Real estate agents may have different views on policy, but remember we’re all working toward the same goal, writes coach Darryl Davis.
As we continue to speak out about the corporate decisions that are reshaping our industry, especially private listings and the quiet dismantling of the MLS system with national MLS services powered by MRED and Compass, there is something I want all of us to keep in perspective. And I include myself in that.
As these conversations grow, it’s easy to slip into an “us vs. them” mindset with individual agents. I don’t want that to happen. Not from me, not from anyone in this industry.
We see it all the time in politics. If someone belongs to a certain political party, practices a certain faith, or comes from a different background, all of a sudden they are lumped into a category. People stop seeing individuals. They only look at the label. They take their frustration and anger out on the entire group based on the actions of a few. This is one of the worst tendencies we humans have, and we don’t want you to fall into the same trap here.
keep the focus on people
So let’s keep some important things in mind. Compass agents are great people, as are other agents at various brokerage firms who may have different beliefs than we do.
Most agents have the same goals and fears as us. They want to grow, provide great service to their customers, and make a difference in the lives of buyers and sellers. And yes, I want to feed my family.
They chose to hold their license with that company because it provided them with something of value. to be honest? A lot of what these organizations offer in terms of tools, technology, and marketing resources is truly impressive.
The impetus to overturn the norms that have served our industry for decades is not coming from these colleagues. It comes from all the way up the corporate ladder.
The brokers and executives who encourage private listings are passionate, talented and competitive. It’s that competitiveness that has brought them this far.
But that same impulse, the thirst for control and market domination, is showing real consequences. We all have a duty to serve you ethically, not only to you, the working agent, but also to buyers and sellers.
The reason for the existence of clear cooperation policies is to protect consumers by ensuring broad market exposure and transparent competition. When a listing is placed on hold from the MLS, buyers can no longer access inventory, sellers can see lower net profits, and the playing field tilts toward those with the most private inventory.
That’s not innovation. It is integration disguised as destruction.
But here’s my point – and that’s the crux of this piece.
As we seek to push back and protect open, cooperative markets that benefit everyone, we must never let dissatisfaction with corporate decisions turn into hostility toward individual agents.
The person sitting across from you at the closing table who happens to have a Compass business card is also just a professional trying to do the right thing by the client. They didn’t design the policy. They’re getting through it, just like the rest of us.
We can hold company leaders accountable for decisions that harm our industry while treating every agent we encounter with the professionalism and respect they have earned. That’s not a contradiction. That’s my personality.
This industry is built on collaboration. Our entire value system (MLS, National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics, cooperative fee model) was designed around the idea that agents collaborate in the service of their clients, even among competing brokerages. The moment we turn on each other is the moment we hand the critic exactly the story he wants.
So as things continue to unfold, let’s be clear about who we don’t actually agree with. Let us direct our energies where they belong: policy, leadership, and systemic change, and remain open to all the individual agents we meet along the way.
