Comments on: Blog Your War Stories

By: Jim Scott

Jim Scott — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:41:53 +0000

I think this is important, but of course brokers like me who have been in real wars always are able to step back from the craziness of our business. Real estate war stories should be told but I see them in the context of my own experience in Vietnam. Somehow the choices clients worry about often fail to resonate with me, come on, this business is important but not that important! Jim in San Diego.

By: Lessons from Counterinsurgency Pt. 1: Petraeus on Integrity « The Notorious R.O.B.

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:14:51 +0000

[...] wrote recently that realtors need to tell their war stories, with this observation: It’s actually amazing how few consumers know what you realtors do for a [...]

By: Perri Feldman

Perri Feldman — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:54:28 +0000

Thanks Rob, Will be sure to send you more! In the meantime, wanted to share one of my favorites from YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jThcc5lbfOs

By: Joseph Ferrara.sellsius

Joseph Ferrara.sellsius — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:59:55 +0000

A real estate ghost story http://cli.gs/Ngyha8

By: Jim Cronin

Jim Cronin — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:45:09 +0000

We once did a special RE Horror Stories Carnival – Lots of good stuff there:
http://realestatetomato.typepad.com/the_real_estate_tomato/2006/10/halloween_carni_1.html

By: Jessie B

Jessie B — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:15:06 +0000

I agree about the stories but there should be a focus. The stories told should be about the problems people faced in the RE transaction and what the final solution was. If one client has had an issue an agent solved, it’s probably a concern for other prospective clients also. Telling these stories with the solutions shows how the agent is a proactive problem solver which is a quality most seek in their agent. To solve the issue mentioned above, it does not directly have to be about a problem one of your clients had but one in general

By: Kelley Koehler

Kelley Koehler — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:30:36 +0000

Actually, I’ve always told a lot of stories on my blog. But you do have to be careful. Often, I get permission to do so, withholding names and identifying characteristics. Or I’ll write it and hold on to it for a couple months. I don’t want to make my client angry, nor give away any of their negotiating position – there’s a lot of local agents that read my blog. I assume everyone involved in a transaction is watching and reading, and write accordingly.

By: -Rob

-Rob — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:20:47 +0000

Jim -

Great points.

So it would probably make sense to blog war stories about the other side, heh.

If you’re on the buyer’s side, blog the war stories about the unreasonable seller, the unprofessional listing agent, etc. — you’re not betraying client confidences then (as long as yer careful, of course).

The reverse if you’re on the listing side.

Would that work?

-rsh

By: Jim Duncan

Jim Duncan — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:48:24 +0000

This one time, at band camp ….

The stories are one of the best parts of the business.

I agree with everything you wrote.

But.

Here’s the thing – telling some of these stories can breach client confidentiality.

Also, if you tell these fantastic stories and then the subject reads them and recognizes himself/herself, the consequences could be profound.

“Don’t ever work with xx Realtor” – he’ll write about everything you do!

That’s not a risk I’m willing or able to take, unfortunately.

We all have brilliant stories, and while some may be similar, there is no doubt that each Realtor has a good bakers’ dozen that would make for good reads.

I have an unwritten policy -

- If I’m going to write about client experiences, I get permission first.
- I (almost) never write about current clients/transactions.
- I anonymize (sp) details so that the point is made, but the “story” part is often lost.

Some of the best stories will have to be relegated to the book we’re all going to write when we get out of the business. For now, though, much of my best storytelling is going to have to remain unpublished.