Why is it so hard to understand the common sense principle of loyalty?

by James Norton

Over the past year, I have talked about many subjects. The range of the ranting has seen me comment about politics, parenting, drug and alcohol abuse, Iraq and even our beloved pod people. Some say I have been brutally honest and open about myself—my response to that is that it’s from the personal nature of life that I draw from. This past November I mentioned that I take loyalty very seriously when it comes to family and friends—this is very true—but there’s more.

There are two other instances where loyalty is important, especially in our community—politics and business. I’ll speak about loyalty and how it relates to local politics in a future issue, when the fun season is in full swing and the mental midgets and pod people are running around like rabid Kennedys on Super Tuesday. For now, I want to talk about how loyalty can have a butterfly effect when applied in some small measure to local business.

Like many other people my age in the community, I have come through troubling and trying times and live a happier and more rewarding life now. I am a better man because of the experiences life has shown me, the friends I have made and the basic instincts my parents have instilled in me. Honesty, loyalty and hard work in business— my parents would tell me that over and over growing up. When you’re self employed, it’s important to create relationships. It’s also important to educate people. A little education and a small dose of truth.

First—any Realtor can show another Realtor’s listing— so working with one agent is in your best interest.

Secondly, there is no magic mortgage rate sheet—so again, working with one loan originator is in your best interest. Now you’re probably thinking that I am biased—well, yeah I am. I don’t make any money to pay my bills and put food on the table unless I sell you the house you’re looking for or get you the best mortgage rate I possibly can. That’s in my best interest. Somewhere in the middle of all that, it’s up to us both to create a relationship—here’s exactly where the loyalty starts.

I find it absolutely absurd that people I grew up with run into me in Davis Square, tell me how funny they think I am rambling on about my life in this column, and then tell me they just bought a house. Hello, McFly, I sell houses for a living, remember? No, they didn’t and instead of using your old buddy, you used someone else and put money in their pocket and paid their bills. Then you wonder why I blow you off ten seconds after you give me the good news about the new homestead. Give me a break.

How about the jerk who you’ve know for the better part of two decades, you made sure he had good tenants in his rental unit—with no cost to him—the same moron who tells you not to worry—when he’s ready to sell it’ll be our sign on his front lawn. Then this idiot uses someone he barely even knows to find him and his wife a house in the ‘burbs and he puts the house on Highland Road up for sale with that same agent.  Way to go putting a cool chunk of change in that person’s pocket, instead of your supposed friend.

How about the couple who you found an absolute bargain of a house for—they thanked you profusely for finding them their dream home—and then turned around and sold it at a blockbuster price a few years later and never even called you in to do a CMA or a listing presentation. All because they forgot about the guy who helped them get into that house in the first place—you don’t remember the self employed nice guy who helped you and could have used that commission to feed his family and pay his mortgage? Oh, but they’re so sorry now—they should have called you. Yeah, thanks—that helps a lot.

So the next time you are annoyed that your friend the real estate agent or loan originator calls you like clock work every 60 to 90 days just to check in, it’s not because he’s trying to chisel you out of some dough—it’s because you cannot remember the self-employed businessman who needs to pay his bills too and doesn’t collect a paycheck like you. We actually have to work at reminding you of what loyalty means—how sad is that?