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Relocation
We know the problems—but what are the solutions?
by Louise E. Hull Coalition. According to our friend, Daniel Webster, a coalition is "a temporary union for a common purpose." Coalitions are commonplace in our society. Many are formed due to business or social injustice. Coalitions can help those of us with common problems to find workable solutions.
As I have watched REALTORS® across our nation struggle with some of the problems in the arena of corporate relocation, I have become more and more disillusioned with the hope that solutions would ever be found. In fact, I had come to the conclusion that perhaps a coalition of those who have shared in the pain that goes with these problems might be the solution. The problems I refer to range from the payment of "after-the-fact" referral fees to the threat of corporations withholding employees’ relocation benefits based on their choice of REALTOR®. I thought I might name my coalition RAGE–REALTORS® Against Greed & Extortion.
Fortunately, TAR built a different coalition–one with more objectivity. It was called the Relocation Issues Task Force. The task force set about finding constructive solutions to common relocation problems. These dedicated members spent many hours this summer (while most of us were selling homes in one of the best real estate markets ever) talking to TAR members and representatives of relocation companies and corporations. Their entire report has been mailed to local associations and can be viewed in the Governmental Affairs section of the members-only pages of www.tar.org.
The task force’s recommendations include education of our membership about relocation and then legislation if current efforts at coalition-building within the industry are unsuccessful.
The Employee Relocation Council (ERC) has built a coalition called the Real Estate Coalition (http://realestatecoalition.org ). The mission of this coalition is to address relocation problems with a stated goal of "ensuring a legal and regulatory environment which supports full, free, and fair competition for the delivery of the most effective relocation services to the ultimate consumers, transferring employees, and their families." Here is a quote directly from their Web site: "The issue of after-the-fact referral fee requests was a glaring example of unacceptable practice. The coalition members responded immediately by pledging not to tolerate them by beginning an education campaign aimed at relocation management companies, employers, and real estate brokers."
The next entity we need to be aware of is an organization called the Interchange. The Interchange is "a reporting mechanism which brings complaints about after-the-fact referral-fee requests directly to the attention of senior management officials (of the relocation companies)." Access to the Interchange is open to all REALTORS® through the coalition Web site.
Let’s follow the advice of our Relocation Issues Task Force and give ERC’s coalition a chance to work. If you have after-the-fact referral-fee requests or other relocation problems, go to the Interchange to seek a resolution. If we see no improvements, then perhaps we can try my coalition–RAGE. If necessary, we’ll be ready for the next legislative session in Texas.
home current issue top 10 resources
Buyers & sellers,
visit www.texasrealestate.com.
REALTORS®, visit www.tar.org.
