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Filming for House Hunters

This is my first post! I want to share my experience in working on HGTV's House Hunters. While I can't give away any trade secrets. I can say the experience was fun and rewarding. Other agents were envious when they heard I was on national television, clients were impressed: "My agent is famous!", and I promoted the episode through the local media to maximize my exposure.

I wasn't selected for the show because I was the most successful Realtor in my area. I was given the opportunity because of my quality website and the internet presence I have in my marketplace. Yes, I had to be able to carry myself in front of the camera, and yes, I was nervous! It was interesting to learn how the show was produced and there was a little acting involved, multiple takes, etc. But the show was good and when it aired, I had a small party with friends over to celebrate.

Bottom line is this: Find a way to position yourself as the expert in your field. Take every opportunity to maximize your presence, like joining Active Rain and writing a blog. The more you do to make yourself visible cannot be a bad thing, as long as it's in good taste.

Posted by Pat Starnes on 07/18/2008 04:32 PM

Comments (4)

active rain, blog, post, experience, successful, realtor, house hunters, internet, real estate

This post has been included in Mississippi Information
Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
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4 Comments on Filming for House Hunters

Glad you had fun. Thanks for sharing. Veronica

07/18/2008 04:39 PM

by Veronica DeCarolis (Weidel Realtors)

Hey, Pat -

Great exposure - can you please send me your autograph. Before it gets too expensive over E-Bay, I mean!

I, too, had a client on House Hunters. Trouble is, the program contacted him DIRECTLY, and he never let me know! (A bit of a toxic relationship here).

All of a sudden, after 60 days on market, he was beginning to follow all of the staging advice I was giving him weeks earlier. After the filiming, of his nearly century-old farmhouse in Oak Park IL - one of Chicago's oldest suburbs - he sent out an email to all of his friends (I got it third-hand, through a mutual friend) about all the great tips he shared with the House Hunters crew.

My thoughts and ideas were never mentioned!

Unfortunately - the house still has not sold - becuase these clients would never tackle one basic thing. (Yeah, you know what's coming, right?) Here it is -

THE PRICE WAS TOO @#*&*(&^ HIGH!

And they wouldn't change it, because their house was now a House Hunters house!

All in all, however, I believe the show has created more awareness as to the importance of properly staging a home prior to sale - but you still need to work on that PRICE CORRECTLY THING - no matter what.

Congrats again on your HH Experience!

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO

07/18/2008 04:44 PM

by Dean Moss - Dean's Team Chicago Real Estate Team (Dean's Team - Keller Williams Fox Realty)

Wow -- cool. It's nice to hear of unique opportunities out there -- good for you!

07/18/2008 04:46 PM

by Patricia Murray (Premiere Plus Realty Co.)

Its' really hard to find clients who are willing to go on camera and give up the amount of time that is required. I'm not really certain that viewers even notice the agent . . . I say this because i am slated to film later this month. So when is your show airing?

07/30/2008 09:20 PM

by Elizabeth Weintraub, Sacramento Real Estate Broker (Lyon Real Estate)

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