Ms. Evan's article about a buyer's disappointing experience with a "buyer's agent" was a great eye opener. As I re-read it, I analyzed my own performance as a buyer's agent - found a few soft spots - and gratefully found no glaring problems. More than that, I realized a growing sense of anger - at the buyer's agent, at the consumer, and at the industry. The consumer MUST be faulted for gullibility. How many buyer's agents did she interview prior to signing with one? Did she discuss her expectations with an agent? Did she ever question the agent's performance? Why did she tollerate the agent's performance? Regardless of how much consumers want to rely on others, the bottom line for any purchase is to stay alert, do your homework well, ask questions, and BUYER BEWARE. This applies to all purchases. The "agent" is only there to assist the customer / client. They are not there to do all of the thinking for the customer. The "buyer's agent" is another matter entirely, if she is a bad as the buyer describes. She is the type of salesperson who gives the industry a bad reputation, and I'm afraid, all too common. Real Estate is touted as a business with quick profits, easy hours, and just the flexibility of scheduling that allows a retiree to play daily golf and travel extensively, or the single parent to attend to the needs of the children without the constraints of a more structured job. WRONG! It is a full time job, requiring dedication, attention to detail, long hours, and some family and personal sacrifices. The industry must be faulted on two counts. Standards need to be tightened to assure that practitioners will be fully qualified and will have the motivation needed to provide the proper service to customer / client. Stronger licensing requirements and more extensive continuing education requirements will weed out the less desirable agents. The industry must also be faulted for allowing, even promoting, the concept that an agency relationship will provide guarantees to protect the client. That is breeding a false expectation in consumers that they can hire someone to do all the work for them and that the work will be done to perfection. The bottom line always has been and always will be BUYER BEWARE. Thank you for the article Ms. Evans. A real wake up call for all.