Special offer

Listing agents lurking for competence...

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

I just put a property under contract.

We were in multiple offers, and the seller decided to award the contract to my buyers.  It was a tight one... Sweet.

Additionally, as part of the conversation, when the listing agent told me that they'd decided to accept our offer, he also mentioned that the seller wanted a buyer who he felt could take the transaction to the closing table, as he'd been burned in the past.

The listing agent recommended that he go with our offer, in part, because he said that he knew I was a really good agent, because he'd been reading my blog, and he felt I'd help get the deal to the closing.

Now, before you ask... the only place I blog is on Active Rain... so it's definitely this blog that he's been reading.   And interestingly enough... I was unaware that he was monitoring my blog.  To my knowledge he's never commented.  He's a lurker, but in this case, that lurking worked to my advantage, didn't it?

Based on his reading of my blog, he knew a great deal about who I am, and that I take real estate pretty darn seriously.  My blog seems to have tipped the scales, in this deal.

Well, doesn't that feel good?

Bonus!

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments (32)

Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Congratulations.... this story is why I've always said that the reputation of one's agent truly matters!

Oct 08, 2015 06:57 PM
Alan May

and I believe you're right.

Oct 08, 2015 10:45 PM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

It happens more oftern than you think:

The listing agent recommended that he go with our offer, in part, because he said that he knew I was a really good agent.

Oct 08, 2015 08:59 PM
Alan May

I imagne that's true... but I didn't realize he was reading my blog.

Oct 08, 2015 10:46 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Alan, congrats on tipping the scales in your direction! The Rain has also been good to me! Enjoy your day!

Oct 08, 2015 09:03 PM
Alan May

the water's fine... come on in!

Oct 08, 2015 10:46 PM
Raul Rodriguez
Covenant Partners Realty - San Antonio, TX
Looking out for the client's interest and not my p

Congratulations on your successes...just curious, did you get to close on the deal?

Oct 08, 2015 10:46 PM
Alan May

not yet, Raul.  We just put the property under contract.

Oct 08, 2015 10:47 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Alan, now this is a case where blogging on ActiveRain is earning you the kind of points that you will be able to use as actual legal tender!

Oct 08, 2015 10:47 PM
Alan May

I hadn't thought about it like that.  You're absolutely right.

Oct 08, 2015 11:07 PM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

Bonus Jonas!  I would not have imagined this scenario as an AR side effect.  Good wishes for a smooth transaction!

Oct 08, 2015 11:17 PM
Alan May

I wouldn't have imagined it, either.

Oct 08, 2015 11:35 PM
Judith Sinnard
SMARTePLANS; Houston, Texas - Houston, TX
The SMARTePLAN Lady

I don't think it is uncommon for agents to google their competition as well as agents in their area ... to gain information .. how they market, what type of listings they represent, etc. FB, Twitter, Pinterest, A/R there is a wide variety of information available. In your case, you use your blog well ... its engaging, informative and often entertaining (awwww shucks). This is a good reminder for those who use "public airwaves" to rant, and scream and point fingers .. had that been Alan's case, the same outcome would have been very doubtful.

Oct 08, 2015 11:26 PM
Alan May

hmmm.... I suppose it's possible that he just googled me after we brought the offer... but I got the impression that he's been reading me for a while.

Oct 08, 2015 11:36 PM
Bruce Kunz
C21 Solid Gold Realty, Brick, NJ, 732-920-2100 - Howell, NJ
REALTOR®, Brick & Howell NJ Homes for Sale

Nicely done, Alan May . Thanks for sharing your success and hoping the transaction completes smoothly.
Bruce

Oct 08, 2015 11:27 PM
Alan May

and I'm hoping you're right.

Oct 08, 2015 11:37 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

If indeed an AR blog is being used to assess someone, then we should act and write accordingly...

Oct 09, 2015 12:17 AM
Alan May

I'm gonna have to start behaving myself, aren't I?

Oct 09, 2015 12:21 AM
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Alan May One of the steps we always take when evaluating offers prior to presentation to the Seller is checking the Buyer Agents track record.  In our experience it really helps make things run smoothly when dealing with a Buyer Agent who has demonstrated they know what they are doing!

Oct 09, 2015 12:25 AM
Alan May

I often "look up" an agent who I'm unfamiliar with.

Oct 09, 2015 12:35 AM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Alan May Congratulations on the contract selection. A good reputation always wins out.

Oct 09, 2015 01:45 AM
Alan May

... and apparently mine didn't get in the way, either.

Oct 09, 2015 02:09 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Alan,  Yes it does feel good. That is the kind of lurking we welcome. Congratulations!

Oct 09, 2015 02:11 AM
Alan May

very welcome.

Oct 09, 2015 05:20 AM
Brian L. Sirota, Esq.
Bristar Realty (Realtor/Attorney) - Orange, CA
For Solutions: (714) 501-7660

Let me congratulate Activerain that a rock star blogger chose their platform.   

Oct 09, 2015 08:05 AM
Alan May

rock star.... riiiiight.

Oct 09, 2015 08:14 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Alan...It was done for the same reason(s) that many of us would refer a client to you. You have made a favorable impression.

Kate

Oct 09, 2015 10:40 AM
Alan May

awwww, shucks.

Oct 09, 2015 10:59 AM
Bill Reddington
Re/max By The Sea - Destin, FL
Destin Florida Real Estate

You certainly never know what will happen. Good for you. Hope it all works.

Oct 09, 2015 11:32 AM
Alan May

I hope so, too.

Oct 09, 2015 11:38 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Reputation comes to shine every time...Get a poor one and you will miss out on a lot.

Oct 09, 2015 12:13 PM
Alan May

you speak the truth, sir.

Oct 09, 2015 12:17 PM
Jeanne Dufort
Coldwell Banker Lake Country - Madison, GA
Madison and Lake Oconee GA

well done, Alan - wouldn't we all rather do business with a trusted pro on the other side.  I'll be closing on a home next week - we had a curveball this week that could have blown things up. But both agents stayed focused, and we found a path forward.

Oct 09, 2015 12:41 PM
Alan May

a transaction, with a competent professional on the other side, is always so much smoother and more pleasant

Oct 09, 2015 12:48 PM
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

thank goodness he didnt read the one about the beer drinking episode in the bar. but of course, it is chicago. everyone drinks beer. i dont think wine is legal there is it? you leave the wine for folks in california :)

Oct 09, 2015 12:42 PM
Alan May

we allow two-buck-chuck

Oct 09, 2015 12:51 PM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

That's wonderful. I suspect that you would convey competence anyway, but it's nice to know they read your blog and felt comfortable with you. 

Oct 10, 2015 12:26 AM
Alan May

it was surprising to learn that they read my blog.

Oct 10, 2015 12:50 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Once again proving that we never know who might be reading our blog!

Aug 29, 2016 03:28 AM
Alan May

it's true, it's true.

Aug 29, 2016 05:37 AM