Special offer

How much does FREE cost........can you afford it anymore

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with CELLing Realty CalBRE #01445865

As Real Estate Agents, Stagers, or anyone else that works in the Real Estate Field we try to find innovative ways to Market ourselves, and try to let people know that we are working in their area.  But seriously now, how many times do we use the word FREE.....isn't that the word everyone wants to see.  Advertising.....buy one, get one FREE. 

How much does FREE cost

 

Magnets, notepads, pens, water-bottles, calendars. etc.  OK, granted some people actually use these......

How much does FREE cost

 

 Newsletter....just sign or click here........

How much does FREE cost

 

E-mail .....just fill in this box......oh and we just might sell your info, or at the very least we will Market to you, or our affiliates will.

How much does FREE cost

 

 Software,or Photos from the Internet.....but our FREE program might just have spyware, or adware that comes with it. Or if you're real unfortunate you might get a Trojan.

 

When looking for the FREE things in life.....look past whatever "thing" is advertised as FREE.  Look for opportunities to enjoy FREE time with  family and friends; for opportunities to enjoy the FREE gifts life has given you.....but most of all, look for opportunities to share a FREE smile, or a FREE word of encouragement. More people will remember these FREE behaviors than all the magnets, pens, and calendars you could ever distribute to Market yourself. 

 

FREE can really be FREE.....it's all up to you.........

 

 

 

By: Kathy McGraw - CELLing Realty

 

Comments (28)

Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC
Hi Kathy,
The best things in life are FREE....they just require time, thought and perhaps a little effort.  A smile, a kind word, listening.....yes, as you said...these are the things people remember and appreciate. 
I like this post!
Jan 31, 2008 10:58 PM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Kathy,

To me the buzz word 'FREE' ia as scary as 'ONE STOP SHOPPING'! Thanks,   Fran

Feb 01, 2008 01:14 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Todd & Danielle-Yes, it can peak our interest.....try Googling the word and see how many you get, and that's where we are with some of our Marketing :) I was shocked at the results......

Michael-I think sometimes experience can change the way we view this simple word....me I automatically look for the Catch....as I "assume" there might be one.

Mary- You said it .....perfectly :)

Linda- Ouch.....that one hurt. And the family/friends one.....heck we only have one life, there are no take-overs :)

Gail- Yes, the free things you mentioned are the ones that to me are priceless......

Feb 01, 2008 02:11 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Neal- Isn't that the truth....and my Baby-Boomer eyes don't always see that tiny print......or go to a website, and instead of just clicking "I accept" actually read it.  There was a great site (forget for what) and I was very interested, but somehwere half way through the terms and conditions were all sorts of conditions I didn't agree to....so I skipped whatever it was I was trying to get for nothing :)  Yep, many times we really should read the terms......just like in Real Estate.....read the contract!

Brian-you stated , "You often get what you pay for and free isn't much."  That's it, and depending on the generation we were born in.....we have differing views of this.

Ted- Hi there.....I was wondering if you have been OK....hadn't seen you around (and thanks for making a picture for me awhile ago....although then I wasn't ready for the change )

For our subject on this Post you stated,"You may or may not get what you pay for - but you will certainly pay for what you get"  I like that :) :)

 

Cynthia- Time and Effort.....people remember those.  Think of Volunteering, and how many times others say "Thank you"  because it means something to them.  Volunteering at a school, a lunch program for Seniors, Habitat for Humanity.....pretty much anything that really touches someones life.....that's what's important.

Fran-I like seeing your name by Cynthia's.....2 wise souls near each other :) Have you googled the word Free.....I forgot which phrase I used when I thought of free costing too much, but the results were shocking.  I don't like using this as a buzzword.  Although obviously it is very effective if used correctly :)

 

Feb 01, 2008 02:30 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Kathy, I loved this post!  Yes, I often take advantage of the free offers for magnets and pencils but I sure do take advantage of the fun times as well...spent with family and friends.  That's pricesless.
Feb 01, 2008 03:38 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
Well, ActiveRain is the one FREE thing in my life that has been rewarding...other than that...groceries..buy one and get one free is a good thing. :)
Feb 01, 2008 04:10 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Carole-I'm glad that you see the benefit of both, and I am assuming, by your comment,  that the time with family and friends is higher on your list of importance :) 

Sally- OK, Miss Active Rain...I think we can all agree (68,000 of us) that this free blogging platform is indeed rewarding.  But you do have to invest in it....time, energy, expertise, compassion, empathy, and integrity.......so in a way it is Free, and in another way it costs something .......

Semantics I know.....but think about it.  Would you value this site as much if you hadn't met friends, if you hadn't gotten to be known in your area for your Professionalism, if you hadn't received clients from your Blogging?  Do you want your clients, and others to think that you just magically post those lovely articles, or that you actually put time and effort.....a little work, and thought ....into each and every Blog Post that you do?  You put yourself in those articles.....and YOU are not Free :) :)  The advice, and wisdom you are imparting to the General Public all came at a cost to someone.....and that would be you :)

Feb 01, 2008 04:51 AM
Audrey June-Forshey
RE/MAX Realty Services - Darnestown, MD
GRI, Gaithersburg, MD

The word FREE does play on our minds.  Buy two and get one FREE?  Well, I wouldn't have bought the other two in the first darn place.  All I know is I got the third one FREE!

 Fun post as always!!

Feb 01, 2008 06:00 AM
marti garaughty
garaughty.com - Montreal, QC
a highly caffeinated creative type...

 Hi Kathy, I'm a firm believer that I get what I pay for, quality costs something. I do appreciate some freebies like shareware(trial offer) that lets me try it out for 30 days and then pay for the full version if I like it but...

 Most freebies come with too many strings attached, especially online.

Feb 01, 2008 06:13 AM
Anonymous
Renae Bolton ~ Marketing 4 Realtors

Kathy -

I have to say that this is such a true post!  I can't count the number of conversations I've had with clients about "free" stuff.  Magnets, calendars, sports schedules, etc. - many realtors use VistaPrint or some other vendor to get them for free but pay to mail them out to their contacts.  I counter - do the recipients actually use them or toss them?  My realtor sends me many of the same things and I always toss them.  Although we live in Cleveland, Ohio, no one in my family is a fan of the Browns or the Indians or any other Cleveland-based sports team.  So we don't ned that stuff.  I get so many calendars that I have no where to put them!  So I toss them.

And the "free" software - yes, there are so many strings attached, it really isn't worth it!  What about the "free" websites for realtors??  As one of my clients so aptly put it "the site itself may be free but how much is it going to cost me to make it actually work for me?"  Also, when my clients say they don't want to pay for certain things (regular mail mailings, etc.), I always ask them what the advantage is for them to send everything via e-mail and the typical response is "it's free."

You are so right in directing people to look at the small print.  Nothing in life is really free - just love and happiness!

~Renae - Market 4 Real!

Feb 01, 2008 09:33 AM
#18
Vickie Barrington
Bluewater Real Estate - Atlantic Beach, NC
Carteret County Real Estate
You are right Kathy, be aware when something say free because there usually is always a catch. The things in life that are most precious are free.
Feb 01, 2008 09:58 AM
Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
Gee, I wish agents would stop advertising "free market reports" and "free market analysis of your home".  Who charges for these anyway?
Feb 01, 2008 10:04 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Audrey- I'm laughing at that comment.....yes how  many people buy extras just to get the one FREE...and of course they probably don't need them either :) 

Renae- Sounds like you have had this conversation more than once :) :)  I'm curious though when you've had the conversation on the magnets, calendars, etc. what do your clients say?

Vickie- I try to be aware of the "catch" as you say but sometimes it's hard to spot......Reading the terms is important.

Eric-Amen friend, amen.......In fact I am going to check my websites and make sure this comes off of everything. 

Feb 01, 2008 04:37 PM
Joseph Lang
Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Home Inspector, Southern California
Kathy, great post once again.  Maybe the best things in life are free... family, friends, hugs, kisses, smiles, etc.  :-)
Feb 02, 2008 05:57 AM
Ryan Martin
Pacific Continental Realty, LLC - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Commercial RE Broker

Kathy - Come on now, you can't get anything for FREE. It all costs in time and energy, if not money too. Never the less, nice post. 

BTW: I am back from my ActiveRain break ;) 

Feb 02, 2008 12:33 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Hi Joseph-  I like your FREE list.....those are my picks as well :)

Well hello again Ryan.....so where have you been?  So are you trying to say that FREE is not necessarily FREE :)

Feb 03, 2008 03:09 PM
Andrew Monaghan
The Monaghan Group - Glendale, AZ
CRS, GRI, EPro Associate Broker
Free can be a double edged sword, You may end up owing more than money.
Feb 03, 2008 03:42 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate
Andrew- That's a good way to say it....and once again, watch out for ads that say FREE :)
Feb 03, 2008 03:48 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Today I got to enjoy one of the greatest free things in life. I was helping a listing agent show a home and the couple had a 4 month old little girl. My joy was talking to that little girl and getting her to laugh and smile. There is nothing like a babies giggle and it comes free and from the heart.

Feb 15, 2008 04:12 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate
Todd- Funny, I read this and answered....but I must have answered in my mind only LOL :)  Ya know what that means.....more gray hair :)  Seriously.....the gift of a childs laughter is one of the greatest gifts in the world.....
Feb 25, 2008 04:29 AM