In real estate due the compliance issues along with recent lawsuits and settlements, there are “government testers” contacting real estate agents to ensure adherence to state and federal laws and regulations. Professional real estate agents must be aware of these government testers while not offending potential real estate sellers or buyers.
This past week I received a text from a potential sales lead (“retired Air Force individual") who was a small business owner of home use products (nutrition, skin care, etc.) allegedly here in Kingman, AZ. This individual stated he is currently renting and is seeking to buy a house in the Fall of 2025.
Here is the last sentence of the first text I received.
“All safe and around children (pets) would you and the wife seriously consider using these if we work with you finding a house for sale?”
My response was polite and brief “No thank you and much success in your house hunting efforts.” I received a polite response in return “Thanks for the honest reply.” Again I responded “My pleasure” and thinking this was the end of this text conversation. Here is where my "spidey sense" started tingling.
Unfortunately, I was in error when I quickly received the next text “Would you care to share why you wouldn’t consider personal consumption.” Here I responded with “This would be considered unethical. Pay for play in simple terms.” Again, I thought this would end this conversation and my "spidey sense" tingled even more.
Yet, this individual again responded with “Hmm interesting. Sooo do you give out gifts to new owners?” My response was “Actually I am quite uncomfortable with this conversation. Thank you for the outreach.”
The texting rabbit hole continued with “Uncomfortable. Wow you are sensitive. I will not have anything good to report about you.” The word report confirmed my “spidey sense.” My simple response was “And that is your choice.”
Again, this individual continued with “Yes, but you could have been more tactful. If you give our gifts to new owners isn’t that the same as pay for play.” I did not respond to this last text and no more texts were received.
All of these texts have been saved just in case this individual is an actual government tester or someone who might be lawsuit happy or just someone who likes to make trouble. Unfortunately, we as professional real estate agents must be aware that the real estate industry has government testers at the state and national levels without offending potential real estate sales leads. I just wondered if there are testers for other licensed professionals such as lawyers, doctors, CPA, Financial Advisors, etc.?
P.S. I shared this during our with our Dirt Road Real Estate Zoom meeting. My broker suggested I share this with out local Association which I did.
#LetsGetBackToRealConversations #WeDoThingsDifferently
Leanne M Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent Who Goes the Extra Mile Because Life Begins Where the Pavement Ends.
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