Should You Take Real Estate Advice from a Republican?

<SIGH>  I received a phone call last week from an agent I did not know who was looking for a referral to list her friend's property in Birmingham.  Until then I have never had anyone ask me if I was Democrat or Republican when considering whether to hire me.  I guess I should not have been surprised, but I sure was!

Well, I didn't think it had any relevance and told her so.  Looks like I'm getting the referral anyway. :o)

Interesting stuff.  I submit that to build relationships, a cornerstone of SWS, you have to be yourself.  Sometimes people will not like that.  But unless you take it personal, it won't be personal.

Be you.  Be Great.  (I know you will, just thought I'd say it anyways.)   The right people to be in your world (business, hobbies, life, etc) will work themselves into your world and the others will work themselves out. Sounds like a "SuuuWeeeet" plan!

I would have never have pinned you down politically before.  I am far to the right and those that read me know it.  I think you have to be who you are.  I deal with lots of people from the other side.  I think it is those that are insecure who are afraid to discuss things.

Blogging is about being authentic and as long as you keep it that way, so be it with those who don't agree with your post (regardless of its content, political or not), it's who you are and thank God we live in a country where you can still express your views with liberty, it'd be a scary place otherswise.

Crum...I have bought homes, cars, clothes, and vacationed with those on the other side of the fence (politically...that is).  Sometimes the things my close friends say about politics makes my blood boil...but it doesn't stop me from using them in their area of expertise.  Part of the beauty of living in America is expressing our thoughts freely without worry of retaliation.  I feel sorry for those clients/friends of yours who wished they hadn't done business with you because of your views politically.  Their loss...

You know all of us work with people we know and like.  So do our Clients, which is why everyone discourages discussing religion and politics publicly.  We have to live with what we put out here...

You asked for it by bringing politics up, this post from The Onion cracked me up. It's funny because it's TRUE (of people on both sides)

Should you take real estate advice from a Republican?

While politics definitely has an effect on the real estate market, I don't believe that one's political affiliation has that much bearing on how they do their job. I mean, would it matter if your doctor was of the opposite political party from you? Of course not!

Jennifer- I am a person who is extremely conservative in personal beliefs, values and principles yet when it comes to politics and government I am a libertarian. I believe in SUPER limited government and free markets and Capitalism. ANd I think you already know that from reading my blog. 

I get hired as a coach and as a realtor by some of the most liberal people even here on active rain. I also invite their debate anytime on my blog. Polarizing your audience is the best thing you can do for your business and for your soul. Your company name has the word SOUL in it. Your soul has a voice. And never let some screaming people shut you up or shut you down. That is their MO. THat is what hateful people do. We must not respond by cowardice. 

I made a comment on Ruthmarie's post about what would I do if I were the President and she agreed with me on most everything. Isn't that a shock to most people who know her views and my views. 

THat is because politically I will not force others to do what I do. I would do many unpopular things for conservatives and liberals alike. Both parties are wrong, both parties are bad and both parties need to be fired or reinvented. Dems want more bigger social programs and the stripping of individual liberties, GOP wants bigger government for military and stripping of liberties. The only answer to free markets is less government. The only answer to abiding by our constitution is less government interference in our lives and our businesses. The only answer lies in freedom. Benjamin Franklin was very wise: People who trade security for liberty deserve neither. 

But I will tell you that I do not understand how any entrepreneur and that means real estate agents can be socialists or communists in their political views when that goes against exactly what they are doing: selling private property to private individuals and getting paid a commission for doing so, running a company, paying expenses and working for a profit. Hmmm, an oxymoron to say the least. I do understand it if they are giving 90% of their profits to the government, if they work only for the pubic good and not thinking AT ALL about paying their bills, if they are NOT working for commissions and if they are working for Fannie Mae leasing division, :) 

I am just SO tired of all the quick-on-the-trigger folks who want to label everyone with Left or Right, and then assume they know that person's stance on every current issue. If the sum total of all your opinions puts you a bit left or right of some imaginary "center", I really don't care. I am interested in your well-reasoned opinion on each issue - that's the only way I'll know if I should consider changing my mind on that issue. Jennifer, keep up the good work!

After listening to a lot of politicians at every level for the last 60 years, I have yet to find even one that I agree with 100% of the time. I don't even think that we should always do what's best for all the real estate agents - we might want to think just a little bit about the rest of the country. All the divergent issues, as commenter #6 said, keep me from being a member of either camp. At the rate we are becoming more polarized, my next of kin will probably have to pick out a red or a blue box to put me in, under a red or blue tombstone, on the right or left side of the road in the cemetary. And the only good thing about that is that I won't care! 

Seriously, I hope that we as a country can get back to the issues. There's lots of opportunities to make this a better country.

Hi Jennifer.

Do you vote? In Florida we are a closed primary state so must declare our party before voting in the primary.

"Florida is a closed primary state. If you wish to vote in a partisan primary election, you must be a registered voter in the party for which the primary is being held. However, if all candidates for an office have the same party affiliation and the winner will not have opposition in the general election, all voters, regardless of party affiliation may vote in the primary election for that office. In addition, all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, can vote on issues and nonpartisan candidates in a primary election.

All party changes must be made by the end of the 29th day before the election."

http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voting/voting-info.shtml#party

I ask because it seems like you are in Florida too. They basically force us to choose.

Everyone who I know knows where I stand politically. I am not secretive about it but do not let it cloud my judgment of people. Likewise with my clients. They choose me because they know I work hard for them.

It's good to be transparent. I am glad that you were.

Wow - interesting thread. Now, I'm going to have to go back and read the post about BP.

I'm very involved in politics - city, state, federal.  Everybody knows where I stand. But, I don't think Active Rain is the place to discuss it. I posted about the June 30th deadline not being extended and that turned into much more of a R versus D discussion than it should have.

Off the subject but I thought of you when I was reading about methane gas in the oil spill area. I remember you saying you were having some physical reaction to something. Is the gas affecting you?

Jennifer:  I never, ever speak about Politics or Religion with business associates or on my blogs.  It's just not a wise thing to do unless you want to get dumped on like you did.  All I care about is concentrating on my business right now.   When I want to debate politics I do it in the comfort of my own home or with friends that agree with me!!!   It saves a lot of hair pulling, and I like my hair!!!   :)

Jennifer, 

Thanks for sharing.  I would not lose one more minute of sleep over it, that is for sure!  We are who we are and if someone doesn't want my advice or services because of my political views, I am fine with that.  Keep up the good work!!

I came late to the party. Hmmmm.... something leaves me walking away thinking about this.

If I appreciated, liked your advice about real estate in the past, just because you dont share the same views with me on others, does that make the previous advice suddenly bad?

I dont think so.

I'm tired today after all that pouncing.