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Jim Wants to Buy My House . . .

By
Industry Observer with RETIRED / State License is Inactive Inactive License Oregon

Jim Wants to Buy My House . . .

The letter began, "Dear Carla" and went on with a nice introductory:

"My name is Jim L**man, and my wife Sheree and I have an interest in purchasing your home located at 4915 SW 141st Ave."

The letter was typed out very neatly in a business block format on very fine card stock.  

There was nothing on the letterhead.  Matter of fact, there was no letterhead.  Just a pitch about living on the west side.

 

"If you thought about seling your house, we would like to speak with you.  We pride ourselves in strong ethics and integrity . . . "

 

Oh REALLY?!?

Because in the very first sentence of your letter you told me that you and your wife have and an interest in purchasing my home.  The letter you wrote me wasn't on ANY company letterhead.  Matter of fact, I didn't know you were a real estate agent until I read "Please know that I am a licensed real estate agent; however, I'm not looking for a listing."

Oh REALLY?!?

Then why'd you write me Jim?

"Our pursuit and love of real estate is something that's important to both of us.  Sheree and I do this to support ourselves . . ."

Do WHAT to support yourselves?!?  Write letters to hustle up a listing?  Pretend you're NOT looking for a listing and "have an interest in purchasing [my] your home . . . "?  Don't include the name of your brokerage in your advertising?  All the while writing me about your strong ethics and integrity??  Is that what you do to support yourselves?

Okay . . . I'll bite.

If you want to purchase my property it will cost you $297,000 all cash, As-Is!  Those are my terms and we can work out the conditions if you and your wife Sheree really do have an interest.

I kinda doubt you do.

And in the background I hear the sound of the Ice Cream truck . . . 

 

Posted by

 

 

Carla Muss-Jacobs has RETIRED effective May 1, 2018

Representing Buyers in the Portland Metro Real Estate Market | Clackamas Multnomah and Washington Counties | Since 1999

Carla Muss-Jacobs, REALTOR®, ABR, CEBA, ePro
Principal Broker/Owner ~~ INACTIVE

Carla Muss-Jacobs' retirement became effective May 1, 2018

Direct: 503-810-7192 

 

All Rights Reserved © 

Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Carla -- Hey Jim and Sheree(but I believe her name was Amanda...hmmm) wrote me a letter too...I believe it was last year.    I guess he has moved on to greener pastures.   I feel so used.   

Apr 06, 2015 06:11 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I have received such letters and call them and tell them I am a real esttae agent and can help them buy a house. I never hear from them again.

Apr 06, 2015 09:29 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

I have seen those letters also, clients got all excited. Back to reality though. 

Apr 06, 2015 10:52 PM
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Are the 2nd and 3rd letters in Jims last name i and e?  I get those letters as well, and occasionally I'll send a reply just to f with them, telling them, oh that's great. We are planning on selling it soon and just interviewed some agents to list it for us.

Apr 06, 2015 11:19 PM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Pacita Dimacali - great comment!  I did call Jim and told him I was a real estate agent.  I wanted to know if he was now in the "door knocking" phase of his marketing campaign, because if he is, I wanted him to know I didn't want the tenants disturbed!

Jeff Dowler CRS ... when he wrote that he and his wife have an interest in purchasing that is a heck of a lot different then soliciting a listing, IMHO.  His wife is not licensed and it seemed, at first, that they wanted to buy.  I knew it was a bait 'n switch letter.  I'll say slimy.

Apr 07, 2015 02:48 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Jeff Pearl -- too funny.   This type of marketing it very grey area.  No company brokerage letterhead, and writing he and his wife are interested in purchasing is a heck of a lot different then just saying they're looking for listings.  I just don't want them showing up for Round Two in their marketing campaign.  I have tenants and don't want them disturbed, or solicitied to "buy" my place through Jim.

Apr 07, 2015 02:50 AM
Maria Gilda Racelis
Home Buyers Realty, LLC-Manchester, Bolton. Vernon,Ellington - Manchester, CT
Home Ownership is w/in Reach. We Make it Happen!

Hi Carla: Advertising in bad taste and false pretense... And did I say FOUL?

I hope everything is well with you.

BTW, I like the ice cream truck music. It brings out the child in us.

Apr 07, 2015 04:15 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Carla Muss-Jacobs, Principal Broker/Owner 

Actually the agent who sent the card to my buyers stated that her buyers wanted to buy the condo. But in any case it did not sound nearly as smarmy as yours!

Jeff

Apr 07, 2015 06:10 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I hate that crap.  I only send letters if I actually DO have buyers looking the neighborhood.

Apr 07, 2015 01:35 PM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Hi Carla - I get these too, and you would think they would have the where with all to find out where the Realtors live. And BTW - you are selling it to them too cheap . . . 

Apr 10, 2015 03:42 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Have not gotten one of those yet....though I have seen some expired letters that are similar...and scary !

Apr 10, 2015 10:12 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Carla, I get similar letters but they are always from a agent/broker who identifies their self as such.  What a crappy and deceiving method.

Apr 11, 2015 10:47 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

FEATURED IN CRAP-TACULAR

 

What kind of Crap is that?

Apr 11, 2015 10:50 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Totally agree with Kathleen Daniels' assessment of this contact, Carla Muss-Jacobs, Principal Broker/Owner ... Grade-A, pure crap ...

Gene 

Apr 13, 2015 06:05 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I have received letters like that I had a client that sent some like that. She has since stopped and now lets me find her properties.

Apr 14, 2015 12:36 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

There are scammers that should be prosecuted. This is not a freedom of speech. It's deception and it does go on... People prey on other people until they find one.

Apr 16, 2015 10:21 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

If you throw enough spaghetti at the wall some of it is going to stick.

Apr 17, 2015 05:52 AM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Carla Muss-Jacobs, Principal Broker/Owner ,  It takes all kinds!  I guess scams and hustles come in all shapes and sizes.  Even Integrrity and strong ethics!

May 13, 2015 12:17 PM
Potranco Realty
Potranco Realty - San Antonio, TX
"Sold with Potranco Realty"

I don't care for those kind of "Jim's". Bait and Hook.

May 14, 2015 09:50 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

I've had a few more since I wrote this post.

May 14, 2015 11:08 AM