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I'm a Real Estate "VIRUS"

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL 481.010183

Brande Bradford wrote a blog titled "Are we Like a Virus"  

I hope this next statement does not impair our fellowship.......but.... I AM G U I L T Y..... been exposed!  I AM that VIRUS Brande is referring to!  I tell E V E R Y B O D Y about Real Estate  EVERYWHERE I GO!

Please don't be disgusted with me Brande....but i do not pass up opportunities...i use them.  Now, i do not believe in throwing stuff at others disrespectfully, however in conversation, i simply ask:

  • Do you know of someone looking for an apartment or house to rent?
  • No? We sell and list homes also....do you know of someone looking??
  • You do?  Well, perhaps you can give them my card, ask them to call, and we'll try to help them!
  • By the way.... we manage properties.... if you know of someone needing this service......
  • We are licensed in Indiana as well....great investment opportunities there...
  • Ever consider becoming licensed in Real Estate?  We could use a little help....

Usually, whomever i'm speaking with tells me they know of at least one person.  I'm given the information of that person or leave my card or do BOTH.  Now, it is not necessary to go through the entire list because once the  first question is asked,  the responses received determines how i need to proceed.  More times than not, i get a very  interested participating audience!  They end up taking the lead asking ME the questions!

Just yesterday, i received an email from someone who sent me a list of houses she was interested in seeing.  She ONLY wanted ME to service her based upon what i said to her boyfriend whom i met at a fast-food restaurant LAST YEAR!  He was impressed with what i said in my "groupie presentation".... (sharing an impromptu inquiry with everyone waiting in line.)

We have a new rent-to-own homeowner from infecting her with a small dosage of this vemon at a skating rink!  Owners of one of our managed multi-units caught the virus from my husband's effort. (I suppose that would be called a "MALE-ICIOUS" virus) 

Last week, a gentleman who owns 15 homes in partnership telephoned me about listing all of his properties.  I met him over 2 years ago at the local ministry he heads for men.   He remembered  what i shared back then .... hmmmm ..... must have been that undetected bacteria waiting for certain configurations before appearing! 

We get approximately 35 to 50% of our clients as a result of me opening up "my big mouth" and spreading this fungi wherever i go!

YES! I'M GUILTY OF BEING A VIRUS!!

  • WARNING:                                                                                                                                                                 
  • HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS!!                                                             
  • ALL IN CONTACT WILL BECOME CONTAMINATED!!     
  • NOT CONTAINED BY QUARANTINING!!
  • NO PROTECTIVE PATCHES AVAILABLE!!
 
Debbie Malone
Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA
From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369
Diane you are a riot! Have you ever thought of starting the 'Diane Rice School of Self Promotion?' I'd sign up in a heartbeat, I need the infection!
Mar 04, 2007 10:27 AM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC

Debbie!!!!!  You are my biggest fan!!!!!  Start a school????  KEWL!!!!!  Sign up here:

 

MEMBERSHIP ROSTER FOR THE DIANE RICE SCHOOL OF PROMOTION FOR THOSE THAT NEED A BOOST!

1. _____________________________________ 

2. _____________________________________

3. _____________________________________

4. _____________________________________  

Hey Debbie, kidding aside.....it's wonderful people like you that make my Active Rain membership so rewarding.  Thank you for reading, commenting, supporting, and understanding. BTW....i consider your posts to be of high quality and very informative!  So glad to know you...!

Active Rain ROCKS!!!!!!

Mar 04, 2007 10:43 AM
Brande Bradford
Keller Williams - McDonough, GA
Realtor

Diane...

Dont get me wrong, I dont mind sharing what I do, and Chris and I have made a real game out of it.  I can totally dig the fast food contact, etc.

What I am really getting at is the person who has told everyone 100 times what they do and still find it necessary as soon as someone walks in the room ATTACK them again!

Get me outside of my circle of influence (because they all know what I do and will come to me when they need my services) I will get crazy with my marketing and approach people who look at me like I am crazy.

Craziness is  a GREAT thing!!

Mar 04, 2007 10:49 AM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC

Brande!!!!  I knew what you meant!!!  Our children are grown and gone,....this is all we do, and it's what we enjoy!  It's become our child now. 

Your situation is quite different and i do respect and admire what you are establishing at school!  I think it's wonderful, and i commend you for it! 

As i was reading your post though, i spied MYSELF in it..... that little hidden virus about to spring out....which inspired this post!!!  Thanks Brande!  You made me do it!!!!

Mar 04, 2007 11:31 AM
Debbie Malone
Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA
From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369
Diane you're so nice, glad to know you too! Actually with my husband being the cheerleader he is, I should sign HIM up for the class, I'm sure there's some angle for promoting me he hasn't thought about yet! He was at a crew dinner last night (in Alabama), I was on the phone with him when I heard him say 'you sold another house? My wife's amazing, did you know she just sold another house? Do you want her to add you to her mailing list?' I don't have to tell anyone I'm a Realtor with him around!!!
Mar 04, 2007 11:41 AM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

Hey Diane,

Gotta agree with you on this one.  Viral marketing is survival gear if you're a real estate agent...at last count, I believe there were about 1.3+ Million of us, that means approximately 1 out of 90 people is a real estate agent.  While, I don't believe in being rude or obnoxious, (agree with Brande's comment there) I do believe people should know what I do to earn an honest living.  Can you imagine a lawyer or doctor not wanting people to know what they do?  

Mar 04, 2007 11:42 AM
Chris Bradford
Bradford Realty Group - McDonough, GA
Bradford Realty Group: Henry County, Georgia

Hey,

We aint much at pestering folks, but we don't mind getting the whole family involved.

The Kids at Work

That is actually the girls the first time I met them. I had them make up those signs for Brande's home based business and I put them out on a street corner. Today? I am trying to convince them to wear clown suits and stand on corners holding signs pointing to open houses.

-Chris Bradford
Bradford Realty Group

| Click Here | To vote in our Active Rain Members Poll.

Clayton County, Georgia, Commercial Real Estate

Mar 04, 2007 12:15 PM
Brande Bradford
Keller Williams - McDonough, GA
Realtor

LMAO....Chris, they are going to hunt you down in the middle of the night and paint your toenails different colors again for posing this picture!!!

This picture is about 7 years old.

I have thought about standing on the edge of the road holding signs myself, never know what kind of response you might get.

HAHAHAHA! I need to email this to them so that they can see you put this pic out for the world to see. I would say your dead meat!

Mar 04, 2007 02:24 PM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI
Way to go! I may have to try your method. My "Vulcan Mindmeld" technique hasn't worked yet. Thanks.
Mar 04, 2007 03:01 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Way to go Diane, I too get most of my business by simple starting conversation with strangers.  My husband is alway amazed at all the people I know, it is just my personality.

Love the way you put this post together and the little viral man is rather cute

Mar 04, 2007 10:21 PM
Craig Schiller
Trempealeau, WI

Diane... your a VERY SICK girl!  LOL

I bet you were one of those kids in school that always got in trouble for talking too much?

Am I right?

Infest It Forward...

Me

Mar 05, 2007 02:38 AM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC

Debbie:  I can identify!  My husband promotes me also - he's so proud of me.  It's great to have understanding spouses isn't it?

Lola:  This is so ingrained in me until i start to speak without thinking first....it's like my natural language - nothing coined or canned - just my regular language! 

(Having rentals makes me an exception - folks are always moving and i try to put the word out there as a service for THEM!)  Thanks for your affirmative comment.

Chris!!!!!  ah ha!!!!!  so YOU are the virus eh???  LOL!!!!  toooo funnie!! You are a natural born merchandiser!!

 

BRB 

Mar 05, 2007 08:32 AM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC

Brande!!!!!  NOW JUST LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE STARTED!!!!  You guys are hilarious!!!

Wayne:  DO IT!!!!  I encourage you.....it's wonderful....you never meet a stranger this way....and guess what? it's a cure for the common "cold-call" 

Jennifer:  In this business, if we don't "speak-up" we'll "lose out"  I'm glad to hear you have support from your husband too!  You know, i did not plan to make this post...it just kinda came together as i was making a comment on Brande's post.....it just start getting longer and longer.....so here it is!  I thought the viral man would fit to make it complete...glad you liked it!! (he sort of resembles me when i'm "caught up" yapping away)

CRAIGGGGG!!!!!!   Mannnnn i laughed so hard....!!!  Listen....so ya think you got me pegged eh??  WRONG!!!

I was so shy and insecure in school because we were super poor and i just did not fit in.....later on in High School i learned to do funny things to get attention (i was starved for affection). Of course, i did not dress correctly, so i improvised and tried to excel at other stuff.....perhaps that's when my boldness kicked in.  I suffered many humiliating jabs......anyway....i'll have to write a post!  To summarize, all those things helped to shape what you see here!!!! Ain't that great???????  Kewl!  Love you Craig!!

 

 

 

Mar 05, 2007 08:56 AM
Craig Schiller
Trempealeau, WI

OK you were a CLOSETED EXTROVERT!

See I WAS right after all. YOU just didn't know it.

Me

Mar 05, 2007 10:15 AM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC

roflol ROFLOL ROFLOL!!!   CRAIG!! CRAIG!!! 

You really know how to make a person feel right at home!!!  i just luv ya!

Hey...thanks for that "HUG" you gave to Lynda for me!!! 

 

Mar 05, 2007 10:41 AM
Alexander Harb
Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX
Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

I miss our phone talks, sis...

Maybe you, me and Brian could do a 3 way call someday and minister and pray for each other!!

=-)

Mar 06, 2007 02:50 PM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC
This morning, i was just thinking i needed to call you!  Let's set it up!    12:00 noon my time would be great!
Mar 06, 2007 11:39 PM
Sanela Sells
Coldwell Banker McMahan - Bardstown, KY

Diane,

I think thats great .. in this business you need to have a big mouth :) rock on!!!

Mar 08, 2007 05:53 AM
Alexander Harb
Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX
Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

Geeze Diane... how many hours away ya live from Orlando FL? This is gonna get complicated hmm?

=-)

Mar 08, 2007 06:46 AM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC

Sanela!!!  Thanks for your vote of confidence!!!  Yes!  i will rock on!  Blessings to ya!

Alex:  don't worry just call - or i will 

 

Mar 08, 2007 07:10 AM