Ordering Business Cards? Don’t Forget Your License Number!
Published by Tei Baishiki under General.Are you aware that, effective July 1, 2009, you must display your real estate license number on your business cards? With the passing of Senate Bill 1461, which was sponsored by the Department of Real Estate, effective July 1, 2009, California real estate license numbers must be displayed on all solicitation material intended to be the first point of contact with consumers.
The new law will certainly raise some questions as to what constitutes “first point of contact” material. The DRE Commissioner is authorized to adopt regulations as to identifying materials that require a license identification number and, according to the DRE, guidelines will be published in the early part of this year.
Considering that many real estate brokers and salespersons market their services with a nickname rather than their formal name, the identification of the license number is a benefit to the consumer. Verifying license information without the formal name can be a challenge.
So….along with now using a hands free cell device and no texting while driving, (the no texting should be a no brainer for all of us), add that license number to your marketing materials and business cards!
I’m not surprised to see the license # requirement for real estate professionals.
This requirement has been in place for California Contractors for many years. It makes sense to have real estate professionals list their license numbers on marketing materials just as it does to have contractors do it.
Real estate professionals are in a position of trust. Licensing assists in helping keep only licensed and regulated professionals representing clients.
This new law will make it more difficult for an unlicensed person to imposter a licensed real estate agent!
In California we have an official card that states that I am a licensed agent, along with the license number. But not that many clients or prospects ask or know how to look up bonafied agents. The public is not educated and get burned. I guess that there’s is not enough funds to run adwarness commercials.
Realty Offices need to have a different form of identifying and verify real estate agents. the reason being that most offices ask for the lic# then check up if the info relates. And, because all the info will be on the business card, including the license number. A social misfit can inpersonate an agent with all the info on the business card and get a combo for a property with no problem.
The state should embed RFID chips into our arms to make agent verification more simple. (just kidding) =)