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REALTOR ® Sleaze

By Brett Weinstein

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Realty Advocates

October 02, 2007 06:06 AM

In the October 2007 edition of Realtor Magazine, published by the National Association of Realtors®, the trade organization to which most real estate people belong, there is a section called “Cool Tools.” This is what is promoted as a “cool tool”: Thriving Office

"When customers call, have your home office project the image of an established, successful company that is bustling with activity. Play the Thriving Office CD in the background to bring the sounds of an office to your home. The CD features two 39-minute tracks, "Busy" and "Very Busy," and contains such sounds as ringing phones, typing keyboards, and mumbling voices. $12.95"

Isn’t this great. The group responsible for instilling the “Realtor Code of Ethics” to its 1,366,869 members is endorsing fraud. Brett Weinstein

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» Bill Burress Nationwide Mortgage Originator

» Bill Burress Nationwide Mortgage Originator - Fort Myers, FL

Brett:

I wouldn't call it fraud, but I get where you are coming from. I used to have an audio track of a phone ringing on my computer. If I was talking to a friend or even a long winded customer during the work day and the conversation got too long, I had to work, I would click the phone icon and the audio of the phone would ring. I wouldn't say anything about the phone ringing. The person on the other line would say, "Do you need to get that?." Of course, I would say Yes.

Oct 02, 2007 06:12 AM

Simon Conway

Orlando Area Real Estate Services - Orlando, FL

Brett - this is disgraceful! Is this a NAR product or merely something they have agreed to advertise? I am shocked - but somehow not shocked all at the same time. if there is a link, I would be interested to see it.

Oct 02, 2007 06:16 AM

Mary Warren

Las Vegas, NV

I can't imagine anyone using 'canned background noise'...I like peace and quiet when I'm talking with someone...not even music.

Oct 02, 2007 06:18 AM

Debbie Cook

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc - Silver Spring, MD

Silver Spring and Takoma Park Maryland Real Estate

I wouldn't call it fraud either, but . . . . come on . . .who would pay $12.95 or anything .95 to have busy noise in the background?? Maybe someone that would buy this is trying to give the "perception" that they are active and the market is bustling in Real Estate or maybe for a much needed EGO boost? - BEATS me! But I hate to hear a lot of background noise when I call someone.

Oct 02, 2007 06:21 AM

How about just saying:
"Hello, it's a great day at Ready Realtor's office" , how can I help you? Better than paying for noise!

Oct 02, 2007 06:24 AM

Anonymous

Brett Weinstein

No, its not an ad. It is a product that someone reviewed, and by virtue of publishing it as a "cool tool", endorses.I don't have a link, but it is one page 29.

Oct 02, 2007 06:27 AM

I found the link. Click below:

http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.NSF/pages/buyersguidecooloct07?OpenDocument

Oct 02, 2007 06:32 AM

John Lockwood

Lockwood Real Estate - Sacramento, CA

I have a CD in my office that plays sounds of me not blogging.

Oct 02, 2007 06:51 AM

Thanks Brett - I will be using this on my radio show this coming weekend. I broadcast to Central Florida every Sunday at noon on 540WFLA and it can be picked up on line at www.540wfla.com

Oct 02, 2007 07:13 AM

I need to correct myself about something: at the very bottom of the magazine page, in light gray very fine print, it reads: ""NAR doesn't evaluate or endorse these products..."

Come on: the column is called "Cool Tools." Someone at Realtor Mag made the decision to promote this product. The fine print disclaimer is meaningless.

Oct 02, 2007 07:25 AM

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