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Some Yodas May Just Be Green with Big Ears

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

YodaRealtors come in many shapes, sizes, personalities, temperaments, experience levels, training and life experience. Picking up a phone book and selecting one may help you select a jewel of a professional to hire, but wouldn't cutting the glamour shots out of the home magazines and pasting them to the dart board and throwing a dart work better? Sage advice is what you want in buying or selling your home. You want a Yoda type. A real Yoda. Someone like ME for example who cares about you. But know the reality:

Some Yodas May Just Be Green With Big Ears.

Ask some qualification questions for your potential Realtor. How will they market your house? What techniques currently are working in the market? How is the market doing? How are you different than the other 1.3 million Realtors out there? Do they even look you in the eye? Do they know how to laugh? Do they appreciate your house? Do they remember your dog's name when you call them back?

There are a lot of cookie cutter questions in books and on web sites about interviewing Realtors to be your buyers or sellers agent. But don't forget the soft intangible questions that relate to the chemistry of you and them that may take you on a months long journey together.

They may appear sage and wise. Just don't find one that is "only" green with big ears!!

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship."     ~ Yoda

 

Mana Tulberg
805 County Real Estate - Camarillo, CA
Real Estate Agent - Camarillo CA

Gary, Great point. Just because I don't advertise in the front page of Homes and Land does not mean I have less qualifications.

Jul 28, 2008 04:44 PM
Dawn Maloney
RE/MAX Trinity Northeast Ohio Real Estate Specialist - Hudson, OH
330-990-4236 Hudson & Northeastern Ohio

That's right - even if an agent has big ears, missing hair and a goofy voice, he/she might just be the best agent for you, despite appearances. Excellent post Gary - you are always so creative.

Jul 28, 2008 04:55 PM
Laura Watts
Positive Properties, LLC - Laurinburg, NC

Hi Gary,

Great post. When I present myself to a client, I let them know I can only speak for myself and I try to give all my clients 110%, but I need their help in doing this. I also let them know I want to work in an honest and trusting enviorment. In other words, no surprises.  This does not always happen though. Sometimes a client's intentions are good but somewhere down the road their integrity goes haywire.......LOL   I work with alot of clients who have been referred to me from a previous buyer or seller and it is easy to say, "Ask your friend about my abilities as a Realtor".  If they were referred by someone else, that should tell them something.

P.S.  I think Yoda is cute....LOL

Jul 28, 2008 04:57 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Dan: Definitely "go for it" words you have come up with. Thanks.

Sondra: Thanks for all your kind words. I'm sure you did fine with the listing. If we can refer people either way if it's a fit it will help us both out.

Myrl: An animated talking Yoda. That's such a cool gift. I like that it made a memory for you and this picture helped bring it back for you. Don't you just love good memories??

Carol: I think your phrase comfort level is a good one.

Mana: Right you are. You are great anywhere you go. Who needs those cover advertising anyway!

Dawn: Even if he or she is green too !! LOL.

Laura: A referral to you from another says those other people highly trusted you. That speaks volumes to how great you are. Clients can go sideways, true, but you can't control that. That Yoda is one tripping dude!

Jul 28, 2008 04:59 PM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Gary - As I grow older, Yoda gets wiser.

Jul 29, 2008 04:10 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Jason - As I get older, Yoda gets cuter - especially more so than some men I know:-)

Jul 29, 2008 04:51 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Gary - I barely remember our dog's name, but, I can rattle off what the market is doing locally, what is selling, what isn't, what the trends have been (sales numbers declining, median and average prices rising, believe it or not).

But, good advice anyway.

Jul 29, 2008 05:02 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Gary:  Love the Yoda analogy, but it's true.  We are not all alike.  And some folks that you think LOOK successful, because of the car they drive, etc. may not really be the person who is the best educated, informed, knowledgable and all around best Realtor. 

Jul 29, 2008 05:55 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I don't have Photoshop on my computer anymore, but if I did, I would scan your head on top of Yoda's body and send it to you!

 elizabeth weintraub sacramento real estate agent land park

Jul 29, 2008 08:26 AM
C Tann-Starr
Tann Starr & Associates, Inc. - Palm Bay, FL

Elizabeth, too funny! ;-)

Jul 29, 2008 08:34 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Jason: You are all the more Yoda this year than last. Very good grasshopper (different show).

Myrl: I knew you went after the Yoda type. I think it is the ears that get him all the women ; )

Mike: Ok, you get a bye on the dogs name but you get an A+ on everything else that is covered.

Chris Ann: They should just hire you and the HECK with all this thinking and analysis!!!

Elizabeth: Oh no, you're getting devious. Don't give some of the Photoshop gurus amongst us like Susan Mangigian or Arina Hanciulescu any ideas, because you know they will take it in run with it : ) If I'm lucky they won't read this comment. If they do, I'm doomed (AGAIN).

Jul 29, 2008 08:34 AM
Sondra Meyer:
EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX
See It. Experience It. Live It.

Yes, I did get the listing.  Your advice to sellers is correct.  Many different agents.  They need to pick someone they feel comfortable with.  Someone they can trust to go the extra mile for them.  This may be a seasoned agent with years of experience or a new person just bubbling over with enthusiasm and time to spare. 

Jul 29, 2008 03:55 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Sondra: I think you definitely got the main point I was going with, which was don't believe all those template web sites that only talk about the textbook reasons of how to pick a Realtor. Much of what they say is true to an extent. But don't dismiss the soft requirements like "great" chemistry. I'm so happy for you that you got your listing. Maybe this time I was YOUR good luck charm.

Jul 29, 2008 04:14 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Gary, I love this post and am so pleased to let you know that I have featured your post for our group. Your post  and link will be in next weeks Best of the Best for the Internet Empowered Consumer. Wonderful!

Jul 29, 2008 06:30 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

William: Thanks for the mention. That is a great Group The Internet Empowered Consumer!!

Jul 30, 2008 03:33 AM
Melody Botting
Broker Associate PenFed Realty - San Antonio, TX
You Deserve The Best

It is good to research questions you need to ask when qualifying a Realtor.  I think you will know in your 'gut' regardless of what those answers are.  Sometimes being green just means you are nauseous.

Jul 30, 2008 03:45 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Mel: Very good one. Hire me. I'm the nauseous Realtor : ) Or will make nauseating comments about the homes you like.

Jul 30, 2008 03:50 AM
Fred Chamberlin
Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA - Oak Harbor, WA
Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant

Gary,  just avoid the dark side. :-D Like you, my experience gives me insight as to what needs to be done in a daily changing environment. Make sure you guide your young Jedi's along the path of the Force.

Jul 30, 2008 03:57 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Fred: Yes, you are right, we must avoid the dark side. Are those the ones in real estate that give the rest of us a bad reputation? Be the shining star. That's what I shoot for.

Jul 30, 2008 04:00 AM
Nancy Larson
I am a licensed referral agent in NJ - Hutchinson Island, FL

And Gary, you are a shining star....just look at the brightness around you.

Thank you for showing the real light on AR.

Aug 01, 2008 12:03 PM