Trust, But Verify?

Who said that? Was it Reagan? No matter, it does have the ring of 'truthiness' to it, as a currently popular TV comic says. But it also has a significant dose of cynicism, doesn't it? It doesn't specify just a particular class of people to 'verify' before trusting, it states that all trust must be reviewed as a matter of course. If followed dogmatically, such a philosophy would just about paralyze all human interaction, wouldn't it?

How could you leave home without checking back every time on the significant other? How could you trust your kids to come home from school every day without getting into trouble without unfailingly following them? Could you really leave your car keys with the parking valet without riding with him in the passenger seat? How about all of those people who handle your food in restaurants, or in stores, or on farms, or on the delivery trucks? Are you going to 'verify' your institutional trust in their innate good will and sense of decency, or find a way to check up on every facet of food handling? Hire inspectors? Who will check the inspectors for you?

We trust without verifying every day, and nearly every hour of every day, in some way. In the real world we license professionals of many industries to ensure at least a reasonable expectation of competence. Police, attorneys, teachers, doctors, dentists, engineers, architects, electricians, and even real estate practitioners, among many others, require licensing and a minimum level of continuing professional training to remain licensed. But none of this ensures that a particular licensee has all of the qualifications or qualities you need or want for a particular job. Is he enthusiastic? Friendly? Dedicated? Knowledgable? Have good communication skills?

This is where 'verify' makes sense. A personal reference, or even a review of comparable work experiences can go a long way toward helping you select the right individual to represent you.

After over 25 years in my profession of real estate, I can provide as many references as needed to reassure a potential client of my capabilities. Feel welcome to contact us and ask for such information.

Jack Josey Newman