Why Are You Not Driving a Mercedes Benz?
I never expect someone to ask me this question until I had the chance of standing next to the seller of the property my buyers are pursuing.
While I was waiting for my buyers and septic inspector, the seller approached me and said that the check for the clean-up is on the counter top. We were talking about the water view and the neighborhood then his eyes roamed to where my car was parked.
Then he asked, "Why are you not driving a Mercedes Benz." I know that his listing agent drives this luxury car. But I found it bizarre that he would bring that up.
The only answer I could give for such unusual question is to answer him with a question. "What is wrong with my car?"
He raised his hand and shook it up in the air-- a gesticulation that meant forget what I said.
Are we judged by the wheels we are driving? 
In the Gatsby movie, cars are symbolic of the owners'social status.
So does driving a Mercedes Benz manifest a top-producing agent?
Does an agent driving a minivan suggest that she is a part-time practitioner with kids?
How about an SUV? The agent is a full-time licensee with kids?
What do you think of an agent behind the wheels of a sports car? Is he/she daring and aggressive?
Will a consumer hire an agent driving a dirty and beat-up car?
When all these thoughts came to my mind last night, I asked two of my clients if the car I was driving when I first met them left an impression that could have optimized the reason why they chose me.
Both of them said "No." They did not even pay attention to it.
Then I interviewed another couple. "Would you hire a Realtor who is driving a dirty and beat-up car?" They think that most Realtors who are driving luxury cars are more pretentious and are not trustworthy. They would rather hire a Realtor who has a beat-up and dirty car with good reputation.
On the other hand, somebody else said that he would be hesitant to hire a licensee/Realtor who shows up for an initial meeting with a dirty car.
If I were to put myself in the prospects' shoes only, would the car the candidates/interviewees are driving matter?
Usually, when I screen my tenants, I peek at their car's windows to see the interior. If I see trash everywhere like empty Dunkin Donuts cups and crumpled brown paper bags, I would, in most cases, reject the tenant's application.
Ergo, I would not put weight on the brand or model of the vehicles but would certainly pay attention to the appearance inside and out.
Does the cliche "Don't judge a book by its cover apply?" Certainly, this adage has its strength but has its weakness too. There are giveaways that are worth taking into consideration.
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