What's the deal with realtors?
 

Why do realtors feel the need to put their photo on everything? Business cards, newspaper ads, sale signs in the yard...

I was driving around yesterday and I passed a home with a "for sale" sign in the front yard, and the realtor had a large glamor shot stuck on the sign. Does seeing the face of the person selling me the house influence my decision to buy or not? Why do I need to see your face in order to buy the house? When I bought my truck, there wasn't a large 8x10 of the salesman on the floormats...

Anyone able to explain this to me?

Real Estate Agents are paid on commision and usually keep to a specific geographic region, like a subdivision or town. Recognition is very important because the more people see your face (and your name), the more they assocoiate your professional looking image with one of selling your house.

Who would you choose? The face you've seen plastered all over your neighborhood on every chip clip or calender in your mailbox, and for sale signs in your neighborhood, whose signs seem to quickly have a SOLD or UNDER CONTRACT sign on top of them or the random knuckle head from the yellow pages.

It's brand building real estate style, and IT WORKS.

The more houses you sell, or even list the more commision you can potentially earn.

-bear

I'll tackle this one. Now, I can say this cause I am a realtor....


REALTORS ARE WHORES


Why:

They all have the same product to sell.

The only way to get you to call them is to somehow make themselves more appealing to you.

They only difference in the end result is how they deliver the service.

Are we seeing a trend here?



I have been in the business for 25 years, have a college degree, worked for a lender for years, was an appraiser for years, have bought, sold, and leased for my own account and for others many multi-million dollar deals. But how do I say that on a 2' x 2' yard sign? For me, I don't try. I prospect in other ways. But for realtors who don't have my qualifications or experience, there aren't a whole lot of ways other than plastering your mug on signs.

I don't agree with it, I just call them as I see them.

Hmmm... What if you really ugly.

As a commercial broker, I always assumed it works only if you're really good looking. Just kidding!

But a few years back, I was in Decatur, AL buying a site for a national restaurant chain. I was having a difficult time finding the right site and thought I would get a local broker to help, as I was about to get back on our plane. No joke, this blazing blonde had her billboard up, and I thought "She's as good as anyone!" 6 months later, she made 4% on a $700,000 deal because of her glamour shot.

HAHA around here they all mail out post cards with their name and picture on it and put a nice little recipe for some BS on the back



Fawking vampires

I didn't start this thread with the intent of bashing realtors.... I was just curious about the photos.

Thanks for the answers...I guess I understand. The question about ugly realtors does bring up a good question though... I have seen some seriously bad toupees and some botched face lifts on these photos. Do you think that hurts business more than it helps?

I'm not sure it matters that much. I think that having a friendly, honest looking face in this kind of circumstance can't hurt. I think it is more about recognition than being "pretty".

Most of the realtors around my area are. Yet still they foist their images upon us, sullying the visual landscape with the satanic vomit that passes for their faces.

Its all about marketing yourself my friend.