Editorial
Front Page - Friday, July 9, 2010
All Rhodes lead to fairy tale endings
David Laprad
Karen Rhodes works out of Happy Home Realty. In addition to being a licensed broker, she’s earned the ABR, e-PRO and CHMS designations. She’s also one class away from completing her CRS designation.
- David Laprad
As a Realtor, Karen Rhodes has a dual mission: to help her clients experience a fairytale ending to their search for a home, and to elevate the real estate profession in the eyes of the public. She says both are challenging.
“I like happy endings, and you get them when you work with people who are buying a home,” she says.
“When you go to a closing and give someone the keys to their new home, especially first-time homebuyers, it makes you feel good that you helped them to achieve their dream.”
Unfortunately, fairytale endings are in short supply these days, due to a reluctance of banks to let go of their money, Rhodes says. “It’s the only thing about this industry I don’t like at the moment. It’s like a return to the old days, when you had to prove you didn’t need money to get it.”
The weak economy isn’t forcing Rhodes, who has more listings than she’s ever had in her 11 years in real estate, to change her sales tactics, though. To her, being a Realtor is about more than making money; it’s about being a part of a profession in which she’s proud. To that end, she’ll tell a client if she thinks he’s barking up the wrong tree when selecting a home.
“I’ll tell a client what I think about a house. Some agents won’t do that because they want to make a sale, but if I think a house isn’t right
for my client, I’ll tell him why and let him make the decision about whether or not he wants it,” she says.
Rhodes says the general public thinks Realtors are only in the business for the paycheck, and her honesty is intended to not only keep someone from making what she believes would be a bad decision but also to improve the image of her profession.
“Everyone thinks we’re out to make a buck, but if that were the case, most of us wouldn’t be doing this right now. Yet, people see us as being just a little higher than used car salesmen,” she says.
To change the public’s
perception, Rhodes says Real-
tors need to further their
education beyond the minimum requirements and become involved with industry organizations, such as the Chattanooga Association of Realtors.
“If you’re serious about what you’re doing, and if you want to do it right, you’re going to continue your education throughout your career. Unfortunately, a lot of people just take the minimum number of classes,” she says.
Rhodes leads by example. In addition to being a licensed broker, she’s earned the Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), Internet Professionalism (e-PRO) and Certified Home Marketing Specialist (CHMS) designations. She’s also one class away from completing her Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation. Once that’s out of the way, she might tackle the Graduate Realtor Institute program.
“If I wasn’t a Realtor, I’d be a professional student. When I was younger, I always said I wanted to find somebody to support me so I could stay in school the rest of my life,” Rhodes says, smiling.
Rhodes doesn’t take classes simply for the sake of adding letters after her name on her business card, as she says most of her clients don’t know what those designations mean. Rather, she wants to show her peers she’s looking to learn more, not just “calling it a day” because she has her license. When she chooses agents for referrals, she looks for the same thing.
“When I’m looking to refer a listing to another agent, I won’t send it to someone who doesn’t have the alphabet soup after their name because all they’ve done is the minimum amount, and that’s not what I want for my clients,” she says.
In addition to furthering her education, Rhodes is an active member of the CAR. She’s currently serving on the Professional Standards committee, which holds hearings when someone has issued a complaint against a Realtor. Previously, she sat on the Grievance Committee and “just about every other committee.”
“If you don’t get involved with the association, you don’t have a right to complain. By working with the association, I’ve earned the right to voice my opinion. And I do!” she says.
Rhodes says Realtors who want the public to think better of them need to be proactive in making it happen.
“The NAR has done a lot to change that perception, but I think we can have a greater impact on a local level than our national association,” Rhodes says.
While growing up in Soddy Daisy and East Brainerd, Rhodes says she couldn’t wait to leave Chattanooga. Now, she says she wouldn’t live anywhere else.
Rhodes doesn’t want to do anything else for a living, either. Before becoming a Realtor, she worked in the banking industry, first at Pioneer Bank while taking part in a high school co-op program and later as a mortgage lender. When she was ready to leave that field of work, real estate was the natural choice.
“I like the freedom that comes with being a Realtor, and I enjoy working with the public,” she says.
Following seven years with Realty Center, Rhodes moved to Happy Home Realty. The firm claims about 40 agents, most of who work out of their home.
“That’s our niche. If you don’t like going to the office or attending sales meetings, this is the place to be. As long as you’re doing your job and not getting in trouble,” Rhodes says, raising her eyebrows.
When Rhodes isn’t working on her listings, taking classes or attending to association business, she’s home with her husband of 11 years and 3-year-old niece, whom she’s raising.
The things Rhodes has said would not surprise those who know her. She’s outspoken, but behind her blunt comments is a woman who loves what she does and desires to not only lift up her profession but also serve her clients to the best of her ability. Chattanooga, and every other city people call home, could always use more agents like her.
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