Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-27
DIGNITY OF The BUSINESS
Real Estate Men Hear the Ideas of a
Thoughtful Agent
HOW PRESENT ABUSES MAY Be CURED
Board of Control to Establish Rules
that VIII Prevent Waste of Effort
and Protect Owners
Interests.


is the title Of an address delivered by
Eugene A. Bournique before the Chicago
Real Estate board of January 2 of this
year. 1t has been printed in pamphlet form
and sent to the secretaries of real estate
exchanges in various parts of the country.
1t was read before the Omaha Real Estate
exchange last Wednesday, and though no
discussion was precipitated. 1t seemed to
meet with general approval
The following extracts show the tenor Of
the address:
Honest competition helps any business.
But 1t does not help the real estate bust
ness when members of the same board cut
commissions, hlch business from each
other and resort to practices little less
than disreputable. There should be rules
governing the conduct of members, the way
they transact their business, regulating
commissions, etc, and these should be en-
forced Nothing would give such influence
as the reputation for compelling it's mem
bers to do business in a certain way.
regret to say that many transacting
real estate business today in Chicago are
detTiment to it, and for this reason If for
no other, 1t should be the function OF this
board to perfect its organization and do
everything possible as to prevent the in
jury done to property interests by irrespon-
sible persons, sometimes styled as real
estate men, but whose business might be
compared to what is commonly known as
housekeeping.
Good Men VIII Join.
There are capable, worthy men doing a
real estate business here who could and
any advantage to be gained by doing so.
Make membership In this board mean
something and the public too, will then
be in a position to discriminate between re-
sponsible and irresponsible parties This
board should be so managed as to make 1t
almost necessary for property owners TO
give their business to only those who are
members OF 1t. But as 1t is now, they can
see no special inducement to transact their
fa afnaaW
Of the board. The protection Afforded a
property owner doing business with one of
its members, II this board had uniform
system, would be of considerable advantage
to all concerned.
We are clamoring for improvements and
reforms in city government. Why not com
which is the foundation of all values, a
better standing in the line of investment?
Allow property owners, even at their own
loss, to dictate their own terms in handling
their property, which they can dc because.
as a board, we are not recognized as hav-
ing any uniform or systematic methods
prescribed for our members, and we suffer,
too. We have been at the mercy of these
people too. long, and apparently with no
in the right way. When we have per-
fected system, the ,curbstone broker will
would care to do business with him, and
| members of the board, of course, would
| have TO respect the rights of each other.
Brokers Waste Their Time.
YOU might Searcn IN vain IOr any ufsl-
class city in this country in which a mans
property is hawked about by fifteen or
twenty brokers, all trying to sell 1t at the
earliest possible moment for the lowest
price which the owner can be cajoled or
bullied into accepting Brokers thus waste
their time and totally fail to give honest
service TO the people who employ them
Exclusive agency would also, besides be-
ing an advantage TO the seller, protect
the buyer from bidding against himself, as
in the case where several brokers are all
trying to sell him the same piece OF prop
erty. The chances of selling real estate
are often ruined by different brokers nav
ing the same property listed for sale, which
creates latitude between buyer, seller
and broker which is not advantageous to
any of them. Better send ten independent
agents to an auction sale after instructing
each 10 bid in the same property for you.
Some say that owners VIII not give ex-
elusive agency of their property. Is 1t
wonder when brokers will take property
haphazard. with the understanding that the
one VINO sells it gets the commission?
ately realize that the one who can sell It
the cheapest is the one who gets paid for
It, making little difference what he gets as
long as II is a commission, and he is com
PEELED to represent the buyer instead Of
the man who employed him This changes
the relation of owner and broker to a point
where the broker is really representing the
buyer, but expects to be paid by the seller.
This condition exists because brokers are
not united 10 protect themselves and be-
cause owners have not been educated to
understand what their zeal interests are.
| Exclusive Agency Not Exclusive.
The exclusive agency which this board
| should require its members to demand
| would not prevent the sale Of property
| through other brokers. The man with
| whom the property was listed should be
/ allowed and should be encouraged to divide
4 commissions with any other member bring
1 ing him customer,
| law should be passed prohibiting
| brokers from Offering property on the mar
ket without being duly authorized In writ
| ing by the owner 70 do so. This would pre-
/ vent brokers from conflicting with each
| other and permit them. representing either
| buyer or seller, 10 cooperate together, and
| would have a tendency OF promoting good
| feeling among them; whereas now many
are straining every effort, one to take bust
| ness from the other.
| Many say there are too many real estate
| men; but i say there Is room for many
moro OF a good standard II this board win
| regulate the form OF doing their business.
| Compel the public and owners of property
| TO recognize this board and its members
| as an organization who do business in a
| businesslike way. Give the agent control
| OF the property which he offers for sale
and then he will not be limited or hindered
In. Offering IL for fear that someone else
Will cut In on lim and reap the benefit Of
| the EFFORTS he has made 10 sell IL.
This board should prohibit any member
from dividing commission with anyone
who is not a member OF the Organization,
and certainly with anyone not IN the real
estate business, simply because they hap
pen To be judge, doctor or a lawyer.