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DING DONG DITCH'EM or AKA "BAREFOOT REALTORS of RIVERSIDE"

IMG_2220small.jpg picture by usccheergrl6

Have you ever had one of those days when something wasn't quite right but you couldn't put your finger on it? It isn't like anything is going wrong, something just doesn't feel right.

Well, I remember one of those days as I was preparing to meet a client. I drove to their home in Orangecrest a subdivision in Riverside Ca. As I am walking to their door I get that something isnt right feeling. I ring the doorbell while going through a mental checklist . (1) Presentation Materials - Check - (2) Listing Agreement - Check - (3) Business attire - Check - (4) Barefeet - Check - (5) On time - check- (6) Camera - Check - BARE-FEET !!!! No Not Bare-feet !! SOAKING BARE-FEET with Grass-blades stuck to them !

What was I going to do?? I already rang the bell. here they come...

"Hello Oh, What a beautiful Home You Have" I'll say

"Thank you" My client will say "please come in. Do you hear a splish-splash? "They'll say

"No 'I'll reply, "What is that interesting art piece UP THERE on that shelf?"

No good, I need a different plan.

"Hello, I am Windy of Barefoot Realtors of Riverside. You know our slogan "If we can walk barefoot in it we can sell it, because it is not just a house it's a home that's comfortable lived in feeling...

No, I need a different plan.

DING DONG DITCH'EM Yeah that's it!

And That is exactly what I did.

I ran to my car............. jumped in........................ drove away before they answered the door..........As soon as I rounded the corner I grabbed my cell called my clients......... explained something unexpected arose and I would be a few minutes late.

Well, let me tell you ever since that day I have had a new preperation list and at the top SHOES !!

Although ....I woooonnnnder.. Does Barefoot Realtors of Riverside have any openings?

Posted by WINDY HIXSON~Riverside Ca~Tarbell Realtors on 03/22/2008 01:50 AM

Comments (47)

riverside, orangecrest, ca, barefoot, barefeet, barefoot realtors of riverside, not quite right, ding dong ditchem

Post is included in group: Door Knocking, Walk Abouts and Other Neighborhood Experiences
Post is included in group: Adventures in Real Estate

47 Comments on DING DONG DITCH'EM or AKA "BAREFOOT REALTORS of RIVERSIDE"

MAR

2008

Windy - tooooooooo funny! How about keeping an extra pair of shoes in your car, just in case!

I dont mind taking my shoes off to enter homes where its culturally proper but I hate going into a home where the folks are clean freaks and make you take your shoes off because of their expensive carpet or whatever. We have six kids and I like a house with a down home feeling -- and I dont get that barefooted.

Funny story though :)

Mary: YEP ! I Have Learned to have 2 pairs of shoes in the car. 1 pair of walking shoes For earthquake

safety. The other a nice neutral low heel dress pair just in case I drive barefoot again and leave my shoes at home.

Randy: Thank you for your compliment about my story. Living in Ca there are a lot of cultures who ask you to take off your shoes when you enter their home. I also understand the white carpet reason. I wish we could have had 6 kids. We only have 4. I changed my white carpet to wood floors for that reason.

Windy that was hilarious. I can't remember ever forgeting to put my shoes on, but I have forgotten things like the offer (I thought my partner had it and she thought I did). So did you get the listing?

Windy- That is too funny! I guess I should be happy I live in Chicago, if I forgot my shoes I would freeze (1/2 of the time). I have the same question as Charles--did you get the listing?

MAR

2008

Charles: I am glad this story made you laugh! Sometimes we need to do that in our business.

I am sorry to say I didn't. My guess the reason was the commission.

Laura: I go barefoot all year long,Even in the winter. If I have to go out to my car (outside in the drive)

late at night in 40 degrees, I just slip on flip flops. There are some very successful agents in the Riverside area that wear flip flops to their clients open houses, listing interviews etc. I would really freeze in Chicago.

Thank you for taking the time to comment on my story

Oh my Windy... Lucky for you they didn't see you drive off. Keeping a spare pair of shoes can be handy... Have had do keep a pair handy when showing new construction after it has been raining.

ROLAND: Yep, I was lucky, I parked way off down the street. You keep 2 pairs of shoes in your car too?

MAR

2008

HI Windy

It was a funny and cool story to hear, Im from s.cali myself and hate to wear shoes almost never do unless I have to and it happened to me few times that I forgot to wear shoes. Latest one was a friends birthday. How about at work and other places do you go barefoot? stores,, out to eat and other places? I will be acctualy looking for a place in Riverside maybe once the house prices level off.

MAR

2008

To s.cali: Isn't it amazing how many people go barefoot? I didn't know it was still popular. I have not gone to church or other public places barefoot yet. Once I did lose my shoe way under the dinner table at a restaurant. I had 1 of my kids duck down to find it. Now onto house prices out here in Riverside. The repo and short sales are getting sold now, in fast some homes are getting multiple offers. The loan rates are still low right now. Give a call when you are ready to buy. Thank you for commenting on my story.

I will for sure let know about a house soon.

www.barefooters.org a great site to join free to join for barefooters

NICK: Thanks for the site. How fun it is! I also drive barefoot. Now I know its not against the law to do so in Calif.

anytime, no its not iligal to drive barefoot. Why dont ugo barefoot in publi c more and be urself will help u relaz more. Do u go anywhere barefoot overall?

Windy

Just wanted to thank you for the kind words on my Newbie post! Any help is great! Best wishes to you!

Christina L. Moad

Windy, how funny and embarrassing. Having just been out to Riverside, maybe I need to add shoes to my list.

Windy - That is hilarious - I flagged it. I have showed up with 2 different shoes on, but never barefoot! When I first got my re license in Ca, I interviewed 4 brokers in one day in my new suit. When I got home, I discovered that I had all of the price tags still on it and hanging down my arm.

MAR

2008

BOB: Yep, it was silly. When did you visit out here in Riverside? The next time you visit don't forget your flip flops or cowboy boots. We still have lots of horse country out here.

Virginia H.: HAA HAA HEE HEE !! You had me laughing so hard I was crying when I read your story. I can just picture it a beautiful new suit with tags HAAA HAA I am still laughing. NOW THAT is really embarrassing !! Did you write a blog on it?

P.S. I just read what a red flag means( I thought I did something wrong) THANK YOU !!

OMG this is GREAT!

I've never gone barefoot but I HAVE shown up wearing two different shoes. No, not two similar shoes, like a square toe black pump and a pointy toe black pump.. but a black loafer and a brown loafer!

Unbelieveable...

I love it - the barefoot realtor. Will Barefoot of Riverside like to open a branch in New York? Just today after caravaning to open houses and taking off our shoes half the time, we determined pedicure season is upon us again.

Windy, you are TOOOO funny. I have worn a navy shoe and a black shoe at the same time, but never forgotten them completely. That is hilarious! Elizabeth

Hi Windy,

Anyone who can weave such a charming story of a previous experience certainly has little trouble charming Buyers and Sellers alike. Great site. I truly enjoyed reading your information. I felt as if we held a conversation. Lots of luck.

Derenda Grubb

CENTURY 21 Bessette Realty, Inc.

Lake Charles, LA

MAR

2008

KAREN:This is soooo much fun! That is way funny ! 2 different colored shoes HAAA ! HAAA ! That makes me laugh too! I havn't done that yet. When did you discover your mistake?

JESSICA K: HUMMM ! Barefoot Realtors East . Sounds like a great idea ! Lets go shopping for toe rings!

Windy, I did not notice it until I was at the office. I had this nagging feeling that something wasn't right, something didn't FEEL right...and then I looked.

Horror, is the best way to describe it.

Utter and complete horror.

Thank GOODNESS I didn't have any upcalls that day!

Windy, I did not notice it until I was at the office. I had this nagging feeling that something wasn't right, something didn't FEEL right...and then I looked.

Horror, is the best way to describe it.

Utter and complete horror.

Thank GOODNESS I didn't have any upcalls that day!

Elizabeth:You did the same thing as Karen! 2 different colored shoes HEE !HEE! You gals are funny ! The black shoes are the common theme with both of you. When did you discover your shoes didn't match?

Derenda G: Thank you very much for your kind words. I appreciate your taking time to read my story and making feel like we are already friends.

KAREN: You are a blast ! Your very funny! I read your profile and you are a very creative writer! No wonder you have so many points !!!

LOL now that is a classic... just what I needed before bed. I can see it in my mind!

WILLIAM: At least you will go to bed laughing. It's much better than nightmare on elm street. Thank you for reading my post.

Windy,

I love the title! And the comment above that says "I can see it in my mind." You create word pictures.

Mike in Tucson

Hilarious! Thanks for the laugh. I am going to remember the title to use on my next listing presentation when I get to the front door & the house is less than "stellar" shall we say.

The funniest thing that ever happend to me was I got my high heel stuck IN the front porch deck & couldn't get it out before the seller came to the door. My butt was backed up to the front door trying to pull my brand new heels out of the deck crack, he opened the door, I went backward. Oh hello, I'm Lyn, here to list your house! OK, he said, your already in the house. Let's get going. I should do that more often!

Wendy you have a wit about you! I have just read your blogs and laughed and smiled. I love your writing style! I have actually done the whole forgot my shoes things once before. But it wasnt selling real estate. What a great story!

To your success,

Susan

I was waiting for you to tell me there was a bag of something horrible set on fire and left for the home owners to stomp out upon finding it on their steps (after hearing the bell), unfortunately that is what ding-dong ditch was when we were kids. Thanks for being a grown up (shoeless or not).

MAR

2008

MIKE J:Thank you for coming over to read my story. I had my daughter-in-law take a picture of ringing the doorbell. Then my daughter added the picture to my blog. You see, I took your advice. I appreciate learning from the body of A/R.

LYN S: HAAA! HAAA! HEEE! HEEE ! You just made my Friday night, I am laughing so much I am crying.

I had to go to your site to see what you look like so I see in my mind what you did ! Now, thats really

embarrassing! I think someone should write a short story of all our answers here.

SUSAN D: Thank you for letting me know that my story added a smile moment in your life. What is your story of forgetting your shoes?

Steve L: I am glad that you finished my story to find out it wasn't a bad thing. You sure played with a rowdy type. When we played it was only to ding & ditch ! Maybe boys play it differently than girls.

APR

2008

Windy, Very funny story! I wish more women went barefoot at work...lol! Wouldn't just be easier to carry a towel in your purse? That way you can remain barefoot and clean your feet before going into the clients house. That's an idea for all you barefooters out there. Thanks again, I'm so glad I stumbled across this blog.

Glenn

APR

2008

Glenn: Thank you for stopping by to read my story. I would be happy to be able to wear flip flops to work during business hours. Maybe I should start a brokerage of "BAREFOOT REALTORS of RIVERSIDE".Then we could have hand towels with our trademark stitched on them. Thanks for the idea!

DEC

What a great story. Have you seen these new gizmo's where you put your foot into a box like contraption and it comes out with a little bootie on it? It's really something...too fancy for this horse person. But, it works for those situations where the seller's are extremely fussy.

If we all told our funniest stories we'd have a great film script, eh?

Loved the blog. Loved your candor....love this business! Happy New Year. Robin

DEC

Happy New Year ROBIN !!

Thank You very much for reading my story. How did you find it? I haven't heard of the bootie box yet, Is it on infomercials? I really appreciate your positive feedback on my barefoot experience. It is a fun career! Never the same always different. Like a roller coaster. Next time I visit my friends in ID I would love to drop by to say"hello"

JAN

lol. too funny!

I'm colorblind and I always wonder if everything matches...

I almost wish you would have went inside and tried the barefoot approach just to see what would have happened! It's 30 degress in Salt Lake today. Don't think any agents are shoe-less today.

Great work!

JAN

To KEVIN:

BBRRRRR ! 30 degrees.That is way tooooooo cold for me. Maybe you could

start a barefoot agent group in the summer? Thank you for taking the time to read

my story. I am glad it gave you a laugh for the day.

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