The New & Improved Tips for Sabotaging Your Open House
I know you didn't think it was possible, but here is a an update to a list I began some time ago. As a mortgage professional, I am fortunate to have somewhat of an outsider's perspective on our local broker tour --- I am not a real estate agent myself and as a result, certainly there are local agents who don't know me. This also implies that they don't know that I'm not a Realtor. I could very well be out on tour on behalf of the IDEAL buyer for their listing. Here are some tried and true ways they can make a thud of an impression when I visit:
- When I walk in the door, DON'T SAY "HI." Maybe just make a small effort to glance over to confirm someone has come in. A look of tired contempt works especially well.
- By all means, DON'T STOP TALKING ON YOUR CELL PHONE. I'm sure you have more important things to discuss, and with more important people.
- "WE'RE TAKING OFFERS ON TUESDAY," is not, to the best of my knowledge, a commonly accepted and appreciated verbal introduction in the English vernacular, when and if you ever end your cell phone conversation. "Hi. My name is..." tends to be a little softer.
- Since I probably already know everything there is to know about the property from the flyers that ran out 15 minutes ago, DON'T ASK IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
- When I smile and nod before I leave, again, DON'T MAKE ANY EFFORT TO SEE IF PERHAPS I KNOW AN INTERESTED BUYER. Just let me walk out.
- Since you really only have about a 3-hour window for the showing, just SIT WITH THE SELLER IN THE LIVING ROOM the entire time and discreetly discuss your strategy. By all means, we visitors understand that the other 165 hours in the week are not ideal for such a conversation.
- Wait...it gets better. If, by chance, I see you later in the day at a different open house, ACT AS IF YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE ME.
- Finally, when I get back to the office and send you a nice e-mail about the property, DON'T RESPOND PROMPTLY. Better still, don't respond at all.
The Marin County real estate market is hot right now. Activity and momentum are glossing over a lot of ills. But I'll be curious to see how the tune changes with the market --- when that day eventually comes.
They say character is how you act when nobody is watching, but I think that for a broker's open we can safely say that the character of a real estate agent can be determined by how she acts when she doesn't know or recognize the person who is watching.
Happy Touring!
Rob Spinosa
Mortgage Loan Originator
NMLS: 22343 CA BRE: 01297944
Cell: 415-367-5959 Fax: 415-366-1590
rspinosa@rpm-mtg.com www.rpm-mtg.com/rspinosa
1058 Redwood Highway, Frontage Road, Mill Valley, CA 94941
RPM Mortgage, Inc - BRE# 01818035 – NMLS# 9472 - CA Bureau of Real Estate, Real Estate Corporation License. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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