Client expectations vs. Industry’s poor reputation

Mariana – only part of the solution – that’s why we’re here, no? that was a great post and you just wonder about the mentality of some people.

Vicki – I’m off to check it out.

Maybe Vicki has encountered something different, (see her post as noted above). As corporeal realtors – quoting Ines; “I like to spend a couple of hours with them”. In both cases assumed is a permission based response from the client via Vicki’s and Ines’ web efforts. For Vicki, permission has happened, voice contact is made, but here’s the twist. Envision a chasm between the corporeal world and the “twitter-tech Web2.0 types” (please no tomatoes). Normal proceedures follow seeking a meeting – the goal to pre-qualify and extend to a more in-depth relationship. Result is a Brick wall! No pre-qualifying will happen. Simplified, no meet up, no chance of extending the relationship, just a Google solution, Ranked accordingly (my words not Vicki’s). If relationships are a fundemental premise of our business, reflect on how you would effectively bridge this chasm to more effectively achieve ROI. I’m still thinking about it as my intial thoughts aren’t pretty.

I think Larry speaks for me better than I do.

The scenario is these folks come from an internet lead service. Don’t know them from a guy walking down the street. I could be putting Jeffery Dahmer in my car. I need some way to qualify them before I get out my lock box key. Except that they aren’t interested.

They want information. They don’t want service – except for the taxi type. Their expectation – see Trulia – is that I’m going to give them a brain dump without any commitment.

I’m wondering if in this new 2.0 world there should be a different approach – something I’ve not thought of or am not seeing. Maybe I’ve got to make the decision not to give IDX away. I don’t know. I’m looking for peer input.

Good for you. Not many people would risk losing a dollar to demand respectful treatment. The way this slug treated you is a cost of technology. Because of telecommunications and the Internet, people are removed from one another. This guy wouldn’t have treated you this way to your face. It’s the price we pay, but I wish schools taught chivalry. Young men aren’t learning how to be gentlemen, and the same skills are lacking in girls. People are growing up to be social monsters. In contrast, it sounds like you handled the situation with dignity.

As far as realtors being scum — well, many of them are. The same goes for mortgage brokers. There is a mortgage broker in the suite next to mine, and we often cross paths in the men’s restroom. This guy NEVER washes his hands. He’ll go straight from the restroom to shaking hands with someone in the hall. I cannot imagine how he handles his mortgage transactions.

All that we can do is seek to be exceptional in a sea of muck.

Wade – thanks for totally grossing me out! doesn’t wash his hands???? That’s a clear sign of how he handles business – ICK!!

Larry – the safety issue you point out is really important, no matter the city.

Vicki – customers want to see listings, that’s the bottom line, and a lot will be willing to supply their e-mail address to get it without having to speak to an agent every time.

There’s a fine line between providing the information the client wants and not having control on who gets it.

Benn – go for it!! touching lobster and touching THAT are very different, but I get where you are coming from.

There are basic rules of hygene you crazy Benn – restaurant employees have to wash their hands when they go into the bathroom, use it or not. Are we off subject here? but please continue…..the subject at hand is what makes professions scum as perceived by the public.

One waiter making a disgusting mistake is a reflection on the whole “restaurant serving industry”! There should be more rules, there should be more restrictions! I will not eat at a restaurant again!!

disclosure: for those reading this without a sense of humor……this is sarcasm and Benn is trying to make a point.

Ines,

It is obvious that you are a very nice person. Very. Wanting to turn a Realtor Hater into a raving fan may be quite a laudable goal. However, there are some people who you (or anyone else) isn’t going to “turn around” as they are so twisted inside that they can’t be turned. And unless you plan on turning your real estate practice into a sort of mental health clinic it is hard to think of something less productive to work on. Some people just aren’t very nice and I believe the smartest, most productive thing a Realtor can learn is to be able to spot which category the person they are talking to falls in – the 80% nice people or the 20% not so nice group. Included in the 20% (the Potential Trouble Source) are the hard core crazies (about 2 – 3% of the population, the actual Suppressives). The fact that they are not in an institution does not make them any less crazy or dangerous for a person to be connected to them. These people ARE the source of the world’s difficulties. There are 12 specific characteristics that these Anti-Social Personalities share (and 12 corresponding characteristics that the Social Personalities have).

For anyone who would say, “What a load of crap. Real Estate agents are the scum of the earth. They live up to every stereotype. You’ve brought this upon yourselves. Now quit your whining and live up to what you are. But you’re such pathological liars, you even do that. You have to be scum and then lie about it. Typical. If it were up to me, all real estate agents would be tarred and feathered and set on fire. “ it is pretty easy to spot which group they are in. But some are more difficult to spot. You can see the list of the 12 characteristics here: https://www.tipsforsuccess.org/antisocial1.htm

“The fact that they are not in an institution does not make them any less crazy or dangerous for a person to be connected to them.”

Isn’t THAT the truth! To a degree I agree with Ines – we are already psuedo-mental-health clinics, but you make a very valid point, Russell – some people are just not worth the time or effert. There are plenty of non-crazies that we can choose to work with.

I just happen to really enjoy the non-crazies who have only bad experiences and recognoze that I am different … restoring a bit of faith in our profession … one non-crazy-but-disgruntled home buyer or seller at a time.

mariana – sounds like a good catch phrase to me!

“one non-crazy-but-disgruntled home buyer or seller at a time”

Norm – the guy who left that message is beyond our help – but something possitive came out of it – – -> this discussion. We would be lucky if all crazies would be this easily identified.

Larry…now you did it! and you had to mention Miami didn’t you?

…Some people’s children.

Let’s go back to Benn’s story, I like waiter bashing better.

Good god – help me un-perpetuate!
As an open minded cheeky individual possessing a degree, I beg you please, oh omnipotent pseudonym, enlighten me. What unique characteristic sets you apart from us, the disenchanted throng of educated self-annointed indignant sterotypical “fellow” waiter-bashing realtors. I presume it’s more than cologne!

Ines,

No worries. I was never big on self-basting boneless turkeys.

Ines – this post hit home today – I just love the way you cut to the chase.

Ines, you earned your designation, no reason not to be proud of it and living in South florida..especially in Miami,,design knowledge can be very important

I’ve been selling real estate for 8 years. I can still remember being the recipient of hatred from various people for no apparent reason. I would get accused of doing things that I had no idea I could even do. This I know in retrospect, of course. It was very disturbing and still is, however, I am not quite as shocked by it as I was in the earlier years. In my opinion, it is ignorance and the post to Mariana strikes me as coming from someone who is very unbalanced and possibly dangerous. He is discredited on the spot by what he writes.

>>>I just received a buyer referral this week from the blogosphere and learned that the buyers were working with agents that had never physically shown them a house, instead gave them lockbox combinations for them to go on their own.

That is bad…unfortunately, I have heard of this before. Yes, there are Realtors that don’t conduct themselves appropriately, like any other business.

There will be unethical people in every profession/industry whether its the waiter not washing his hands, lawyers, athletes, etc. I am not sure why Realtors get hit so hard. Perhaps it is the lack of extensive education required to be a Realtor. I too came from the corporate world and was quite shocked at the lack of respect. As you know, selling real estate over the years arms a Realtor with a wealth of knowledge that can benefit a buyer or seller. Generally speaking, I don’t believe the public fully appreciates the value that a good realtor brings to the table and in many instances think that we are all alike and our only use is to open the door. (and as you stated above, sometimes avoiding that)..

Be it as it may, I will continue to conduct my business ethically and disregard the negativity and anger. The angry “hate” mail I believe comes from people that are not only hating our industry but alot of things in life.

How is this for timing…as I am writing this, I just got an angry email thru my #1 website. I cannot post it as the language is very bad. Oh well…at least I’m getting noticed. 🙂

Good news!! My recent nasty email thru my site seems more like to be from a competitor.