Realtors come in many shapes, sizes, personalities, temperaments, experience levels, training and life experience. Picking up a phone book and selecting one may help you select a jewel of a professional to hire, but wouldn't cutting the glamour shots out of the home magazines and pasting them to the dart board and throwing a dart work better? Sage advice is what you want in buying or selling your home. You want a Yoda type. A real Yoda. Someone like ME for example who cares about you. But know the reality:
Some Yodas May Just Be Green With Big Ears.
Ask some qualification questions for your potential Realtor. How will they market your house? What techniques currently are working in the market? How is the market doing? How are you different than the other 1.3 million Realtors out there? Do they even look you in the eye? Do they know how to laugh? Do they appreciate your house? Do they remember your dog's name when you call them back?
There are a lot of cookie cutter questions in books and on web sites about interviewing Realtors to be your buyers or sellers agent. But don't forget the soft intangible questions that relate to the chemistry of you and them that may take you on a months long journey together.
They may appear sage and wise. Just don't find one that is "only" green with big ears!!
"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship." ~ Yoda
Gary, so true, I wear my years of real estate experience like a badge. I worked hard to get here. I think it is important for clients to know that not only are you there professionally, but in your heart as well.
Great stuff, Gary. Keep it coming!
Gary,
People who treat people like people!
I know how little I knew when I began. I assume all new agents are the same way now. Give me experience, even if it comes with grey or green hair.
Gary, that is mad cool!!!
A very cleaver post that really conveys a wonderful message gary. Well done and very creative.
You are so right, Gary about the intangibles.
My favorite thing to talk about when I am with buyers is anything and everything but real estate. I listen to what they like to do, favorite memories, family stories, hobbies,and all the inconsequential details that may mean nothing in passing, but add up to alot when I am trying to find that "right" match.
It's all a game of "Concentration" to me.
Speaking of glamour shots, when I would mail out my business cards that had a picture of me looking exceptional, I would ask the customers to draw crows feet around my eyes, so they would recognize me when we met.
..with age comes wisdom, (and wrinkles)
Great advice Gary! Asking the cookie cutter questions is not enough to know if it's going to be a good match. Many buyers and sellers need to take into account the agent's personality, work ethic, and communication skills too.
Didn't Kermit say "it's not easy being green" Today green is in big time! Go for the green in your Knowledgeable Kermit Yoda Realtor. Cute post!
Okay Yoda.....another wise and profoundly motivating post. You really have a great imagination Gary. ;-)
Gary,
You may not have called the last 3 posts a series but they all come together and do just that. At least for me they do.
There are some very good questions to ask of the REALTORS being interviewed to help you sell your home or to help you purchase your next home.
Thank you sir,
Don R.
Gary, I have a hard time when people ask me what I will do differently than another realtor. I work hard, but so do many others. I care, but so do many others. I know how to market creatively, but so do many others.
Gary, I just love Yoda...such a wise little guy :) Ihave several around my house and just recently gave them to my son but I'm gong to miss them. And you're right, size matters not!
Audrey: I think a big part of it is heart, which usually is never on the checklist.
Ron: You got it!
Neal: Treating people like people gets high marks in my book.
Barbara: Experience for the many years means you've seen it all.
Carolyn: My wacky imagination gets out of control : )
William: I keep practicing that creativity muscle ; )
Ruthman Real Estate: I like your concentration game and getting to know people outside real estate topics. That crows feet story was really funny.
Patricia: Work ethic, personality and communication skills all go a long way to YOU being the one they want to work with.
Mary: Go Green, I love it. Make Yoda or Kermit the spokesfrog for the Green movement : )
Teri: I get carried away with my imagination, I know. It is one of the reasons I am so misunderstood at times.
Don: I thought of these as perhaps the soft questions vs. all those standard questions you hear about all the time. Kind of the informal questions.
Susan: Are you kidding me? You need ask these hard questions of yours to your bud here who has all the easy answers. Besides all your professional skills and work experience Susan, you are head and shoulders above all those other Realtors with the atmosphere you provide in a buying or selling situation. You provide an "enjoyable and pleasant experience." I would use the word downright "fun" but others might not understand that. Your caring comes shining through that's why it is such an enjoyable ride. Hands down, this is where you stand out from all the others. No question.
Carole: Your five foot self and Yoda's around the house. You are just too cute Carole and that's why I love you.
Hi Gary, You are definitely daring and dramatic! I don't do plain vanilla or cookie cutter. If you aren't a creative, risk-taking team player, who are you? The world is looking for leaders who inspire people to go way beyond anything that they could ask, dream or think!
Well, I'm actually glad I didn't read this before going on my listing presentation. It makes me nervous thinking that sellers might have this list of questions that they developed and are planning to ask a series of potential agents. At the same time, those are very good tips for a prospective seller. I prefer to be myself and go with the flow.
Gary, thanks for sharing the Yoda saying. Something to think about.
P.S. I'd recommend you to a seller or a buyer any day of the week.
Well Gary, as always your creative writing skills bring a smile to the heart. The picture of Yoda, reminds me of a particular trip to Disneyland I made with my grandson on his birthday.
We had quite a bit of the family with us for the occassion. I had decided to buy his birthday present while there. The day wore on, and I simply wasn't finding anythig that seemed to jump out at me as being the "right stuff" for the present. Then late in the evening I was in a shop that had an animated talking Yoda, which looked just like the one in your picture. Out of all his presents that day, Yoda was his favorite.
Gary - great points! Realtors do come in all variety! Credentials are key for picking any professional and comfort level combined with experience and background should matter more than any glam shot!
Gary, Great point. Just because I don't advertise in the front page of Homes and Land does not mean I have less qualifications.
That's right - even if an agent has big ears, missing hair and a goofy voice, he/she might just be the best agent for you, despite appearances. Excellent post Gary - you are always so creative.
Hi Gary,
Great post. When I present myself to a client, I let them know I can only speak for myself and I try to give all my clients 110%, but I need their help in doing this. I also let them know I want to work in an honest and trusting enviorment. In other words, no surprises. This does not always happen though. Sometimes a client's intentions are good but somewhere down the road their integrity goes haywire.......LOL I work with alot of clients who have been referred to me from a previous buyer or seller and it is easy to say, "Ask your friend about my abilities as a Realtor". If they were referred by someone else, that should tell them something.
P.S. I think Yoda is cute....LOL
Dan: Definitely "go for it" words you have come up with. Thanks.
Sondra: Thanks for all your kind words. I'm sure you did fine with the listing. If we can refer people either way if it's a fit it will help us both out.
Myrl: An animated talking Yoda. That's such a cool gift. I like that it made a memory for you and this picture helped bring it back for you. Don't you just love good memories??
Carol: I think your phrase comfort level is a good one.
Mana: Right you are. You are great anywhere you go. Who needs those cover advertising anyway!
Dawn: Even if he or she is green too !! LOL.
Laura: A referral to you from another says those other people highly trusted you. That speaks volumes to how great you are. Clients can go sideways, true, but you can't control that. That Yoda is one tripping dude!
Gary - As I grow older, Yoda gets wiser.
Jason - As I get older, Yoda gets cuter - especially more so than some men I know:-)
Gary - I barely remember our dog's name, but, I can rattle off what the market is doing locally, what is selling, what isn't, what the trends have been (sales numbers declining, median and average prices rising, believe it or not).
But, good advice anyway.
Gary: Love the Yoda analogy, but it's true. We are not all alike. And some folks that you think LOOK successful, because of the car they drive, etc. may not really be the person who is the best educated, informed, knowledgable and all around best Realtor.
I don't have Photoshop on my computer anymore, but if I did, I would scan your head on top of Yoda's body and send it to you!
Elizabeth, too funny! ;-)
Jason: You are all the more Yoda this year than last. Very good grasshopper (different show).
Myrl: I knew you went after the Yoda type. I think it is the ears that get him all the women ; )
Mike: Ok, you get a bye on the dogs name but you get an A+ on everything else that is covered.
Chris Ann: They should just hire you and the HECK with all this thinking and analysis!!!
Elizabeth: Oh no, you're getting devious. Don't give some of the Photoshop gurus amongst us like Susan Mangigian or Arina Hanciulescu any ideas, because you know they will take it in run with it : ) If I'm lucky they won't read this comment. If they do, I'm doomed (AGAIN).
Yes, I did get the listing. Your advice to sellers is correct. Many different agents. They need to pick someone they feel comfortable with. Someone they can trust to go the extra mile for them. This may be a seasoned agent with years of experience or a new person just bubbling over with enthusiasm and time to spare.
Sondra: I think you definitely got the main point I was going with, which was don't believe all those template web sites that only talk about the textbook reasons of how to pick a Realtor. Much of what they say is true to an extent. But don't dismiss the soft requirements like "great" chemistry. I'm so happy for you that you got your listing. Maybe this time I was YOUR good luck charm.
Hi Gary, I love this post and am so pleased to let you know that I have featured your post for our group. Your post and link will be in next weeks Best of the Best for the Internet Empowered Consumer. Wonderful!
William: Thanks for the mention. That is a great Group The Internet Empowered Consumer!!
It is good to research questions you need to ask when qualifying a Realtor. I think you will know in your 'gut' regardless of what those answers are. Sometimes being green just means you are nauseous.
Mel: Very good one. Hire me. I'm the nauseous Realtor : ) Or will make nauseating comments about the homes you like.
Gary, just avoid the dark side. :-D Like you, my experience gives me insight as to what needs to be done in a daily changing environment. Make sure you guide your young Jedi's along the path of the Force.
Fred: Yes, you are right, we must avoid the dark side. Are those the ones in real estate that give the rest of us a bad reputation? Be the shining star. That's what I shoot for.
And Gary, you are a shining star....just look at the brightness around you.
Thank you for showing the real light on AR.