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I'm afraid I've been bribed by a seller...

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

Today is Wednesday, our day to go and tour the new listings.  My husband the car dealer once said, "You real estate agents and insurance agents have it made because you don't own the inventory and have to pay interest on the inventory."  Over the years I've realized how profound that statement is because we are lucky to have huge amounts of inventory of houses and land that we can sell and never pay a penny of interest! 

So the least we can do is try to be familiar with the inventory.  So many agents sit in the office and never know what is out there for them to be selling.  But we oldies and hopefully successful ones are usually out there becoming familiar with the inventory.

I walked into this one house this morning and piled high on the kitchen cabinet was FOOD!  Sausage balls, fruit, crackers, nuts, coffee and all kinds of goodies!!  I was first in so it was all still pretty with labels as to what was there with a nice note saying, "Help yourselves."  So I'm thinking now that the seller had bribery on his mind.  He has flat-out bribed all of us into remembering his house and how nice it was and now how can we refuse to sell it!!  And to tell the truth I enjoyed the bribe!! 

 

Drew Riley
Spa Realty, Inc Team Riley - Hot Springs, AR

Nothing beats a bribe you can eat!!!!

Oct 10, 2007 05:17 AM
Rosemary Brooks
BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA
The Mother & Daughter Realty Team
Bribary will get you everywhere!!!?? Nice sellers, right now you made me hungry!
Oct 10, 2007 05:18 AM
Steve Volkers
SVG Real Estate Firm - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate

I went on tour the other day and they had homemade Cinnamon rolls. I will remember that home and tell my listing to do the same.

Also I would let your husband know that it's not easy putting out hundreds of dollars in advertising on a home and not having the ability to sell the home at the price we want.

Oct 10, 2007 05:23 AM
» Bill Burress Nationwide Mortgage Originator
» Bill Burress Nationwide Mortgage Originator - Fort Myers, FL

Barbara;

You have to compliment that strategy.

Oct 10, 2007 05:24 AM
Jim Barbour
KW Commercial - The James Balliet Commercial Group - Allentown, PA

That kind of bribery is great. Unfortunately, I haven't eaten lunch yet and you just made me hungrier. Chocolate chip cookies freshly baked get me every time!

 

Oct 10, 2007 05:27 AM
Chad Baird
Re/Max Spirit - Dayton, OH
I suddenly have a craving to sell a house and eat a bunch of sausage balls! 
Oct 10, 2007 07:23 AM
Natalie Langford
Realty Negotiations - Winchester, VA
Winchester, VA Real Estate
Now that's an amazing lister!  I bet the house was immaculate and the yard absolutely perfect! 
Oct 10, 2007 07:32 AM
Sandi Bauman
Chico Homes Real Estate - Chico, CA
Chico CA Realtor
I wonder if it was the seller, or the listing agent?  Around here, it's common for the agents to bribe everyone into viewing their listings with food or drawings  :)
Oct 10, 2007 12:12 PM
Donna Yates
BHGRE - Metro Brokers - Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge Mountains
I agree with Drew - "nothing beats a bribe you can eat".  What a thoughtful seller and quite a treat for the agents.  It is nice that we do not have to pay for the inventory, can you imagine!  But we Realtors pay for quite enough as it is.
Oct 10, 2007 12:34 PM
Brian Corwell
RE/MAX Sauk Valley - Sterling, IL
Sterling, Illinois Real Estate

Barbara

Those houses that say food will be served on the weekly tour sheet are

1. Always Remembered'

2 Visited First

3 Visited Often

4 Talked about

Food is the fastest way to get to most agents, yet for some, it still doesn't get them out of the office to see what is on tour.

 

Oh well, it leaves more for me and my office mates.

Brian Corwell

RE/MAX Sauk Valley

 

Dec 18, 2007 08:46 AM
James Downing - Metro DC Houses Team REALTORS®, CRS, GRI, ABR,MRP, MilRes
Real Living | At Home - Washington, DC
When Looking to Buy or Sell - Make the Right Move
That is a GREAT idea.  Better to remember it that way - than the house that had xyz wrong with it...
Dec 18, 2007 10:14 AM