"Most Realtors are not creators..." but we are "good at articulating the obvious".(That was not meant as a compliment but I will take what I can get !)
We have an auto drip email campaign that sends periodic information pertaining to buying Real Estate. It goes out to 
people who have requested info from us. It is good info. It is meant to be easy to understand and yes, it shines a positive light on our profession as well as offering items of value in the form of information.
I am used to getting email responses back from people thanking me for these useful tips. I accept their gratitude with a tinge of guilt, knowing the message was not my own creation but a message put together by an anonymous author. But it pleases me that the people who receive these emails were able to glean some good stuff from it.
Well, below is a recent email I received in response to a drip email that reached a consumer. The drip email was abut FSBO's. I'd like to know your thoughts about his comments and my response. I really liked the way he threw in some positives.... They were not meant as a compliment but I will take what I can get from this guy !
BELOW: I underlined a few of the special comments and compliments since they are a little difficult to see and my comments are in [brackets].
"Hello: Christopher & Stephanie [Starts off friendly]
Your recent writing is a great example of [I get an A for..] professional bias and propaganda. The truth is many good deals are possible [I love good deals, especially deals on shoes!] in the FSBO framework. Especially, for buyers and sellers that have more expertise than Real Estate Agents. The spirit of the Internet [Spirits are nice and remind me of angels with fluffy white wings!] involves disintermediation , and FSBO is a prime example of this.
Most Real Estate Agents are not creators, have limited knowledge of Architecture and Design Science, so why should an informed party rely only on such service? [Ouch, I knew I should have gotten those advanced degrees in Architecture and Design Science but I was too busy working my rear end off as an Artist, Teacher, and Consultant for brain injured children over the past 22 years. But hey, thanks for the constructive criticism! ]
Your 6% commission is not always warranted [Which means sometimes 6% is warranted! Yippee. One point for my side!], there are always other options, any informed person will always realize this.
Get real and understand this, besides most of your emails are articulating the obvious (You heard it folks. I am articulate ; ). Although, at least you are not killing trees [That's right. I am no murderer!] with your marketing campaign."
My response:
The email you received was not really created by us personally. Though that may seem like even more propaganda, it is a tool we use to communicate with people when we personally can not. Staying in contact with people is really important to our business and as much as I wish I personally can take the time to write everyone who enters our website I can not.
Cutting out the middle man is good for those who understand the ins and outs of selling or buying a property. I know that we have seen many people make many very bad decisions in Real Estate transactions because they thought they'd save a little money. But I have also seen FSBO that have had successful transactions.
As far as Realtors not being creators, I strongly disagree with you. Everyone can create. It is a human innate characteristic. How sophisticated the creations depends on a variety of things. Formal training and perhaps a natural gift certainly helps. Real Estate practiceis not the practice architecture or design science. It does require creativity. I think my Chris (Chris Somers) is incredibly creative particularly in his ability to negotiate and problem solve some very difficult transactions..
Real Estate is not a lot of things and maybe should be a lot more. If that is your point, then I agree strongly.
I am sorry if you have taken any insult from the message sent to you. Many people do not understand the process. For those people, I can help them and I believe it is better for them to allow me to assist them, than to fall into the hands of someone dishonest.
Your comments make me feel a bit defensive. I never like having to defend myself. But I will take a stab at it. I work very hard for 6%. I'd love to charge more for some transactions but I never do. I often take less if my client is in need or if they are a repeat client. The choice to alter the commission is also mine to make not just the consumer.
It is very clear that this message is not meant for you. (There is an unsubscribe button on our auto email. I am not sure if you saw that there. A lot of people miss it.) But for some people, our message is taken in the spirit in which it was sent. It was not meant insult you or challenge you.
Though we may or may not see eye to eye on the way we try to communicate with prospective clients, I hope this is not the last time we chat. Maybe we'd find some common ground on other subjects.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
Sticks and stones may break my bones but passive aggressive and unwarranted one way discussions will never hurt me. I have not heard back from this person again. I guess he clicked unsubscribe : )
So, how would you have responded ? What are your thoughts ? Would you have responded at all ?
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Sounds to me like you responded appropriately andwithout sarcasm (which is my natural bent). If that person thinks that knowing architectural styles is the most important attribute a RE sales agent can have, that is okay by me. I would love to present him an offer on something he is FSBOing.
Good job.
Your reply was concise and very friendly! You challenged him point for point and I'd say if this were a debate--you won! You probably never heard from him again because you did challenge him. Hopefully he realized that real estate is about so much more than architectural styles of a home.
Glenn - Thank you ! I am not sure why he thinks architectural styles is so important to the real estate process. Maybe he will respond to this blog and let us all know ?
Tami - I was wondering why Stephanie took the time at all to respond to him, but understand more so now. Sometimes it is more about principles and when you think about it, it is important to communicate what you believe in as well as sharing your experience. And who knows where it might go... Without that, this blog would not exist. ~ Chris Somers
Very fun conversation!!! Love your interjections! I'm not sure I would have taken the time to write back that much (I like to call them immediately - MASSIVE fun) - your writing was great though. The funny thing is that someone like this can easily become a client. You both have shared semi-deep emotions, and that in itself makes a connection.
One thing that is a positive, your drip program is being read. I have stayed in email (not drip) with a FSBO for the last 9 months and will meet with them this week to list their home (hopefully).
Steve,
I think what really got to me about this persons comments (which were all very telling) was when he said "get real". When I read that, something in me got a little hurt. I am such a bad faker and for all intensive purposes I am no "salesman" even as a Realtor. But, I am real to a fault (some might say). So, it hit me that of course he'd think I was not being real. My voice was certainly not heard in that drip letter he received. I wanted him to hear the "real me".
I definitely am spending way more time on this than I should. Particularly on a person who may be more interested in hearing himself speak than listening to me (says the girl who loves to blog) LOL !!!
: ) Steph
Nick - That is a great success story ! Shows good follow-up on your part to stay in touch with a potential client. Best of luck with the listing ! ~ Chris
Stephanie, I get a few of these "responses" from left field now and again, I try to take the high road and ultimately suggest they have free will and can un-subscribe at any-time if they wish. The old take away is still the tried and true way to one-up a one upper.
As you grow, there will always people who dislike what you do.
Famous author once wrote "the importance of pissing people off". Any great person will experience more and more negativity as they grow to be exceptional individuals.
Stephanie and Christopher, I am surprised that the person took the time to write the letter . I like your response.
Wow,some folks have too much time on their hands. I can tell you from personal experience the cost associated with not using a Realtor. Just because I know I knew better. Time will allow your critic to find his own awakening. And as far as the 6%. I believe you get what you pay for. Ask for a discount and expect discounted services. Good Realtors earn their commission.