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"Dirty Harry and Local Real Estate Experts" - Trulia Voices Q & A's

By
Real Estate Agent with Fathom Realty West Sound WA State 52404

I've always been a big fan of Clint Eastwood. When I served onboard a submarine in the US Navy, we watched "The Outlaw Josey Wales " a gazillion times while out on patrol. There's just some very basic and wise counsel we can derive from the rich history of 'Clintisms' found in his archive of quality male-bonding films. trulia voices

For instance:

From Pink Cadillac:   "I have strong feelings about gun control. If there's a gun around, I want to be the one controlling it."

From The Rookie:   "If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster."

From Dirty Harry:   "Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?"

From Sudden Impact:   "Go ahead, make my day."

In the movie "Magnum Force " the Oscar-winning actor made the memorable quote, "A man's got to know his limitations ."

The other day, I was responding to a question I had received through Trulia's Voices . This is one of the better features of their platform where consumers accessing their site can pose questions relating to real estate. ActiveRain used to have something very similar that had dominant placement, but its been lost in the wake of other value-added features.

On Trulia, if you register for a specific geographic market area, they will automatically notify you whenever a question is submitted for that area.

Unfortunately, Trulia has the same kind of problems we experienced here on ActiveRain. Everyone's an expert. It doesn't matter if you're licensed in Alabama, and the consumer is submitting a question from Alaska, everyone with a question is fair game!

On Trulia, you can gain some notoriety for being one of the 'Top Real Estate Professionals on Trulia Voices .' All you have to do is answer the most questions. It doesn't matter if your advice/answers have any bearing on the question, or provide any substantive value to the consumer. Whoever has the most answers earns the Top Spot, period (And I thought we had problems with people gaming the point system here on ActiveRain!). Personally, I think there would be greater value in scoring/ranking their top members by using the rating they receive from the actual consumers who are posing the questions. To me, that would be the most realistic and meaningful measure of a real estate professionals worth.

Regardless, the bigger problem, as I see it, relates to so-called real estate professionals who are attempting to answer questions beyond their area of expertise. Now granted, there are aspects to our business that apply to virtually all markets. And some people are legitimately licensed to conduct business in more than one State. But that's usually the exception, and not the norm, in these kinds of forums.

For me, it's normally a dead give-away when the first part of their answer begins with "I don't know how they do it in your State, but here in XYZ we".....

If you're not licensed to do business in a particular State, or aren't familiar with their specific State laws or statutes, don't answer! There are few things worse than giving unqualified advice. You end up being like that guy on the Holiday Inn Express commercials:

"No, I've never performed open heart surgery, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! "

And who in their right mind would open themselves up to the increased exposure for potential liability by giving an unqualified answer on the Internet where the digital record is such an enduring source of incrimination?

The other thing that really bothers me (and this is more of a personal pet peeve), are those whose actual answers are shorter and of less substance that the incessant volume of blatant self-promotional banter that they cram into the body of their weak, emaciated answers.

Do you really want to earn the consumers trust? Do you really want to provide them with information that is relevant, helpful, and practical? Do you want to establish your credentials as the local resident real estate expert? Do you want them to contact you if they want further assistance? Then answer only the questions you are clearly qualified to respond to, and make your answers complete/meaningful. Don't try to bait them into accessing your website, or contacting you by email for more details. Give them the good stuff, right up front, and in its entirety.

"Go Ahead, Make Their Day!"

~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~     o     ~

Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com , SOUNDBITEBLOG , and Crabbing in the Hood , or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

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Rich Jacobson is a REALTOR® and licensed Broker with Fathom Realty. He's a Crab Hunter, Clam Digger, and Oyster Shucker, skilffuly vanquishing anything in a shell! He is the Social Media Evangelist for Life on the Kitsap Peninsula & The Western Puget Sound in scenic WA State.

Comments (55)

Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

Ah, a man after my own heart. You must have been watching all the Clint Eastwood movies on television last week. I can never get enough of him. I even finally sat down and watched all of "Unforgiven," albeit it had commercials.

May 27, 2009 01:10 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

You should see the question I was answering today. This guy was REALLY worked up about a fee that a buyer's agent had charged him. Then a couple of non-agents started agent bashing. But overall, I was really disappointed with the crappy answers by other agents. Instead of explaining WHY there might be a fee, even though most of us don't charge one, they all just said to dump the agent. Did any of them consider the fact that if the buyer switches agents, the first one is still entitled to a commission, since they did the work? The buyer can choose a different agent, but he cannot decide who gets the commission. I ended up practically blogging an answer. And I still didn't address this latter part about who gets the commission if he dumps the current one.

May 27, 2009 02:33 PM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

"Everyone's an expert." and from behind the keyboard all of these so-called experts seem to have an increasingly arrogant attitude. I've said it before but sometimes it gets so deep, it takes wings to stay above it! Great post Rich!

May 27, 2009 02:43 PM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Rich!
Your timing of this post is serendipity.  I am one of the guilty parties...and didn't even know it! I have been answering questions on the Q & A for some time now.  I enjoy trying to help.  What I didn't realize is how really different some laws are in different states.  It was pointed out to me this week that I shouldn't answer questions for Ontario, even though I qualified the answers with "ask your attorney".  The other agent was absolutely right and I now pay more attention to where the question is coming from.  Thanks for reinforcing her thoughts!

May 27, 2009 02:56 PM
William James Walton Sr.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate

Rich, you said: If you're not licensed to do business in a particular State, or aren't familiar with their specific State laws or statutes, don't answer!

To that I say, AMEN! I've seen a few of those both on Trulia and here on ActiveRain. Annoying, to say the least.

May 27, 2009 03:05 PM
Lana Robbins Realtor ® Licensed Real Estate Broker
Aloha Kai Real Estate - Clearwater, FL
Licensed in Florida, Washington, and Hawai'i

Exactly. Being in one of the top spots does not necessarily mean that that particular agent knows the laws of another state or states. Thus a caveat.

Me personally I stick with my state (i.e. Florida) and do not respond to questions about other states and/or countries.

May 27, 2009 03:25 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Can I just stay in my own little corner and not get caught up in all that :) Another 'matter of fact' facts by Rich :)

May 27, 2009 03:55 PM
Chris Olsen
Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH
Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

Hi Rich -- I was on a submarine rescue ship, then an aircraft carrier.  We never got to resuce a sub -- a good thing indeed.  Great post about being realistic and non-self promoting.

May 27, 2009 04:14 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

I agree, that has always bugged me when people do that, and add their website, or contact info.,someone from a different state is not going to hire you.

May 27, 2009 04:40 PM
Roland Woodworth
Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN
Blue Cord Realty

It is hard to believe someone would dare answer a questions about Texas from New York... I say stay local... Just my 2 cents.. Great post.

May 27, 2009 05:10 PM
Roberta Lee
Century 21 Olde Tyme - Norco, CA
Norco Corona Riversid Homes For Sale

Hi Rich, 

As always good post and good content. I loooovvvvve Clint! But that aside, I really don't like those that always try to be the expert. The "look at me," individuals.  If I had a dollar (used to be a dime, inflation you know) for everyone that has said to me, " Yeah I know about psychology I took it as a freshman in college."  I'ed be a rich person. Gees why did I bother to get the rest of my degrees? 

Besides the legal implications that insue from giving answers to questions you are not qualified to answer, what about the harm you might do by wrong info.?

Cowgirl 

 

 

 







May 28, 2009 08:07 AM
Julia Horton
Coldwell Banker Realty - Palm Harbor, FL
ASKjulia. REAL estate. REAL answers.

Rich - I SAW YOUR POST AND WAS SCARED TO READ IT!  You see, I've been feeling a little guilty, because I know we're not supposed to self-promote......YET........

I only answer questions in my area and if I KNOW I have a brilliant, extremely detailed and thoughtful response.  However, I must admit, I occasionally will go into a little self promotion if it's snuck in at the end of one of my responses that I put a lot of time and effort in to.   The one sentence guys from other states are doing it and sometimes even the ill-advised agents in my area are, and it made me so furious.   And I know two wrongs don't make a right, but at some point in time, I confess, I found myself stooping to the level of a wee bit of self promotion.  Again, after putting significant time into actually helping these people.

Tell me I'm not the only one?!         ~  Julia

May 29, 2009 01:09 PM
Dana Wilkinson
Connect Realty, The Woodlands, TX - The Woodlands, TX
Broker-Your TX agent for The Woodlands-Spring-Conr

Rich, I didn't know how much I didn't know about Trulia!  It sounds like it has some value to a few agents so I guess it is worth checking out a bit more.  I like the way you tied the incomparable Clint to the post!

May 30, 2009 10:53 AM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Rich, I can't imagine Clint Eastwood giving advice on topics he didn't know about.  Neither should we.

May 31, 2009 04:41 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Rich - I love the post, great job and I am a Clint Eastwood fan. I like Clint's line "This is a Smith & Wesson 44 Magnum, the most powerful hand gun in the world"

Vegas Bob

Jun 02, 2009 12:54 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

hey, go easy on the "answering questions on Trulia Voices from out of region".  Not all questions require a regional answer.  There are plenty of questions that can be answered by any Realtor in the country.

I've spent years answering questions on Trulia (and Zillow), and am one of those who has gained some notoriety as a Top Voice on Trulia Voices.  Just as I've built a following here on Active Rain who value my writing and opinions... I'd gained a followiing on Trulia, based on the answers & advice I've given.

Yes, a question like... "how much should my 2br condo in the Pearl in Portland sell for?" should be answered by a local expert.  But a question like "Do you feel Open Houses are useful?" could be answered by agents from Alaska to Miami...

Jun 02, 2009 01:50 PM
Kristal Kraft
Novella Real Estate - Denver, CO
Selling Metro Denver Real Estate - 303-589-2022

Clint Eastwood rocks and so does the characters he plays! 

Trulia is a great place to get new business, all you have to do is actually ad value and answer with relevance.  So many don't bother to do it, so it's basically a cake walk for those that do.

kk

Jun 02, 2009 03:08 PM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

Alan:   As stated, there are exceptions, and you may be one of them. However, I am curious as to your 'following.' Is it comprised of consumers or fellow professionals, or both? In what sense do they 'follow' you? And has their 'following' resulted in closed transactions?

Jun 03, 2009 03:05 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Yes, it has resulted in closed transactions... both listings and buyers... (as I hope Active Rain will one day) and my "following" primarily consists of people who often "agree" with me... or quote me... or give me online kudos... or simply like my style of answers (many have e-mailed me privately)... as well as other fellow professionals.  I also get a fair share of dislike-mail (I don't wanna call it hate-mail) from those who don't agree with my points of view.

...but my point is... I answer "out of region" questions, when appropriate, all the time.  And I don't do so to try to get business in Las Vegas, Akron, Bethesda or Miami.  I reply when I can adequately answer the question.  When it requires a regional answer, I tend to stay out of it. 

But a question like "What standard commission do Realtors charge in Portland?" Can be answered as "Commissions are fully negotiable and there is no standard" from an agent anywhere in the country.  And it's not an attempt to usurp local agents, nor to develop business in the Pacific Northwest.

I'll accept that I might be an exception (I am, after all, an exceptional Realtor)... but I also feel that there are as many agents answering non-regional questions with acceptable answers... as there are buttinsky agents answering local questions when they shouldn't, in an obvious attempt to drum-up referral business.

Jun 03, 2009 09:30 AM
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

Rich,

I have no problem if Clint is hired to go over to Trulia and clean up the present abuse there. That magnum in his hand would definitely carry some weight.

Jun 04, 2009 12:50 PM