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Is Your Car A Reflection Of You??

By Barbara Todaro

Services for Real Estate Pros with RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired 104763

August 04, 2011 05:54 AM

Does what you drive work to your disadvantage? Many people are judged by the vehicles they drive. Most real estate agents have the mentality that they need to drive a luxury vehicle in order to promote themselves as successful real estate agents.

Clients will make a mental note of what you drive, and they will decide at some point if that vehicle fits the person!! There are situations where the luxury vehicle becomes counterproductive in your quest to close a client. That client may feel that you are making too much money and should be participating financially in their effort to secure a home.

The real estate agent who drives a modest vehicle may not be an attraction to some potential buyers or sellers. That low end price range of vehicle may relay the message that business is not booming for this agent. Potential clients want to work with successful agents.

I always had two vehicles. One was a SUV (always a Jeep) and the other was a luxury vehicle. Depending on the price range of the potential buyer or the magnitude of the home of the potential seller, I would decide which vehicle to drive!! We can’t be everything to everyone, but we can try!!!

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Eric Michael

Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI

Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Hi Barbara. I'm rocking a 2008 Ford Explorer right now. Had a H3 Alpha before that and a F-150 pick up before that. I fully understand what you're talking about. Each one got different looks.

Aug 04, 2011 10:43 AM

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Eric....I think it's very interesting to see how clients react to different vehicles....

Aug 04, 2011 10:55 AM

Anita Clark

Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA

Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

I have an SUV. I've yet to run into a buyer or seller that was interested in the type of vehicle I drive, but I know they are out there. Good post Barbara.

Aug 04, 2011 11:00 AM

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Anita....they are definitely out there and you've been fortunate to have not run into that situation....

Aug 04, 2011 11:24 AM

Loreena and Michael Yeo

3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX

Real Estate Agents

A book I read several years ago taught me MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT WHAT THEY DRIVE. Especially in a place called Frisco TX because everyone is keeping up with the Joneses. The only sad part is that the Jonese are broke themselves.

In my 2nd month of full time real estate taught me alot of IMAGE. Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, it's part of our culture and the world we live in.

However, I want to be true to myself and only I can be the judge of that. If I cant afford to pay for it in cash, I dont say I can afford it. I dont make car payments either. Hence, I just drive a paid for car, on what I can afford. It's important that I too, stay true to myself.

Aug 04, 2011 11:40 AM

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Hi Loreena....that's a good way to live....if you can't pay cash for your car you probably should not have bought it.....few pay cash....I don't like loans....I always thought that was an Armenian thing....I also own mine with no loans......I just the mercedes last year....my children have loans...I wish they didn't.

Aug 04, 2011 11:52 AM

Dr. Paula McDonald

Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX

Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

I just drive what I like with the mindest of having a car that is large enough and comfortable for my clients. More importantly, I keep it clean inside and out.

Aug 04, 2011 12:06 PM

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Paula....clean is very important.....I knew an agent who had all of her files in her car....the back seat looked like the town dump.

Aug 04, 2011 12:18 PM

Anna "Banana" Kruchten

HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ

602-380-4886

When I first started (87) I had a little chevy cavalier - and a 2 door to boot. It was always very clean inside and out. I did pretty good that first year or so. I quickly upgraded to a four door but still a chevy. Then I got into more fun cars and have loved it ever since. I love my little lincolm mk- whatever it is - just plaind drives nice and it doesn't look to fancy and the back seat is great for clients. I also have a truck in case we're going out further somewhere - horse properties need big boy trucks lol.

PS Ihave no idea of what happened to the typeface......must be that big boy truck joke messing with me. Can you read this?

Aug 04, 2011 01:21 PM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

I was just looking at my xterra the other day and thinking "that's starting to look a little old, time to trade up!".

Aug 04, 2011 01:24 PM

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Hi Anna....I can read it....I always have a Jeep because I go through mud and snow and icy readways that are not paved.....

Cynthia....you go, girl.....buy that Lexus.....

Aug 04, 2011 01:35 PM

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD

Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Barbara, I wrote about my special car in 2007and am still enjoying it. It is my signature.

Margaret

Aug 04, 2011 02:39 PM

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Margaret.....that's a great story.....but I'd expect nothing less from you.....all of your stories leave me with a smile....

Aug 04, 2011 02:43 PM

Praful Thakkar

LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA

Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Barbara, it should not be important to client what car I drive - and you are right, human mind thinks many different ways! The clients may want to know what car I am driving.

The buyers don't know about this at the first visit since I invite them to my office - and in front of my office, they'll see Mercedes and Toyota :-).

Aug 04, 2011 03:01 PM

Rita Fong

RE/MAX REAL ESTATE TODAY, Executive Broker 901-488-9590 - Marion, AR

Realtor - Marion Arkansas Homes for Sale

Barbara, in our small town, there are many people judge what others drive even if they are not real estate agents, haha. I drive a Sequoia, my ciients love it, it is so roomy and comfy inside.

Aug 04, 2011 04:15 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Barbara, I drive a Lexus IS 350..changed it up from the IS 250 after I had a 6'4 client squeeze into the front seat..and it really had no leg room in the back. The 350 is a nice comfortable car to drive people around in and there's more leg room. I'm not naive enough to think that we are not only judged by how we look..but also by the car we drive. To me, the most important things in a car are roominess for my clients, good on gas mileage, neat and clean (always working on that one) and a navigation system! Thinking my next car will be a hybrid of some sort.

Aug 04, 2011 05:22 PM

Carol-Ann Palmieri

RE/MAX Executive Realty, Al and Cal Realty Group - Franklin, MA

"Cal" the Real Estate Gal

Hi Barbara. Folks may think it doesn't matter or shouldn't, but it does. We worked with a guy one time that drove a foreign job up to the home of a GM worker. Didn't get the listing. May not make you change your vehicle, but lesson learned. It does matter.

Aug 04, 2011 11:40 PM

Jackie Connelly-Fornuff

Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY

"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

I know of an agent that wants to buy a Jaguar. I told them that in our blue collar area, that will hurt you. If you want to get luxury home listings, then you have a chance. If you saw what I drive right now, you'd laugh, lol. I have to find the time to buy a new car.

Aug 04, 2011 11:59 PM

Conrad Allen

Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA

Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Barbara - I have always driven the best vehicle I can afford. I work in a blue collar town. I had a potential client ask "what kind of a an agent drives a Cadillac Escalade"? I told him a very successful one. It broke the ice and he later became a very satisfied client.

Aug 05, 2011 06:15 AM

Tom Bailey

Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

Barbara, It is much easier here in the south. Almost every family that has more than one vehicle has an SUV or a pickup. You find a lot of very rich people where the husband drives a pickup and the wife drives an SUV. You will also see a lot of very wealthy people that have nothing but SUVs. I drive a very nice top of the line 4Runner that will work with anyone.

Aug 05, 2011 10:59 AM