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Five Star Agents...Yes....If Agents Buy the Stars !

Reblogger Marte Cliff
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

I think this one is a good choice for sharing on Facebook, etc. Consumers need to know that this kind of advertising is fake.

In addition, it reveals something about the honesty and integrity of the agents who pay for fake recognition.

Consumer beware!

Original content by Sally K. & David L. Hanson 57026-90 Broker

. We thought the days were over with agents...and very worst yet...State Associations touting the "achievements" of "FIVE STAR AGENTS". There is no such thing...no such thing in that your clients don't nominate Five star certificateyou...the communities you serve don't "vote you in"...it is an advertising venue...you can "award yourself a certificate" ..."Buy yourself aFiver star trophy"...Use the "recognition to bolster your image to unsuspecting consumers...but...the reality is...there is no such thing in terms of consumer...Buyer and Seller recognition.  

      It does not belong in a Bio...on a website..in a profile...touted in a resume...it's a manufactured marketing "honor" that is non existent except in the wallets and budgets of agents who have been conned.

    When this "seemingly credible honor" was created decades ago ...we called our clients to see who had put our real estate practice in nomination for the best of the best...no one had.  

  advertising   To maintain your imaginary honor....buy a certificate...or some other piece of "honor-mobilia" and this organization will see that your "status" is maintained. 

    Soooo imagine our surprise when in the most recent of our state association's still paper publication....NINE full pages were purchased by this "award winning group" with newer categories to widen their wallet hungry reach to include Rising Real Estate Stars, Mortgage and Insurance "Professionals."  The claims are amazing...and false...and nowhere can these 2 sets of eyes find where it says on ANY of the nine pages....that this is ADVERTISING not REALITY.  If your state or local association is publishing suc"adver-mation" ....yes another new word to compliment "thinventory" and Curbalicious...Please send them a link to this blog post.  Tell them you don't pay dues to their organization (involuntarily) to have them stoop to this level of non -journalism...non achievement...non award....and have them not identify ...and in fact Dignify such blatant abuse of any production by any industry.

    This has been what we hope is an educational post for our industry and those allied industries taken in by this organization...don't count yourself among those who have been duped. Amen and Women. Sally K. & David L. Hanson, Broker Associates, EXP Realty, LLC.

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS


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Comments(9)

Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

You are so right!

There is no such thing...no such thing in that your clients don't nominate you...the communities you serve don't "vote you in"...it is an advertising venue...you can "award yourself a certificate" or "Buy yourself a "...Use the "recognition to bolster your image to unsuspecting consumers...but...the reality is...there is no such thing in terms of consumer...Buyer and Seller recognition

Jul 04, 2019 11:33 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Sham Reddy CRS I shared this on Facebook, and wish other people would too. Consumers should be informed.

Jul 04, 2019 11:57 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Thank you for the re-blog Marte Cliff ....most disturbing to us was this a NINE PAGE "disguised as article" in our state REALTOR publication with no indication it was advertising...I have sent them a link to this post...guess I will do it again and again until someone pays attention.

Jul 05, 2019 01:56 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Sally K. & David L. Hanson You're welcome. I think it's important for consumers to know this is false. That's why I shared your post to my Facebook page. Shame on your REALTOR publication for not disclosing that it was paid advertising.

Disclosure is big in real estate, so your state association should set a better example.

Jul 05, 2019 11:58 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Oh, I'm so with her on this one - it's mind-boggling that agents think that the consumer actually believes them! I suppose there are some who do though - sadly. As I told Sally, I have been harping on this for years and believe me, when I'm talking with new customers, they don't get this 'pseudo noise' from me.

BOY, do I hear some stories of other agents touting this 'honor' as well as many other fictitious honors and/or designations. It's truly nauseating - and to the consumer too! They should be ashamed of themselves.

Jul 05, 2019 02:27 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Debe Maxwell, CRS I'm glad you do harp on it. Really, there's no reason why consumers should know that it's all bogus. All they see is advertising and an occasional news report about the market. If those awards did exist, they wouldn't be in the news.

They might stop and think "No one ever asked me!" but that's what I think about the political polls - no one asks me!

Jul 05, 2019 04:22 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Sally and David Hanson's post was an excellent choice to share, Marte.  I had not seen it when they originally posted it.  I agree with their assessment about those types of awards.  Some agents choose to simply work with fewer clients and offer really quality care.  Others are more interested in putting cans on the shelf than good service.  So, who really is providing the best "Five Star" service to their clients?

Jul 07, 2019 06:51 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Marte, great post to reblog, and have never "bit" on this fake advertising.

Jul 11, 2019 11:15 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Myrl Jeffcoat Touting awards that aren't really awards just makes agents look foolish.

Joan Cox I'm not at all surprised that you haven't!

Jul 11, 2019 12:43 PM
Joan Cox

When they refer us to their family, colleagues and friends, it means SO much more!  

Jul 11, 2019 12:45 PM