Does Your Real Estate Office Sell Hamburgers?

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Real Estate Agent with Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC RB14037276

Does Your Real Estate Office Sell Hamburgers? 

There are times when your client lives at the opposite end of the County as your office, or your office is located in your home like many Real Estate Agents these days and it is easier for you to go to them, because of needing babysitters and such.

Painting by Larry Johnston

McDonalds Acrylic Painting by Larry Johnston©  (sold to an owner of McDonalds in Louisville, KY)

Sometimes, we make appointments with our clients at a McDonalds restaurant, so the children can play in their play area, while we go over contracts. It takes the attention off the children and onto the contracts.  We have used several places throughout the County to meet to get papers signed or write up offers.  I try to make it easy for the buyer, plus they remember what you did for them to make their buying experience easy and memorable. The locations may vary from place to place, depending on whether you are meeting at lunch, after work or on the weekend, near their work or near their present home.

During your meeting, you can have a cup of coffee, or eat something after your meeting and before going off to your next appointment. Sometimes my next meeting is at the same place or a deli nearby. There are more and more Real Estate Agents that may be using this technique, especially if they work out of their home.

Do you have offices all over your County?  Do they sell fast food?

----------------------------------------------

If you know of anyone that wants to buy or sell a home in Elkhart County, Indiana,

have them give me call:

Larry Johnston, 574-304-7577, Elkhart County Subdivision, LLC, Elkhart, Indiana,

or email larry@larry-johnstn.com

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Ambassador
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Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

It's a good idea Larry. At my office it could be dead or packed so I have met clients at Starbucks or other coffee and tea joints.

Jan 20, 2014 03:36 AM #1
Rainmaker
2,035,459
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

For those agents, brokers with a truck tire forming around their middle, the happy meal and home of the guy with big shoes and red hair might not be such a hot spot to do paperwork. Or too many whoppers with cheese and plenty of pies to go with the shakes to wash it all down. (Burp) Excuse me. Hey, you gonna eat that last small fry? Fork it over.

We take it to their kitchen table, they come to the office so they can be comfortable. Toys for kids at both places. In their home or "ours".  The problem with out to eat discussions they seem to last too long, others in the facility they don't want to talk privately around on the sensitive information. But whatever works for you in your market, pour gas, shovel the coal in that direction to keep it going.

Jan 20, 2014 03:46 AM #2
Rainmaker
1,682,789
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Noah, Starbucks is a good place.  We have Martins Super Market with a Starbucks, and I have met clients there.  It's usually nice and quiet.  They also hve Wi-Fi

Jan 20, 2014 04:39 AM #3
Rainmaker
1,682,789
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Andrew, It works for us, since there are multi-families living in their homes, and it they come to the office, we may be as far away from them as 20 miles one way. We use this method when all we need is a signature, for example on an extension.

Jan 20, 2014 04:44 AM #4
Rainmaker
2,433,224
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Martin's Grocery Store has a deli and upstairs area for sitting and talking in private or working on your laptop or enjoying a quick bite to eat. It also works great to have mini meeting in.  Buyers  and sellers both prefer it to driving all the way across town.

Jan 20, 2014 09:52 AM #5
Rainmaker
1,682,789
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Evelyn.  You're right. I like the area upstais where it is out of the way and quiet.

Jan 20, 2014 12:26 PM #6
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Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I have taken clients to McDonalds at their request but have never worked a contract there. A deli or Starbucks is a good destination for a snack to review details of the houses.  I am using electronic signatures so often now that I don't have to see he kids when they are cranky. 

Jan 21, 2014 09:05 AM #7
Rainmaker
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Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

My office is in my home and I have one at the office.  No I haven't written a contract at any fast food places, my clients meet me at the office.

Jan 22, 2014 01:36 AM #8
Rainmaker
1,682,789
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Rebecca, Our office is also in our home, but it's nice to have an alternative for clients that are 20 miles away and you have to get something signed during their lunch hour.

Jan 22, 2014 02:49 AM #9
Rainmaker
1,682,789
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Debbie, I have several clients that do not have computers, so I can't do e-signatures. The time consuming contracts we usually meet at our office or at their home, but in the case where you need a signature for an extension, we meet somewhere that is convenient for them.

Jan 22, 2014 02:53 AM #10
Rainmaker
1,267,934
Alan Kirkpatrick
Austin Texas Homes - Round Rock, TX
Alan in Austin

Larry:

Great post the world is our office. Hope you have a great week.

Jan 22, 2014 01:30 PM #11
Rainmaker
1,682,789
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Alan. That is a great quote.  "The World is my Office."  I'll have to remember that.

Jan 23, 2014 10:50 AM #12
Ambassador
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Fred Griffin Tallahassee Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

McDonald's - "The Other Starbucks".   Love that picture - I remember Speedee

Jan 23, 2014 10:35 PM #13
Rainmaker
1,682,789
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Fred, Speedee goes way back.  That painting is McDonalds in 1959.  Back when it was walkup only and you had to eat in your car, or sit on a built in bench on the side of the building.

Jan 24, 2014 08:40 AM #14
Rainmaker
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Eric Crane -- Your Full Service, Discount Fee Realtor®
DPR Realty LLC - Gilbert, AZ
Greater Metro Phoenix Arizona

Hi, Larry -- I can certainly remember the original style McDonald's drive-ins.  We had one on Central Ave., in Phoenix, where high school students would cruise.  Beautiful painting by the way!

Jan 24, 2014 12:55 PM #15
Rainmaker
1,682,789
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Eric,  Thank you for the nice comment. That's how I relive those nostalgic years. I just recreate it in a painting.

Jan 24, 2014 08:58 PM #16
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Larry Johnston

Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN
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