No. Honest, we are not all scumbags.

 Are there people out there who should not be real estate agents but are? Yes. You can say the same of the worlds doctors, lawyers, policemen, teachers and on and on.

Are there lots of scumbags in the business? Yes.

Those types are what made me leave the business for a while in the early '90s. But I like real estate. I like to negotiate, architecture and guiding an involved process to conclusion so I guess it was inevitable that I would come back to it. But when I returned, I commited myself to the idea of getting my brokers license so that I could just work for myself or only hire agents who shared my outlook on the real estate business.

I know for a fact there are great, honest, dedicated agents out there who only want to do the best job possible for their clients. I like to think of myself as one of those folks.

Having said that, the key is for buyers and sellers to take their time and be careful when they pick their real estate agent. Finding a really good agent can be like finding that pearl in the oyster.

Don't be afraid to ask tough questions. Talk to at least 3 or 4 agents before you sign up with one to sell your house or find you a new one.

As a buyer, be suspicious if all you are seeing are homes at the top of the range of what you can afford.

If your a seller, think twice about an agent that seems to agree with you on everything to get your listing. The bottom line is that your agent should be telling you what they believe to be the honest truth, whether you are going to like it or not.