Special offer

I Hope You Read Your Contracts Closer

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with ActiveRain

I get it, getting 1000 points for a contest isn't really that important in the grand scheme of things. Getting a free community sponsorship on ActiveRain isn't really that important in comparison to feeding your family let's say. Heck, I wouldn't spend more time reading what I write than absolutely necessary either.

All I ask, is that when you see something lined out, or in number format:

  1. read it
  2. It's important
  3. and understanding it will be paramount to getting what you want

I left four rules for getting a free community sponsorship on ActiveRain as part of our celebration of 200K members. The sponsorship is worth $228/year. We have many people who pay $228/year to sponsor a community and we are giving them away for free and all you have to do is follow 4 simple steps.

My question is, what should I do for the people that can't follow the instuctions? I have a few options.......

  1. I could respond and let them know what they messed up (which would be faster then me fixing it for them, which I can also do......) and give them another chance to get it right.
  2. I could just go on and fix it for them, taking extra time on my end and allow them to continue not following instuctions and be rewarded for it (with a $228 value).
  3. I could completely ignore them, because there are 700 other people that have already done it the correct way.
  4. I could respond and let them know that I received their inquiry, but due to the fact it was not completed correctly I will not be accepting it.

When we do contests, sometimes there are a lot of steps, and if someone takes the time to complete the core of the assignment, which is the writing, and, maybe, in the rush to get stuff submitted messes up a little, I almost always do option one or two. I'll award the points still.

But this recent one seems so stinking easy. Send an email with a link to a community and your user name, along with a predefined subject line. If you get the email address right, it's only three things you have to follow, and the subject line is the exact same for everyone. I don't make you type the exact same subject line as everyone else in some kind of Pavlovian demonstration of my manipulative power. I do it so that I can set up a filter in my inbox to capture the 1000's of emails that we will receive from a giveaway of this nature.

The reason I ask for your user name and the link to the community is so that I can log in as you really quick, then assign that specific community to your account. I have to do them all individually and it just makes it a little bit easier when you have 1000's of them to do. I don't like creating rules for you to follow, but when I know it's going to save me many hours, hours I can spend with my wife and son, I'll make a rule or four.

Above saving myself time that I end up getting to spend with my family, the reason this is an issue for me, is because many of you are paid to make sure the details are exact. Contracts are all about details. Missing a small detail on a contract could mean that the beautiful washer and dryer your clients were expecting upon move in is packed in the back of the sellers Uhaul.

What do I do with the people who don't follow the instuctions? 1, 2, 3, or 4?

 

Posted by

Bob Stewart
ActiveRain Ambassador

 

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Comments (69)

Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thank you for the contest and the quick response to my email for sponsoring a community.

Jan 17, 2011 11:19 PM
Jeffrey Richman
Immediate Home Solutions - Waxhaw, NC
Creative Real Estate Specialist

Hi Bob,

I think that you should pick number 3.  The reason that I say this is because everyone on AR should already know how to follow instructions.

The instructions that you have laid out are so simple that ALL should be able to follow them if they entered the contest.

You are much too busy to be bothered with people that can't or don't take the time to read so that they can follow directions.

Jan 17, 2011 11:42 PM
Al Raymondi
Ocean View Realty Group in Ormond By The Sea Florida - Ormond Beach, FL
Ormond By The Sea Florida - Home and Condo Sales

Number 4 would be my choice Bob since ignoring them will make you answer them later when they question why they did not get the community they requested.

Jan 18, 2011 02:28 AM
Denise Roberts
New Colony Properties, LLC - Pinehurst, NC
e-PRO, REALTOR - Specializing in Pinehurst, NC Area

Hi Bob - I think you and everyone at AR do an excellent job and you deserve the right to vent your frustrations here with us!  I, too, was a bit clueless on the 'Community Link'...my initial thought was localism...because, that's what I'm always thinking about. 

I do think you make a good point with your post.  We need to Pay Attention, Slow Down, Maybe Read It Twice, Then Double Check before we hit SEND.  Yesterday was a blast.  Have a GREAT Day!

Jan 18, 2011 02:41 AM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Lol...

Now I understand Steve sharing why my ears are ringing. I thought it was because, well, I'm older :)

And screw the counteroffer. Just shoot 'em and be done with it!

p.s. WidowMaker, love love love the new blog title. What took you so long to get that done? :)

TLW...ROAR!

Jan 18, 2011 06:38 AM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Bob, As for me, I had to be away and didn't make it back in time, my losses. But I new it was open to me until midnight and another priority took place and I made my choice. One day anythings ( contests) remind of the sales the day after Thanksgiving, hehehe. Wants and needs are often confused with bargains that end up not being very useful.

As for the rest that lost out (or may lose out) because they didn't follow directions, S--- happens and if they are awarded the sponsorship, it penalizes the others that took the time to do it correctly. Those are always good lessons and tough love is never easy but proves its value many times over in the long run.

We are strengthened by what we learn not by social re-engineering to satisfy the weakest links. ( also my political philosophy ).

 

Jan 18, 2011 09:06 AM
Rosemary Brooks
BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA
The Mother & Daughter Realty Team

I agree with William -- sh... happens.  I am just finding out about the contest -- so I didn't even get the opportunity to mess up on the entry!! I'm upset that I missed it.

Jan 18, 2011 03:04 PM
Chris Alston
Chris Alston (Keller Williams Realty, Silicon Valley, California) - Campbell, CA
Silicon Valley, California

Well, I did get the email back getting me the sponsorship for the community...  Thanks!  I found it easy instructions.  There are several contests that are harder to follow, and this one was one of the easier ones.  :)

Jan 19, 2011 05:24 PM
Arleen Montford
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY GULF COAST - Pace, FL
Selling NW Florida Homes in Pace/Milton/Pensacola FL

Good morning Bob,

I often go over your post more then once for two reason. First, because it is something that helps me in with my business and I want to make sure I get it and I have to read things more then once to be able to understandand maintain.  Second, because I do not really get the whole Internet, blogging thing. I was 35 before I ever turned on a computer and I have been trying to conquer my fear of technology ever sent. Up unto Nov I hire others to do most of my computer and Internet.

I believed you did not have to be the smartest person to success, just smart enough to know what you did not know, and hire those who were smarter then you to do those things for you. So that is what I have always done, up until now.

I am trying very hard to learn the new way of the future TECHNOLOGY, simple rule and direction to you are as ealy as 123, but they can be very confusing to me. However, I am starting to get it, just a whole lot slower then everyone else.

I did not even under stand how to link or find the community. So when it said one day only I knew that would count me out. So be patient with me and I know that each day is a new day and I will get it sooner or later.

I think it is great what you and AR are doing to helping people like me. But when one of us don't get it just right, don't forget we are trying. In saying all of that I know  you have to choose 4 sometime. Please don't forget how to use 1 or 2 when you can.

Jan 20, 2011 08:40 PM
Joe Staub
Vision Realty Partners, LLC - Nashville Music City USA - Hendersonville, TN
Joe M. Staub Real Estate Group

Too much caffeine Bob  :-)

Jan 21, 2011 02:04 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

  1. totally missed the 200,000 membership post with contest
  2. Realtors Don't Read
  3. congratulations AR on reaching this huge milestone
  4. why hasn't anyone else joined since then?  Or did the counter get stuck?
I vote "off with their heads".  If they can't follow instructions, they blew it.

Jan 21, 2011 09:13 AM
Joyce Godwin, Realtor, CRS
RE/MAX Elite Properties; Serving Cypress, Spring, Tomball, NW Houston - Houston, TX
RE/MAX Elite Properties

Well, the GOOD news is that I didn't NOT follow the directions and don't have to worry about getting my head chopped off as suggested by Georgina!

The BAD news is that I was a day late and $228 short!  I saw the offer the next day :( 

Question:  I was logged in the day of the offer, but didn't see it -- in the future, how do I make sure I see great opportunities like this one?  Was it because I had already logged in and didn't go back to the AR home page or didn't go TO or BACK TO some other place within AR?  Or maybe it was just oversight on my part --maybe I skimmed right over it.  Any hints or suggestions?

However, congratulations to the ones that did take advantage of the opportunity!

Jan 22, 2011 09:12 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

I agree, it was not hard... and yes, we're paid to pay attention to details... Bottom line, if one doesn't follow the guidelines, they didn't earn the reeward.  Make the same offer another time, and they'll probably get it right the next time. 

Just one question... if you do offer a second chance, do those who did follow the guidelines and get their free community have a shot at another community?

Jan 22, 2011 03:52 PM
Susan Goulding
Crown Key Realty, Inc; Tracy & Mountain House Sales and Property Management - Tracy, CA
Northern CA - Tracy & Mountain House Real Estate

AMEN>  Follow directions --- Soccer Momification? Didn't we learn this in 1st Grade?  Not going to answer this for you - I already know WHAT you want to do... think Lilttle League?

Jan 23, 2011 05:54 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Number 4...learn from your mistakes. That is how we should live life...and if you fix it, then the lesson will be missed!

Jan 26, 2011 08:04 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

You guys are way to tolerant of our mistakes, maybe we need to learn that when we get it wrong we don't get a reward

Jan 26, 2011 08:09 AM
William James Walton Sr.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate

Oh, Bob, were you being a little...harsh here? ;-)

It is friggin easy. You would think that we as professionals could follow simple instructions, right?

But we all do make mistakes, even on our best days. Hmmm....

Jan 26, 2011 02:27 PM
Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

I'm late to the party as I've been changing 20+ diapers a day ("He's a leaky faucet, Mommy" from my daughter), but my opinion is they lose. If they can't follow directions, put one leg in your pants at a time, it's their own problem and they'll learn from their mistakes.

Jan 29, 2011 07:09 AM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Bob, You make a good point with your title. 

Gloria

Feb 01, 2011 02:51 PM
Bob & Leilani Souza
Souza Realty 916.408.5500 - Roseville, CA
Greater Sacramento Area Homes, Land & Investments

Bob, I'm arriving pretty late here and (if you haven't already made a decision) I would go with #3 if I were in your shoes...I don't like to see favors turn into obligations. :)

Leilani

Feb 17, 2011 07:06 PM