Home > Blogs > Christine Wade > Christine Wade - Operations Strategist

Rent My Husband! (WHAT?!?)

By Christine Wade

Services for Real Estate Pros with Christine Wade

March 31, 2009 02:32 PM

I was driving through Vista, CA early this evening on my way home from Target when I saw this sign:

Rent My Husband

I was so intrigued that I had to get up closer to read the fine print...because I was seriously considering renting the husband...when alas, I discovered that it was only a handyman service sign. You've got to love the tag line, "One call fixes it all!" LOL

OK, so my question is this...they had plenty of time to start this business, get the very cool sign made up...but yet they're still driving around on Arizona plates? That's ok...the sign gave me such a good chuckle that I had to have my daughter snatch a photo with her cell camera.

Maybe they'll get some business from it...because it really is a cool sign! I still may rent her husband myself, I've got some trim work in my house that still needs doing and my poor husband is too busy building a chicken house for our daughter, among a gazillion other things, to get to it...maybe her husband can take care of it!?!

Maybe there's a marketing lesson to be learned here???

Re-Blog

Comments(24)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Marlene Bridges

Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA

Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate

Hi Christine - Fun idea - Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say they were just visiting from AZ.

Mar 31, 2009 02:48 PM

Connie Betz

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate - Omaha, NE

Top Omaha Realtor - Omaha Homes for Sale

We have a couple services here that are similiarly named. I haven't tried them out yet, but one of these days...

Mar 31, 2009 02:50 PM

Vickie McCartney

Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY

Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY

Hi Christine~ Some people are just great marketers and not afraid to be different! Different works, doesn't it?

Mar 31, 2009 02:50 PM

Christine Wade

Christine Wade - Derby, VT

Operations Strategist / Online Business Manager

Marlene - I know...the sign was so good that I am going to let them off the hook for the plates...even if their phone number is a local one! LOL

Connie - OH - now you have to share some of yours...you have to go look up their names and edit your comment to paste them in! LOL Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Mar 31, 2009 02:52 PM

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

You know an ad is effective when someone takes a pictures of it and shares it with the world. Love it.

Mar 31, 2009 02:53 PM

Denise OnullDell

Santa Clarita Mobile Notary - Santa Clarita, CA

Mobile Notary Public/Real Estate Agent

Great marketing. I could use a good husband. Did I say husband? I meant good handyman...lol Wayne's comment is hilarious. Thanks for the laugh Christine~

Mar 31, 2009 02:53 PM

Christine Wade

Christine Wade - Derby, VT

Operations Strategist / Online Business Manager

Vickie - It obviously worked for me! (Hence me having my daughter whip out her cell and snap the picture!) This company is getting way more exposure by me being shocked and blogging about it than they would have just driving down the road...although it's probably not very targeted / local traffic - but I did post it to Localism for them :-)

Mar 31, 2009 02:55 PM

Matt Listro

National Credit Fixers - Matt Listro - Vernon, CT

Your Credit Repair Expert

Hi Christine: I think the lesson is market everywhere!

Mar 31, 2009 02:57 PM

Christine Wade

Christine Wade - Derby, VT

Operations Strategist / Online Business Manager

Norma - Exactly!!! Thanks for reading ;-)

Denise - Sure, glad I could share...and that my daughter's cell was actually charged for once! And I totally know what you mean...I need to rent a good husband handyman too! LOL (Just kidding, mine's fab!)

Mar 31, 2009 02:57 PM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Christine, this cracked me up! That's a sign to get attention!

Mar 31, 2009 03:09 PM

Christine Wade

Christine Wade - Derby, VT

Operations Strategist / Online Business Manager

Matt - Everywhere and everyway! Thanks for commenting.

Patricia - It was quite humorous, wasn't it? Thanks for stopping by!

Mar 31, 2009 03:20 PM

Omega Omega

Omega - Glendale, CA

Evening Christina - Came across your post. An excellent message and in times you this......it pays to stay creative!!!

Cheers

Mar 31, 2009 03:46 PM

Richard Dolbeare

Inactive - Wailuku, HI

Living the Hawaii Lifestyle

But I don't have a husband and hope I never do! Don't think "rent a wife" would work and besides, I don't have one.

Mar 31, 2009 03:54 PM

Nas Rahaman

ERA Top Service Realty - Queens Village, NY

The main idea was to get your attention and that what they did. That's really cool. I think we all like to be unique in our own ways. It just coming up with the right phrase that would fit our image and business.

Mar 31, 2009 04:09 PM

Christine Wade

Christine Wade - Derby, VT

Operations Strategist / Online Business Manager

Fred - Thanks for stopping by, and you're right - creative is good!!!

Richard - "Rent My Wife!" could definitely be used for handyman, cooking, maid, bookkeeper, therapist, etc... LOL Thanks for your comment!

Nas - Exactly...they did get my attention and their marketing message worked! Thank you for reading!

Mar 31, 2009 05:45 PM

Mike Saunders

Retired - Athens, GA

Christine - there is an agent in my office that "rents" out her husband, and his brother. They do remodeling work for some of her clients.

Mar 31, 2009 11:55 PM

Christine Wade

Christine Wade - Derby, VT

Operations Strategist / Online Business Manager

Mike - She sounds like one smart cookie to me!!! Thanks for stopping by and reading!

Apr 01, 2009 02:36 AM

Not a real person

San Diego, CA

Hey, Christine.

It actually doesn't take that long to get a sign made and start a business, as long as it's a simple sole proprietorship. They could also be Zonies who have arrived early, and while they spend the summer here in our wonderful county, Mr. Husband does some handyman work, too.

Apr 24, 2009 09:05 PM

Debra Cernick

DeShazer Ryan Realty - Libby, MT

Christine- I do love that you were quick enough to get a photo for all of us here at AC. You knew we would love it! We are such marketers!

Apr 30, 2009 04:39 AM

Liz Moras Migic

Chilliwack, BC

Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Now thats the kind of renta husband I could use! :-)

May 05, 2009 02:57 PM