Special offer

... they're not just under bridges anymore..

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

They come in all different sizes and shapes... they seem to be different ages, genders, backgrounds and educations.

Some take a perverse pride in being able to "shake" a professional, and others point with pride to the fact that they can't spell, and wouldn't want to learn how.

What is it with these computer trolls today. You find them everywhere.... they're on real estate websites all over the net... they want to argue with us, and put forward these bizarre theories...

"if your home isn't selling... just INcrease the price"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"If your property isn't selling, try to sell a 50% interest in the property"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And God help me, I can't seem to manage enough self-control to walk away from those threads.  Thus far, I've been polite, and professional... but I can feel my control wavering...

I need a 12 step program... I need to count to 10 (twice)...

And since I'm highly transparent, when I don't respond online, they e-mail me, or phone me direct and try to engage me.

What up with that?  I hope 2010 doesn't turn out to be the year of the troll.

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments(15)

Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

Don't take the bait, Alan.  It is like giving them a pat on the back!

Jan 04, 2010 05:29 AM
Sara Woolford & Steve Golson, ALHS
iTexas Realty Co. - San Antonio, TX

Hey Alan-

This is the year that we must learn to take the Trolls in stride and laugh about their funny hair (your clip art is a little scarier...)! I try to wear sunglasses just so people don't see me roll my eyes!

--Sara in San Antonio

Jan 04, 2010 05:31 AM
Gary Coles (International Referrals)
Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV
Latin America Real Estate

Alan,  I agree -- responding them is just reinforcing their behavior.  They are not worth it.

Jan 04, 2010 05:31 AM
Steve Loynd
Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., - Lincoln, NH
800-926-5653, White Mountains NH

Alan, It is already to late, you didn't get the memo...It is in fact the year of the troll, or was it the goat? I have to pick up a new Chinese Menu so I know for sure.

Jan 04, 2010 05:40 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Alan, I just spent twenty minutes on the phone with a possible troll----very interesting SEO stuff----but probably still a troll:)

Jan 04, 2010 06:06 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Mike - I try... I really do.

Sara - sunglasses may be the answer.

Gary - sometimes it's so hard not to respond

Steve - "the year of the troll"... wasn't that an Al Stewart song

Charles - you can tell by the membership card.

Jan 04, 2010 06:46 AM
Robin Rogers
Robin Rogers, Silverbridge Realty, San Antonio, Texas - San Antonio, TX
CRS, TRC, MRP - Real Estate Investment Adviser

Hi, Alan:

I read some horrifyingly bad advice for home buyers on a Texas real estate attorney's website yesterday. I hadn't thought of him as a troll. That puts it in perspective!

Cheers,

Robin

Jan 04, 2010 08:44 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Robin - it's frightening where you find trolls these days. They're everywhere (echo: they're everywhere).

Jan 04, 2010 09:16 AM
Anonymous
Dunes

Stupid Trolls

 

Alan when you gonna answer the phone or check your emails, we never finished talking about my idea to sell half my house for a higher Price?

Jan 04, 2010 09:58 AM
#9
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Alan:  Just one question ... where in the world did you find the graphic of the troll???  It's fantastic!

Gene

Jan 04, 2010 10:04 AM
John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

Hi Alan - Whenever I run into these situations onilne I simply move on to something else ... quickly! There's nothing to be gained from engaging them.

Jan 04, 2010 10:14 AM
Sandy Nelson
Riley Jackson Real Estate Inc. - Olympia, WA
your Olympia area Realtor

A support group for Troll Controll maybe?

They say if you don't feed them they'll go away, but they really just go somewhere else I suppose.

Jan 04, 2010 10:41 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Dunes - I have my phone set on "auto delete"... LOL!

Gene - I have a subscription to clipart.com

John - I'm not as strong as you are...

Sandy - I think you have it... a troll support group.

Jan 04, 2010 12:31 PM
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

Just take a shot gun and..........BANG! Your job is done :)

Jan 05, 2010 12:40 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Jackie - but that's just soooo messy!

Jan 05, 2010 01:08 AM