by G. Sax, Head of Communications, RESO
This edition of RESO Three Questions is with Rodney Gansho, Senior Director of Engagement at the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). We discussed the application of policy minutiae to developing RESO standards, the REALTOR® Code and sweet home Chicago.
Q1: You are coming up on 35 years of working for the National Association of REALTORS® in a variety of capacities over that time. That’s often in positions that examine REALTOR® policy at local, state and national levels and in various levels of engagement with NAR membership. You seem to be a true policy wonk – someone that digs into the woodwork of an organization, fortifying it for future generations while attending who knows how many meetings along the way.
Where does that capacity for overseeing detailed minutiae come from, and how do you hope to apply that skill set as a board member at RESO, another organization that is purposefully heavy on the details?
Rodney: I can tell you that it’s not something that’s innate in me. I wasn’t always a very detailed individual, but it’s the nature of the work and the importance of the details that appeal to me.
I’m a big proponent of “say what you mean, mean what you say.” My mentors, my roles over 35 years and my current position have dictated that mindset. I have a lot of people to thank that have helped me hone my craft – to focus on what’s important and to ignore the noise that’s blocking that focus.
It’s definitely in me now. The work to truly define what we’re doing. I love the people, I love the work – it’s meaningful. It may be a tagline to some, but we’re doing it for the American Dream. I certainly believe in it.
You called me a policy wonk, and that’s true. I wear that badge with honor. Over the years, I have enjoyed watching people that I respect think. I love watching them work. I love seeing them problem solving. It inspires me to try to match that level of concentration and intensity, to dig deeper to get to the heart of an issue.
In terms of RESO data standards, I know what I know and what I don’t know, you know? And I look for others to help guide me. I will bring policy insights to the table in a respectful and appropriate way, because I have a unique industry perspective.
RESO is an important organization. Having a strong notion of the vision that built RESO and the foresight of its importance is a benefit and guiding light for me. The details matter – the approach, the plan of action and being able to define the true issues to tackle.
It’s exciting to see passionate people on the RESO board, in workgroup meetings and at conferences. Their diverse opinions make the organization stronger. It’s beneficial. Everything we should be discussing is on the table without apology, and that’s how it should be. It helps us solve long-term goals and what’s in front of us now.
At this point, I humbly have to admit that I have a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion. To a certain degree, I’m a historian. I’ve been in the room for a lot of industrywide policymaking evolutions, and I can use that to help guide direction at RESO.
RESO is a standards body and not a policymaking group. My experience within the association world can help with RESO’s path forward.
Q2: You have been involved in the evolution of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, established in 1913. The code mandates that REALTORS® uphold high standards of integrity, putting client interests first while being honest with all parties. It is a key tenet of what sets REALTORS® apart from other licensed real estate agents.
At this stage in the evolution of the REALTOR® brand and the organization that holds the code dear, does a formal Code of Ethics even matter in a future that increasingly relies on lightning-fast technology, cash buys, transparent home details from anywhere in the world and frictionless purchasing?
I know that you are going to say, “Yes, of course.” But why? Because that’s the question that onlookers from outside of our industry want to know.
Rodney: You’re right, I do emphatically say “yes.” Working with a REALTOR® who abides by the Code of Ethics matters. Just because the business is changing and the way it is being conducted is changing, doesn’t change what the code stands for. The growth in the amount of information the public can obtain in the buying/selling experience doesn’t impact the fact that our members have an adherence to the code and its principles. It might actually even be more important now.
Article 1 of the Code of Ethics mentions doing what’s in the best interest of your client: true representation. Technology, efficiency, and the way brokers conduct business doesn’t change that.
Real estate has obviously changed significantly over the years. We have gone from waiting days, if not weeks, for MLS books to be released to technology that brings information to us within seconds of release, and property research can come back within nanoseconds.
And now we have the benefits of how that speedy information is used for property search, valuations, determining sales price, understanding markets, finalizing a purchase price and so much more. The foundation to all that is the guiding light of the NAR Code of Ethics.
Cooperation among competing brokers is one of the unique benefits of this industry, allowing it to thrive for more than 100 years. There are 17 Articles in the Code of Ethics. They are reviewed, analyzed and updated as appropriate. They are always a relevant aspect of working with the public and conducting business.
Just like the standards of RESO are important from a technical side in aggregating and delivering property information, the REALTOR® Code of Ethics is a higher standard that REALTORS® voluntarily abide by that creates an important throughline in how they serve clients and customers.
Q3: It is no secret that you are a proud Chicago native (city not suburb) and Chicago Bears fan. It has been a long and lonely road of missed opportunities for a lot of us fans of teams from the NFC North – Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
The Packers have had some elite years and four Super Bowl wins, but the rest of the teams have just one Super Bowl between them, your Bears in 1985 – more than 40 years ago! Why do you think that we have had less success than other parts of the country, and do you feel hopeful for your Bears going forward?
Rodney (mockingly): Hmm, I don’t recall any exceptional years from the Packers.
The NFC North is a challenging division in the NFL. There are better minds than mine that can attest to that.
As a true Bears fan, I am dealing with a postseason feeling that I’m not used to. We have a new sense of optimism and faith. It was an exceptional and exciting year. I’ve even had Packers fans that told me they were rooting for the Bears against the Rams in the Divisional Round. Crazy, right?
RESO: But just as Chicago is becoming a relevant football city, you’re talking about moving to the suburbs or even to Northwest Indiana!
Rodney: As a city native, I understand the challenges with the current location. You can’t get to the stadium without walking a half a mile or more, so it’s not easy to get to. We were better off when old yellow school buses used to loop around Grant Park and drop you off right next to the stadium.
Solving stadium issues is not unique to Chicago. It’s a factor that must be considered for most NFL teams. Building a new stadium is difficult. You have to consider funding, suitable locations, infrastructure, building codes and more.
I simply hope for a great team, that we are competitive and that we improve the experience for everyone attending. While I would prefer to drive east to the lakefront from where I live, especially against the Pack, I’ll go west to the suburbs if I have to or even to northwest Indiana (ugh!).
Chicago has many other good things – food, music, Lake Michigan, summer festivals, wonderful indoor and outdoor experiences. Look me up if you’re in town. I’ll show you around or at least have some suggestions on where to buy me a beer. Go Bears!
Three Questions is a lighthearted interview series that features real estate industry professionals, their businesses and how they interact with real estate standards.
