-
Quick Tour
Connect. Share. Learn.Welcome to ActiveRain, the #1 social community for real estate professionals.- Explore the world's largest storehouse of real estate knowledge
- Access free training on ActiveRain University
- Share the experience of life in the real estate industry
- Grow your business through real estate blogging
- Blogs
-
Resources
Product Reviews Curious as to what others in your profession think about a certain product or tool? AR's community takes the time to leave honest and transparent reviews of their experiences so you can be a bit wiser about your purchase.
- Broken down by categories and subcategories for easy finds
- Get an unfiltered look at what real users are saying
- Leave a review yourself for others to benefit from
- Add new products as you use them and gain points for doing so
|
Posted by 
;)
;)
Find NC real estate agents and Mooresville real estate on ActiveRain.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
© 2013 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
102 Comments on What does your CAR say about YOU?
Diane, love your topic.
I have a two seat convertible that I drive whenever I feel the urge. Other times I use my Mercedes. People have a tendency to drop by my office whenever they see my car parked in the parking lot out front.
It doesn't make a difference on the type of car you drive, the difference is how you treat people, your integrity, and if you are respected.
I wish you a wonderful Christmas!
I like my vehicle Texas sized. I did have a vegetarian, card carrying PETA member client once who owned a Prius. As much as I annoyed him we are still friends. He is getting beef jerky for Christmas this year. :)
Hello Diane! We agents in New York City don't drive buyers around, often we travel by subways, taxi cabs or car service. Though there are agents like to show off around in their posche or sexy rides... In my personal opinion, in this market, we as agents must be and act humble as the rest of the country is going through some financial hard time, but showing off in luxury cars not only does not seem approrpriate, it may sometimes turn some people off. Good going on your pirus, at the end of the day, we are attracting clients and customers who are most like ourselves, so without showing ourselves, how would we attract anyone? :-)
Happy Holidays
My Honda mini van tells my clients that I am practical, down to earth, sensible, and a family person. Never, ever will I purchase a car to "be impressive."
My next car is going to be a Honda Fit. Why? Because it will be roomy enough for my family and will get over 30 m.p.g. Sometimes I drive more than 200 miles PER DAY.
I don't buy into the "image" nonsense...if my vehicle is clean and I am professionally dressed - that should be good enough.
Diane - Oh boy, you don't want to see my car;) I loathe driving, which is precisely one of the reasons I wouldn't make such a good agent. I'm a buy cash and drive them into the ground type of guy. You do have a point here, though. Especially considering the bulk of your business is driving folks around showing them properties.
The car is meaningless. I have a Mercedes SL and my business partner has a beat up SUV. We both bring in about the same amount of business. I bring in no more or less before I got the crazy expensive car, and he the same when he went from an expensive car to an SUV. It is all about the relationship and the car does not bring or lose business.
My car says I'm practical and I don't live above my means. My car says I'm comfortable and not pretentious. It says I'm a smart choice. It tells people that I'm loyal to my country.
It tells people that I'm not perfect, but I am reliable...I'm not the biggest thing on the road, but I'm not a pushover either. It also says that I'm willing to get a little dirt on me...if that's what it takes to get you where you want to go.
My car says I'm a real person.
Diane- I drive a Lincoln and have for many years. When I parked my Lincoln for something more reasonable in gas usage (it also needed some other work). I found a lot of my clients asking me why I would not get another one. It kind of was my trademark. So after about 9mos of people asking I decided to get another one. The response from my clients has been great.
I'm with you Diane - Got my Prius this past August. Still have the Toyota Sequoia SUV that seats eight - and I still need that at times, but I am amazed at the positive comments I get with the Prius. Put my brokerage logo on the two front doors and my website address across the rear bumper and it's a standout. I had the publisher of a local newspaper in the small town I live in (Boulder City - a neighboring town to Las Vegas) come up to me and ask me to do a regular column on real estate for his paper - just because the car with the logo caught his eye!
Thank you to all who wrote comments since the 22nd. I appreciate your input and sharing about your own cars! I'm off to reciprocate !
Diane~
I had to laugh when I read the part of your story that recounted how your clients said that --"as soon as they saw my Prius they knew they would like me"...good going !!!! You have found the secret of authentic GREEN that buyers recognize right away.
I went into real estate when my sons were 12 and fourtenn- and they asked if I was going to get a black BMW, because that is what realtors drive in the movies.
As it is, I have a Honda CRV with over 110,000 miles on it. And no one has ever said they didn't want to work with me because of the car I drive!!
I love this story, it really makes sense to me, I would have the same reaction to a Realtor in a Prius... I understand the concept that clients want a successful agent (or stager) and so all the hi-end cars make sense... but I just can't care about cars in the sense of status symbols and, frankly, as a stager... my car needs to work as hard as I do - schlepping... I have the CRV like Carol Lee and it works for me but, oh, to have a hybrid or electric or anything green... I would be in heaven. and if this year they develop a really good alternative that has a lot of cargo space for my inventory, i will be proud to follow in your footsteps! Good job, Diane.
Hi Diane - I had to comment when I heard what the Michigan family said!!! That's awesome! My "boss" has a Prius and I have been known to get real jealous, almost ready to kill, when he spent as much on gas as I did on a cup of coffee!!! ( great story!)
Myself, I drive a '97 Olds...I call her Christine (remember the movie!) because she has a mind of her own. But I am well attached to her and she is extremely sustainable!
She's been around a long, long time and hopefully for many more!!! I replaced my 11 year old battery - original - just last year! Now THAT's sustainable!!! And she looks real classy, too!
I don't like to link on other's posts but if you care to you can read about a field trip Christine and I took last fall!!!
Great Blog!
I know alot of Realtors who swore by their 'flash' cars, their image! I think some of them are sleeping in them now - sad but true! I have had clients pass remarks about other Realtors vehicles, such as the car must be a substitute for lack of personality or self worth. I drive a Chevy HHR which is perfect for our business. Great mileage, fold down back seats for signs and posts, plus it fits 2 dogs & 2 sets of golf clubs! Great post and great comments too
Best advise I've heard (beyond reading Shift) is to get rid of credit cards and car payments...I drive a BMW, but unlike a couple comments above, I own it, no car payments. My car is 9 years old and my clients see me as having a smart business mind, not trying to impress with a new car every 24 months. I'll drive this car until it dies. It's at 150K miles, so I think I have another 100K to do before I'll pay cash for my next car.
Impress your clients with your knowledge, not a car (unless your car is making a statement with an eco-friendly car)
Thanks for the heads up!
I love your post. I am in the market for a new car. I have a Cadillac Escalade and love it - and my husband is going to take it over and I am looking to get a new sedan - I would really like a Prius however sometimes I just dont think it is going to have enought power to get me where I need to go in our Ozark Mountains!!! I am considering other larger ones - the Lexus Hybrid... I am just looking for good ideas of best cars for Realtors. I do think when I went from my not so nice car 2 years into the business to my Cadillac that my sales grew. I think it had to do with my confidence over people liking what kind of car I drove though...
Hi Diane-your blog is still getting good mileage! Just started looking for a new car and I had to find out what the community scope was.
Best