I was out shopping yesterday with my wonderful husband when my cell phone rang. Priding myself on being a realtor that answers my phone promptly and 99.9% of the time, I immediately flipped that puppy open and said, "Hello, this is Fran White." (I've blogged about this recently)
On the other end of the phone was another agent. After our courtesy greetings she continued with, "my sellers a really upset." (I'm thinking perhaps I transitioned into counseling fellow agents with their issues and didn't realize it.)
I said, "O-kaaaaaaaaaaay?" (it was one of those o-kays that from it's tone you knew I was trying to say "where is this going?")
She continued to tell me that her sellers were upset because they came across and ad that had my picture, my phone number and their mother's house, which was her listing.
I said, "Was this a newspaper or magazine ad?" She wasn't sure. I told her I had no idea how my picture would have gotten on an ad with her listing because I didn't do newspaper or magazine advertising. She quizzed me pretty intensely about not having any knowledge of this and said that she told her sellers she'd call me and thank me for the free advertising but that they weren't happy about it.
Then the light came on! I said, "Well, this must have been on a website...our company has IDX!" (Wikipedia defines IDX here)... She became very sheepish. I couldn't help but say, "Well now you will have to explain IDX to your clients, that ought to be a challenge."
Someone in my office often says, "We are our own worst enemy." And sometimes we are. I'm sure her client called her and it immediately set a fire under her seat that "someone" would be advertising her listing without her permission.
Her approach lacked finesse, but I just laughed it off and finished shopping.
Here's a home for sale in Kansas City MO... gee I wonder if it shows up on her website. J
Happy Shopping!
Fran White, REALTOR, 2006
Fran White, REALTOR®
Reece and Nichols Residential
816-682-3897
www.kansascity-realestate.net
www.franwhite.reeceandnichols.com
I get calls like that all the time; about 50-50 other Realtors and potential buyers.
The Realtors call wanting to set up a showing. After I explain it's not my listing they invariable ask "well why does it have your name and phone number on it?"
I try to explain IDX but I can tell most of the time it's going in one ear and out the other.
Buyers say stuff like: "Wow, you sure have a lot of listings.
"I try to explain....................................."
Two comments:
1- the sellers should be psyched; their home is getting exposure.
2- Send the seller's your postcard the day the listing expires; they know that you get exposure
Brian.. ha ha, that's a GREAT idea!! That's really funny.