more successful your business will be. We all need to remember,as Realtors we are initiating micro marketing campaigns and the company a macro campaign, so if my niche does not align with company A, then I need to research which Company it does align with. My company is aligned with my efforts and offers the tools I need to enhance my Group’s efforts.
Broker transition was just a way for the state to get more money. Surprising how many agents dropped out.
I believe agents should be required to have a better understanding of Short Sales & REO. I started in march 2011 and I am surprised how many people can’t properly represent their clients because they don’t know how to handle short sales.
Love the industry. Looking forward to many years to come.
Chicago agent mag is great!
Anxiously awaiting the results of the survey. Thanks for requesting our opinions on the subjects.
Thanks for the opportunity
Good Questions and very thought provoking!
Finally! You are asking all the questions that everyone wants to know the answers to but is reluctant to ask. Can’t wait to see the results!
Would like to see a “maybe” response available for the question regarding are you considering changing offices.
This is truly a fantastic resource! Informative, concise and motivational. Thank you Chicago Agent!
I think they should have added the question, “Are the insanely high property taxes negatively impacting sales?” The answer is a big fat YES!
I look forward to reading the survey results.
We all know the license restructuring was designed to create another revenue stream for the state in this declining economy. I know two agents (I’m sure there are more) who lost the opportunity to renew their licenses after taking and passing transition courses because they were late mailing their fees. They were late with their fees not because they were inferior Realtors, but because they too had financial difficulty. Their funds were needed for medical and family expenses where their spouses lost their jobs. They were told that the State legislature did not include an option for “late fees” and now they must find ways to set aside additional funds to take the courses again. How does this benefit the state when this lapse in planning means Realtors who could work, pay fees and support their families are left without options?
None of these questions were geared toward Teams.
Teams seem to be trending to keep costs down and activity up
Is any one out there still waiting for there licence What is going on with that. The taxes on some of these property Kill the sale you sell a home for 89.000 and the taxes are 9,000 a year Any one that can afford 89,000 for a house can not pay those kind of taxes what a joke
interesting survey!!