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Strangest This That's Happened To Me In Real Estate, So Far.

By
Real Estate Agent with Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI

Strangest This That's Happened To Me In Real Estate, So Far.

I received my real estate license in the Spring of 2005.

There have been a lot of ups and downs odd happenings over the years in my real estate career, but the strangest one that comes to mine is...

I was a fairly new agent, trying to figure out this whole real estate thing. Didn't know how to find clients or really what to do with them once I did find them.

I had an idea! I had my business card design printed on a few giant magnets.

I drove a pretty new Ford F-150 Fx4 at the time and thought I'd put the magnets on the doors and tailgate to advertise my services.

Magnet Advertising

I drove around like this for a few months, then something happened.

I didn't realize it until the next morning, but when I was out with some friends at a bar and grill the night before, someone actually stole the magnet off of my passenger side door. (That's why I didn't notice until the next day).

I went back to the bar and talked with the owner, and he offered to look at the video surveillance tapes. We couldn't tell anything because, of course, I parked farther out in the lot so that anyone coming through would see my advertisements.

I was pretty bummed about having to replace the magnet, so I took the other 2 off. I didn't want to look "lopsided."

That's when it got strange.

I got a call from someone who wanted to buy a house.

We talked for a while and determined that we could move on to the next step: a buyers consultation in my office.

He came in a couple days later and guess what? He handed my magnet back to me.

He sheepishly said, "Sorry about that. I had a little too much to drink, and my buddy (who was driving) didn't have anything to write with, so I took your magnet so I could contact you."

We both laughed about it and eventually he bought a house with me.


Amada Slade
Island Realty of the Lowcountry - Beaufort, SC

Hi Eric,  what a great story.  I had one of my magnets stolen too but I never got a buyer out of it.  Good for you and thank you for sharing.

Oct 14, 2012 09:41 PM
Thom Abbott
MyMidtownMojo.com |770.713.1505 | Intown Atlanta GA Condo Living - Atlanta, GA
Midtown Atlanta GA Condos For Sale

Gotta love the fact he actually called you and RETURNED the sign! 

Ya see, there ARE still decent people in this world.

Oct 14, 2012 09:47 PM
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

That's pretty funny!  I like to turn those things upside down.  There was an agent in my old office that had them, and any chance I got I would turn them upside down.  :)

Oct 14, 2012 10:20 PM
Kim Boekholder Utah Real Estate/ PECO
Results Real Estate 801.580.5624 - Draper, UT
Broker Results Real Estate/Leasing Specialist PECO

Love it!!!!!!!!!!!! Now thats a happen ending. Congratulations on the great night out and the sale the results from it.  You just never know where your business is going to come from.

Oct 14, 2012 10:35 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

So you have a magnet that actually physically and literally attracts clients?...I would like to borrow that Eric.....Lets talk

Oct 14, 2012 11:33 PM
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

THAT is hysterical, Eric! Glad it had a happy ending.  :-)

Oct 14, 2012 11:48 PM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Eric,  Well, no harm, no foul !

Oct 15, 2012 05:07 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living
Hi Eric, I guess that was a good enough reason to take the sign. Glad they had good intentions and returned it with a sale! You just can't make this stuff up! :-)
Oct 15, 2012 05:17 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Eric, This is too funny!! Glad you sealed it with a sale.

Oct 15, 2012 06:29 AM
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

HAHA! That's a fantastic story, Eric. I think we're going to look into buying some big magnets for our cars, too!

Oct 15, 2012 07:32 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Now that is some calling card. It would be a little expensive if he hadn't returned it.

Oct 15, 2012 10:56 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Hi everyone! Yeah, my story turned out to be a good one, but let me answer a few questions...

1. If you have something on your car, magnet or otherwise, the sun will fade the paint differently.

2. People that take them off, put them back on, will end up scratching the paint. Goes 100 times more for those of you who don't own the car and are just screwing off. Dirt collects around the edges and it sucks when someone "slaps" a giant, dirty magnet on your vehicle. Trust me.

3. I never put them back on. First because of the reasons above, second, I realized that I didn't want to be "that guy."

If you want to use magnets, I'd never tell you not to! Just make sure you're doing it right.

Thanks for ALL the comments!!

Oct 15, 2012 11:07 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

That is funny!  I had one of those magnets on my car until a cop recognized me and pulled me over for speeding, since he'd seen the same magnetized car speeding earlier in the day.  No more magnets.

Oct 17, 2012 05:25 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Featured in the group:  BARTENDER, MAKE IT A DOUBLE.




Oct 17, 2012 05:26 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Chris Ann, I actually gave a description of some vinyl lettering to the police last year from a truck I saw. Turns out it was a getaway car from a robbery.

PS, thanks for the "feature!"

Oct 17, 2012 10:30 AM
Joy Daniels
Joy Daniels Real Estate Group, Ltd. - Harrisburg, PA

That's a crazy story with a good ending! :)  We have "wrapped" our van, after reading your story I hope no one trys to peel it off! :)

Oct 17, 2012 12:37 PM
Mark Artesani
Keller Williams Realty - Fountain Valley, CA
Huntington & Newport Beach, Fountain Valley Homes

Eric,

That is a great story. I guess I can hope that someone will return the one I lost that way. We were given them at my office. Thanks for the tips about using them too

Oct 18, 2012 01:59 AM
Mark Montross
Catamount Realty Group - Burlington, VT
Listing and Buyer Specialist

That is a great story. You just never know what to expect sometimes. Thanks for the laugh.

Oct 20, 2012 01:28 PM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Joy, there's only one car in our area that I know of that's wrapped. And I've heard it's the secretary to a "team" that drives it.

Mark, hope you get a client out of the lost magnet!

Mark, you're welcome. Anything can happen in this business.

Oct 21, 2012 10:21 AM
Peggy Hughes/pha logistix, inc.
pha logistix inc - San Francisco, CA
SF NYC LA

That is one great story!  And, thank you for giving me reasons to NOT put magnets on my car :D

Oct 24, 2012 10:21 AM