I have listed a home with what is arguably the best view in Arlington, Virginia. And at yesterday's Open House, I had a clear blue sky and thick trees with just a touch of color. And if I had called Central Casing requesting about 50 boats of various colors with people rowing them up and down the Potomac in front of the amazing windows, it could not have been more beautiful.
The first buyer who came through the door went up to the living room windows and muttered, "Holy crap! What a view!"
While the house and setting were pretty spectacular, the timing might be considered by some people to be less than auspicious.
Some people!
Certainly not Blog Buddy Brian Block, who stopped by all energized by the appointment he was on his way to with a new buyer. Another agent from my old Coldwell Banker office came by excited about the buyer she wanted to get into my listing this week.
These "some people' were fun and I was happy they came by. But there were some other "some people", and, well, they were a different story.
Three other agents came by and were not excited about much of anything. They were whining! Actually whining! Whining about the stock market and what it's doing to the real estate market! WHINING AT MY OPEN HOUSE!
Get out of here! Scoot! The real buyers wandering around might hear you!
So I don't know about the etiquette of previewing Open Houses in your area, but my listings are "NO WHINING" zones!
Patricia,
I like it!
Funny, funny, you should check them at the door to see if they are non-whiners or not before entry!
Amen, I am with you. I think the world is great, but I am one of those that does live in their own world. Would love to see your listing. How spectacular. Every time I drive down to the District on GW Parkway, I always say to myself that is some of the most prime real estate in the country.
I am with you, I dont have time for negativity right now, if you want to complain then dont let the door hit ya in the------ Bart
Well said Patricia - whining will not change anything. Why is that so hard for some to understand? Does it really make those people feel better?
What the heck are people thinking, Pat? You sure were nice about it.
Patricia,
The whole world should be a big no whine zone!!! Thanks, Fran
Maybe they are hoping you'll say, "Oh, yes, you are so right, well in that case how 'bout I shave a couple hundred thousand off the top for you, you poor thing?"
pat- I agree with Bart. Show them the door. Of course cheese and crackers go real well with whine so you could offer some to shut them up if the show the door does not work. :)
I just can't believe that whiners came into an open house and started whining around....I hope you really said scoot!
I posted not too long ago about how rude buyers I've met at open houses have been recently. Okay, then there was the neighbor that brought me over some pot roast for lunch ~ but he wasn't a buyer! He still tore the house to shreds, though. But, at least he was a good cook.
Tell people coming to your open houses that if they are going to whine and complain, they need to at least bring you lunch!
A couple of months ago when I was in the office most of the day I had several agents come by and just whine...
I later posted a "No Whining Zone!" handmade sign on my door. It was taken down (after I left). I didn't take it down.
Guess I offended a few folks..
Coming to an open house and whining is just poor manners.
Patricia, this is the #1 reason that I gave up a long time ago on going to broker open houses. They are basically whine fests. Now if they were wine fests, that might be a different story.
It is amazing how many agents are spending more time whining about the market than getting out and making things happen.
Pat - I don't blame you for being irritated with some people who whine - not only is the negativity a turn off to others, but there is a time and place.
Let them whine, its their right to do so. I encourage the whining agents to whine. It means they are not being productive and giving up (they are fishing the wrong holes). I let them whine and go on with my tasks at hand.
Times are tough. Some will survive others will not.
Patricia - I love the 'No Whining Zone' idea. I should get a bumper sticker and t-shirt made, not to mention boxers and a custom made Oriental Rug...
Hi Pat,
While doing an Open House this weekend I actually had to ask someone to leave. The last thing a buyer needs to hear at an Open House is how bad the market is. Great Post.
Patricia, you are so right!! The market is only bad if you let it be!! Now is one of the best times to be buying a home and one of the best times to be helping people buy and sell real estate. Good luck with your listing!!
We all need to stop talking about the market and concentrate on how great things will be soon!
Maybe we should set up Open Houses, just like restaurants of old...
Whining & No-Whining sections... during bad weather... No-Whining would be indoors... and you guessed it... Whining would be out back, in the freezing sleet.
LOVE IT!! Just order a few signs so that next time the 'WHINERS' will know to keep their mouths closed! GBU!
Patricia,
Well there are always going to be the doom and gloom group.
I think agents should only attend broker opens, and open houses should be for buyers. We try to do that in our area.
I agree, whiners create negativity and allow them selves to accept negative thoughts and results. I let them whine, close the door and work harder. Sales are down but by working harder and surrounding myself with positive thinking people who see all of this as an opportunity my income has hardly gone down this year.
You should have had some cheese to serve with their wine.
Patricia, I don't like whining in ANY form but to come to an open house and whine; that is REALLY over the top!!
Patricia,
Your right, we REALTORS, tend to be a whining bunch. Not you and certainly not me but many are, they just don't know how to look at the glass, mine is always half full.
Take care!
RJH
That is simply not nice of them. Let them go and whine someplace else -- not your listing.
Pat, Sounds gorgeous. Who doesn't love a river view? I usually go to Open houses with my buyers. Kill two birds with one stone preview and showing at the same time.
I agree with Brian brokers open houses are whine fests but I would always attend yours if you were in my market because I support my friends.
I have to diagree with Brian about not going to Broker's Opens. I can endure some whining as long as there is a free lunch and maybe some wine. :-)
Bet the successful, profitable agents aren't the ones coming in the door whining!
Well, you know what they say, "Misery loves company." Good for you for not letting them rain on your parade. There are lots of people buying and selling, especially close in!
Whiners are pretty plentiful right now. Most of the time, I'm not one.....
I actually had another agent complain about his back bothering him during a final walk through with the buyers of a house I had listed. I had to ignore him so I could get his clients questions answered and get them to closing on time.
Hi Pat,
Now I like your motto and am thinking maybe some yard sign might be in order. :-)
I was at an open house two weeks ago and the seller has a sign" Be Nice or Leave" It has been my new phrase and whining is not nice.
I like that sellers sign, "Be nice or leave." Good post. Those agents are rude and you don't need them around your potential buyeres.
Great attitude!!! Way to go!!! I have no tolerance for whining
how about no whining period! My broker came up with acheesy line but it fits here. Be a winner not a whiner.
I doubt that I will be touring houses in your neck of the woods anytime soon, but if I do I will be sure to remember to say only positive things!
All that whining just pollutes the open house with negative energy. I think it shows a lack of professional courtesy to bring that into another agent's open house!
Good job on scooting them out! They can take that misery somewhere else. About the only thing worse is for a fellow agent to come in and criticize your listing! ooohhh that makes me so mad!
What a pain - that is the last thing that ANY of us need. Please, no negative vibes at MY Open House and if you want to criticize my listing then be polite enough to send me and email of call me later - don't do it in front of the other people!
Pat- You really are a great example of what these other negative realtor's need to read. You become what you think about and I strongly believe that. No time for negative views in my world. Make it a wonderful week. You started my morning off on a great note, thats why I always come back to see you!
Patricia- Love Love Love this one!!! I just held an open house and on the entrance I posted a sign that said " NO WHINING ZONE, OFFENDERS WILL BE SHOT"...Most everyone thought it was great and it certainly set the tone for a chipper open house.
Scripts.... Always have scripts. You will never prevent this from occuring. Thus, prepare a script when someone makes a comment like that when you are with a client. My best technique is to turn it into humor. "Sounds like they don't enjoy working in real estate......sadly that is 90% of agents. I on the other love this business and am excited about the opportunities that are out there...including this home. Did I show you the kitchen?......."
Patricia...
I shall share this and leave it up to you whether or not it should be deleted. I think I still get my points even when you people delete me for this nonsense :)
TLW...ROAR!
I read a book and saw a lecturer a few years ago. His book and lecture were titled: SHUT UP, STOP WHINING & GET A LIFE! Check it out.
In the imortal words of Chris LeDoux "We've got a five dollar fine for whining"...
It's so wonderful to have TLW back and blogging!
Hi Patricia,
Ahhhhhhh. Your post with TLW's picture gave me the first real laugh of the day. Thanks!
I have a sign on my desk that says PUT YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES ON AND DEAL WITH IT. I think that says it all.
:)
Patricia ~ You reminded me of a button I have that has the x'd out cross thru the whinning. You need to wear it next time you have an open house! How annoying of them!
I could not agree with you more. This is the time for people in our business to stick together and promote a positive outlook. No one wants to hear personal opinions from Debbie Downer about the market at an open house!
Would you like some cheese with your whine?
In an open house the whiners are harder to spot. In the office they are easy to find. They hang near the reception desk and babble on and on and on with their complaints. Where is that trap door when you need it?
Those kind of agents bring everyone down. I find a lot of it are agents that just don't want to have to work hard. There are still homes being sold.
Thank you!!! I'm glad you brought this up! Open Houses should be considered a "No Whining Zone" for us agents. No one needs any extra negativity & we should all be there to help SUPPORT, not drag down, one another. Plus, what would clients that are in ear shot think if they overheard (& believe me, half the time when people think they are whispering - they are NOT!).
Save the whining for your closest friend or loved one & let's all help boost each other's morale during the hard times!!
Great comments! I had my best month ever last month. It zaps so much of our energy when the Eyores of our lives (usually agents) hang out outside our door and spew out doom and gloom. We can't do our job with a cloud hanging over us. Thanks for the encouragement -- hopefully we will be able to set the example.
You're right--positive energy only during open houses!! It sounds, though, like you have a sunny enough disposition to shine through their cloudy attitudes. Congratulations on a great listing! Cheers, Harley
I came to an open-house to pick up condo docs from an agent and that agent was whining about how slow things were ... while unaccompanied buyers were wandering through the house?!