In their infinite wisdom, our federal government is working diligently at creating some more vitally needed restrictions on Canadian business. Make no mistake, I am being sarcastic.
I am very concerned with the anti-spam legislation that is being debated currently in parliament. One of the mistakes that governing bodies make on a regular basis is their approach to problems. Their emphasis is on how to solve the problem. Seems like the right direction, doesn’t it? However, when a solution is decided on, there seems to be very little thought about what new problems are now created by the solution.
I realize that consumers want to be protected from junk mail and contact from unknown salespeople. I also realize that the real estate industry has lobbied for a special set of circumstances with regards to the legislation. However, I want to comment on the concept of this proposed legislation in general.
Consumers want a vibrant economy. I would think this is more important to consumers than not having their dinner interrupted once in a while. This legislation will dramatically hinder salespeople from doing their jobs. I know that when I was selling real estate I would cold call. Rarely did I ever run into someone this irritated, although it did happen for about one out of 50 calls. However, in one out of 25 calls, on average, I reached someone who was thinking about buying or selling a home or who may consider it in the future.
My call put this consideration at the front and centre of their minds and many times I turned that into a sale. A sale that created a long-standing relationship between the client and me. A sale that likely would not have happened if I had not called. A sale that created a new home for a couple of new buyers. A sale that likely created another sale when my sellers bought their new home. A sale that made me money, which I in turn went out and spent in other people’s businesses. A sale that helped move our economy in a positive direction. All this from a cold call.
There is an old adage that says, “Nothing ever happens until someone sells something.” Salespeople sometimes abuse their privileges but they probably do more to keep our economy moving than any other vocation on the planet. I believe this legislation will hamper salespeople from all industries from doing their jobs and I believe it will hurt our economy.
Many times in my business I teach my Realtors that they must help their clients in spite of themselves. Our clients often do not know what they do not know. I believe this anti-spam legislation is similar. I think if the rare consumer who is truly irritated by that call at dinner time was asked if they had to choose between a minor irritation and negative pressure on our economy, they would choose the minor irritation every time.
Bill Hubbard
Broker/Owner
Century 21 Executives Realty
Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd.
Vernon, B.C.
