Admin

Let Professionals Do Their Jobs

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with WeveMovedGifts.com

When the time comes to sell my house and purchase another, I'm going to use a professional realtor.

"Hurray," they all say. "Pick me!"

That's right. I don't want to have people calling me wanting to see my home. I don't want to negotiate a contract. And I don't want to hear shoppers say that they don't like this or that about my home. I've got other things to do to make a living, and I want everything done right so that the transaction goes smoothly.

Now, here's the flip side of all of this. I provide professional services too! I have been providing marketing services to commercial real estate firms for nearly 30 years. I write for a living; design and publish marketing materials; and, not only do I do a little retouching -- I've been know to photographically recreate 30+-story office buildings that were undergoing massive renovations. I'm good, and I know it.

I now create closing gifts that feature renderings of homes (see www.wevemovedgifts.com). My customers are great, and they are "wowed" when they see the images created from their digital files. But every once in a while when I tell a real estate agent what I do, the reaction is, "I know a realtor who is doing that themselves."

Then I show the agent my product. The reaction, "Well, it's not quite like that."

How can it be? There's more to what I do than just purchasing Photoshop -- just like there is more to what you do than just showing a house. 

If you want the best results and a memorable closing gift, let a professional do a professional's job. The cost is not significant if it helps you with repeat business and referrals down the line. And, like me, you could probably use your time better doing what you do best -- selling houses.  

Comments(6)

Show All Comments Sort:
Hope Goss
Ventura Property Shoppe - Ventura, CA
Ventura Real Estate
We've all tried to save a buck and do it ourselves.  For the most part, you get what you pay for.
Aug 21, 2007 02:32 AM
Andrew Trevino
ADT Real Estate - Wilkes Barre, PA
Wilkes-Barre Homes For Sale
Diane, you have a great point. I would rather have something that reflects the level of professionalism that I want, rather than something that's thrown together to try to simulate it.
Aug 21, 2007 02:33 AM
Jennifer Monroe
Indigo Home Team powered by Compass - Charlotte, NC
Real Estate REALTORĀ®/Broker/Designer
Most of us don't have the time to do this stuff ourselves even if we are good at it. Looks nice!
Aug 21, 2007 02:39 AM
Franklin (Bruce) Needhammer
Century 21 At The Shore Realty - Berkeley Township, NJ
This is a wonderful thread. I see two general types of people, those who are so busy doing their real estate business they don't have time to do the other stuff, and can subsequently easily afford to spend a little on the gifts, photography, advertising, etc. Then there are the others who are not successful enough to be able to afford the extra expenditure so they try to do it themselves. Their closing gifts are unimaginative and perhaps unappreciated. It's important to give a gift that fits the client. If you spend any time with them you will always get a clue to what is the best gift. Sometimes they have nothing to do with the home, rather with the homeowner. Pay attention to what they tell you, you will get a clue.
Aug 21, 2007 02:56 AM
Larry Wright
nwRealty.Com - Tacoma, WA
Good post Diane.  REALTORS themselves often adopt the FSBO/DIY attitude and neglect using their time productively.
Aug 21, 2007 03:01 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital
Good post!  And those same agents probably also do their own staging!  Some of them even clean their own listings up, a la Annette Bening in "American Beauty"!  I think that going to the queen of Photoshop beats my trying to figure it out!
Aug 21, 2007 04:54 AM