Culture of nicknames in the real estate market...from social courtesy to professional liability
Written by: Daifallah Al-Mu'tani
Despite the commendable efforts made by the General Authority for Real Estate in regulating the market, imposing licensing requirements, and documenting real estate transactions through official channels, some accumulated behaviors still hinder access to a more transparent and professional work environment.
<Among the most prominent of these behaviors: The phenomenon of using nicknames instead of explicit names in real estate transactions, especially in the early stages of communication, whether by phone or during field visits, a phenomenon that raises professional questions and calls for a call to correct this path by promoting a culture of professional discipline and frank disclosure in real estate transactions.
When a nickname becomes a culture«distorted»
When a nickname becomes a culture«»distorted«»
What used to be used as a laudable social custom, expressing reverence and good manners, has today - in the real estate context - turned into a distorted unprofessional behavior, used to escape disclosure and avoid clarity.
<Some groups have taken advantage of this social custom to pass irregular transactions. For years, unlicensed brokers and brokers, known only by borrowed nicknames or vague titles, without a commercial record, business identity, or a clear legal entity, have proliferated for years. This category worked for decades under the cover of real estate concealment, taking advantage of a chaotic environment and the leniency of some owners who did not care about the legality of the broker as much as they cared about passing the deal.
With the repetition of this pattern, some clients became accustomed to dealing with the surname as a matter of course, until some of them began to deny asking for their explicit name, considering it an invasion of privacy, and the broker may argue, saying:
«
Why don't you ask? »Why are you asking for my name? What does it have to do with the order?«
He does not realize that this question is part of professional business methodology, not a personal intrusion.
The office has the right to know who is in front of them
<A licensed real estate office is not only a marketing link, it is responsible to the seller, buyer, tenant, and official authorities. Therefore, it is his natural and professional right to know who his client is, for obvious practical reasons:It is his natural and professional right to know who he is dealing with, for obvious practical reasons:
- Documentation of order data and follow-up.
- Providing a professional service when referring to the customer later.
- Clarify the identity of the person when transferring to the landlord.
It is unreasonable when the realtor comes back to the broker and asks:
It is unreasonable when the realtor comes back and asks:
»Who is the client you sent?«- Customers going directly to the property without coordination or permission.
- Entry to private sites based on an ad-only site.
- Dealing unilaterally without a follow-up organization.
- In some cases, the security authorities have even intervened as a result of the actions of an unidentified person.
The response is: ”Abu so-and-so... or someone whose name I know!"
The consequences of an unknown surname: Real Problems
Real Problems
This indiscriminate approach results in many awkward and awkward situations, including:
Regulatory Controls: What do we need to do? All licensed offices are obliged to accurately document client data, including the triple name and means of contact.
All licensed offices are obliged to accurately document client data, including the triple name and means of contact. This is never the case when dealing with someone who identifies themselves only by a vague title or nickname, which is a violation of the principle of professional transparency on which the regulated real estate industry is based.
Quick comparison: How do other markets work? <In international - and even Gulf - real estate markets, no communication or inspection can take place without disclosure of identity. Full-name dealing is a basic requirement in any platform or office, and is considered a legal and ethical element.
In some places, this is not the case. In some places here, the "nickname" is still used as a substitute for personal identification, in the absence of adequate real estate education.
Towards a new real estate awareness
The current situation is not only an issue of individual behavior, but a reflection of a stereotype that has been established through years of informal dealing, and it is time to correct it.This requires media campaigns. This requires educational and educational media campaigns, led by the General Real Estate Authority in cooperation with media organizations and regular offices, to correct misconceptions and promote a culture of mutual trust based on disclosure and transparency.
The current situation is not limited to an issue of individual behavior, but rather a reflection of a stereotype established through years of informal dealing.
Conclusion Clients have the right to maintain their privacy,
<But the real estate office also has a right to know who they are dealing with.
<The real name is not an intrusion, it is the first step to ensure seriousness, and to organize real estate transactions in a documented and secure manner.
To put it plainly: A nickname is not enough ... the real name is what drives the real estate relationship professionally and confidently.
Real estate broker and expert - Makkah
@alsmsamaqar
