Special offer

You're so Vain I bet you think this post is about YOU...

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605

 

I LOVED this blog. It was funny and witty.  Sometimes  I wonder what some agents are thinking.  I certainly am not shy about marketing myself.  But when a house is on the market - it becomes about marketing the house and not the agent. Yes, I put contact information for potential buyers - and a web address that leads the potential buyer to  web page devoted to the home.  But that's about the house - not the agent.  Once the sign is in the ground - the marketing should be about topic at hand - the home.

 

 

Original content by BethAnn Long 77217

This is going to be one of those : " Gee, why don't you tell me how you really feel  posts!

Question: Should I have my photo on my signs?

( My ) Answer:  Absolutely NOT.


Here is my reasoning behind my very opinionated answer.

1, It is not about YOU. It is about the HOUSE.
2. Nobody cares what you look like (ouch did I say that outloud?)
3. You may not be as good looking as you think you are.
4. Somebody who looks like you may have recently been featured on Americas most wanted.
5. You may lose weight and want to throw darts at your sign.
6. You may start a following of  weirdo's who think you are sexy.
7. You may cause an accident when your highschool sweet heart drives by.
8. You may become the target of color experts debating on whether or not you are a " Summer".
9. People may actually think you look like that.
10. Somebody might walk by and draw a mustache on you.
11. Your butt does look big in that suit.

12.Would you want some ones picture plastered in front of your PRIVATE PROPERTY?

 

TRUE STORY: There is somebody in my general location that sports a FULL BODY size sign in front of their listings wearing her 1982 beacon red suit with extra wide lapels. I can no longer drive down that road- which happens to be an arterial because my children start " nerping" and pointing at her sign and I nearly drive off the road. What is NERPING you may ask? Laughing until you cry at something that is not even funny. Laughing at nothing, and/ or laughing until you make yourself sick.

I realize I may have offended somebody, but I think somebody has to bring this tacky practice up for discussion.
I am guessing that Realtors do this because they think they look like such a trustworthy top producer that everybody who drives by is going to say:
" Honey, we should fire our slimeball good for nothing agent and hire that nice lady who looks like she just walked out of church !"
or..." Dude, that chick is hot and I bet she even knows how to text so I am going to see if she can find me a place to crash".
OK...a few more comments and then I will lay my case to rest.

  • Your name and agency should speak for themselves.
  • I don't see any of the top agents in my area doing this.

If you DO have your photo on your signs and you can tell me how wrong I am about this, don't be afraid to speak up! Let me have it! I can take it. And if you change my mind about this, I will literally send you a picture of myself on a coffee cup or maybe even a magnet!

P.S. Parting thoughts: There are plenty of places where your picture SHOULD be. Just not trying to UPSTAGE the house you were hired to sell.

I am a HUGE BELIEVER in marketing yourself. Just not in on the YARD SIGN PLEASE!

BethAnn Long ~ Spokane Realtor, Tomlinson South Inc.

...there's no place like your home!

www.BethAnnHomes.com

Comments (7)

Pat Champion
John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL
Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

We were debating this at the office the other day-I too believe in marketing the house not myself-some agents feel seeing there face helps others remember them. I guess it is all in what you want to belive.

Jan 28, 2010 06:52 AM
Paul Collins
Colorado Altitude Real Estate & Investment, LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Park County -11 Mile Reservoir - Colorado Springs Realtor

I completely agree with your comments on this narsasitic display of one upsmanship of the agent over the home.  If anything I believe the public will avoid an agent using such practices at all costs in any future transactions.  Might be a family member that just couldn't say no.

Jan 28, 2010 06:56 AM
Sara Woolford & Steve Golson, ALHS
iTexas Realty Co. - San Antonio, TX

Hi-

I can think of markets where this might work, especially if you can manage the celebrity effect.  Red power suit form  '82?  I had no idea that Nancy Reagan had a real estate license!

--Sara in San Antonio

Jan 28, 2010 06:59 AM
DEBORAH STONE
Balboa Real Estate San Diego, CA - San Diego, CA

I graciously disagree. When I moved to San Diego in '97 I was surprised (and put off) that Realtors had photos on their biz cards. In the Northeast, that would be considered "egotistical". However, the longer I lived here, I realized that tasteful photos on biz cards, marketing materials and signs added to the "branding" and recognition which I think is a really important part of our business model.

 

Jan 28, 2010 09:21 AM
Karen Rice Keller Williams Real Est
Keller Williams Real Estate - Hawley, PA
Northeast PA & Lake Wallenpaupack Home Sales

OMG, I hate agent photos on listing signs!  It's bad enough when they put them on their car magnets...but the listing sign is too much!

Jan 28, 2010 03:00 PM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

Hi Pat,

I agree. I'm not at all shy about marketing myself.  But once I have a listing - it becomes about the PROPERTY not about ME.  On the flip side, if people see that I market the property well - and don't engage in garish displays of self-promotion - maybe, just maybe, they will give me a call when it is time to sell their home. Hmmmm.

Hi Paul,

I wonder if it actually works in a positive way??? Who knows?  I just think its inappropriate.

 

Hi Sara,

Funny - I was thinking Nancy Reagan too!

 

Jan 28, 2010 05:08 PM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

Hi Deborah,

I dont have a problem with business card photos - as long as the photo isn't 30 years old!  But having but on the listing SIGN particularly as large as described?  I don't think so.

Hi Karen,

Its over the top in my opinion.

Jan 28, 2010 05:11 PM