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Were You Licensed Right After High School Graduation?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Executives

Graduation Cap and Diploma

 

No?  Then why does your promotional material have a photo old enough to be you as a high school senior?

My husband and I have been licensed 33 years.  Many of the people who started about the same time seem to be using the same photo ever since they were licensed.

When we see their ads in local publications we wonder what the person who responds to their ad thinks when they meet them.

People I meet regularly comment, "You look just like your picture".  My secret is simple - I have my promotional photos replaced professionally every three years or so.  It's a relatively small investment and it tells the world I am not trying to deceive anyone.  It doesn't have to be done professionally as long as it is fairly current.  I just don't do snapshots well - I close my eyes at shutter time.  I've been using the same photographer for years and he tricks me into keeping my eyes open :)

How can we expect prospects to trust us if the relationship starts out with deception?  I am a firm believer in "What you see is what you get"

 

Karen Kruschka Business Card

 

Comments(56)

Margaret Mitchell
Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty - York, ME
Seacoast Maine & NH Real Estate

 

Huh!  Mine is one year old.  I've had clients say "Just like your picture!" so I guess I'm good.  Good advice, Karen!

Sep 12, 2009 07:14 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Margaret  You don't need the reminder  Karen

Sep 12, 2009 07:26 AM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Ut Oh...

It is in the Newsletter. Maybe I should delete Baby TLW. Naah. She's kinda cute :)

TLW...ROAR!

Sep 12, 2009 08:16 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

TLW  Absolutely not - that is a trademark and not an attempt to deceive  Karen

Sep 12, 2009 08:26 AM
Bill Lumpp
Century 21 The Combs Company - Rocky Mount, NC
Realtor, GREEN

Karen,

Too funny! We have another kind of agent around here... we call them "secret agents" they have no picture at all ANYWHERE!

My picture is 4 years old and I think a casual picture is due for me also.

Thanks for the reminder.

Bill

Sep 12, 2009 10:07 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Bill  Casual is good if it fits your lifestyle - a current photo is what is important  Karen

Sep 12, 2009 10:56 AM
Alisa Stone Herring
Stone Real Estate Group, LLC - Panama City Beach, FL
CRS, GRI

I love this post...we have an agent here in town that when she walked into my office....I had NO idea who she was AT ALL....it was crazy....So I agree with your post! It is very true!

Thanks for the laugh!

~Alisa

Sep 12, 2009 10:57 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Alisa  That is not at all unusual - funny but unprofessional  Karen

Sep 12, 2009 11:00 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Karen, sad but true.  One of the saleswomen in my office did a cute thing where she attached all her previously taken real estate photos and then sent a letter to her clients that said:  Which agent did you buy a house from?  I thought that was a cute way to get mileage out of your old photos!

Sep 12, 2009 12:01 PM
Mark Velasco
West Shores Realty - Whittier, CA
Top Producing Broker Associate

Great point Karen. It is funny that people do not look at all like their photo. It looks like they are too cheap or too lazy to upgrade their photo.

Sep 13, 2009 10:39 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Mark  You're right - all of the above  :)  Karen

Sep 13, 2009 10:51 PM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

That is one of the funniest jokes in the office...is that your high school photo? Because you cannot recognize the person in the ad or business card.  We up grade our photo every 2-3 years like yourself!

Sep 14, 2009 01:18 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Jim  Most people who age with maturity do change their photo  Karen

Sep 14, 2009 01:23 AM
Ed Vogt
Midwest Properties of Michigan - Grandville, MI
Grandville, MI Midwest Properties

It really amazes me when I meet some of these agents in person for the first time - I'm really taken aback.  My hair is a little shorter now, but I'm not very photogenic, so I'll probably wait to have my pic updated.

Sep 14, 2009 02:46 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Length of hair isn't the problem - it's the accumulation of wrinkles, weight, etc  Karen

Sep 14, 2009 04:15 AM
Jami Van Den Bogaert
RE/MAX House of Brokers - Springfield, MO

I have frequently wondered the same. Too bad I am not creative enough to think to write a post about it.

Sep 14, 2009 04:06 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Jami  It took me a long time to think of it  :)  Karen

Sep 14, 2009 10:43 PM
Jo-Ann Cervin Serving your Real Estate Needs!
Easy Street Realty - Las Vegas, NV

A picture says a thousand words!

Sep 24, 2009 06:14 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Jo=Ann  At least  Karen

Sep 24, 2009 11:22 PM
Art Kruschka
Administrative Manager - Manassas, VA
Manassas Woodbridge Dumfries Real Estate Sevices

Karen I am aware your reports on Woodbridge are an integral part of your market strategy to be current on many facts throughout Prince William County. The obvious goal is to provide your clients with the very best possible representation and blog posting is an excellent method and may include posts about other interesting locations or subjects in our area

Sep 26, 2010 11:02 AM