Why Do Real Estate Agents Put Their Photo Everywhere?
Most of my friends on Facebook show themselves doing something they love as their profile pictures. Hiking, partying, sitting on a beach. But ones that are now real estate agents? I get the standard “Hey, I’m a real estate agent!” pose. You know, the one that looks like a mix between Glamour Shots and something you’d find in a yearbook. I swear, they all go to the same photographer. I even found this parody of the situation:
Is this required to obtain your Realtor license? “You must slap your picture on everything possible. Any house you sell, your business cards, your MLS listings, billboards, your car. Please consider tattooing your picture and phone number on your child’s forehead.” Yes, I know that familiarity supposedly breeds trust. But it still creeps me out. You’d think consumers would have a better way to pick a real estate agent…
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June 19th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Because Realtors(R) are the most vain profession (arguably a profession) there is, consisting mainly of shallow, hollow souls, where your success is measured in how many face jobs you’ve had done and the mercedes model you chauffeur people in. it’s a business model that hasnt changed in a century to keep with the times, or else i’d imagine they’d stick their lexus suv picture next to their headshot on the card and only include their phone number and maybe 6% in gold letters
unfortunately, i would think those that have adapted to the times, like ZipRealty, wouldnt include their headshot on the internet, but they do on each page.
June 19th, 2008 at 7:04 am
I think because houses are people’s biggest expenses, they HAVE and WANT to feel comfortable with the person who is helping them spend or receive hundreds of thousands of dollars. Real Estate is one of the biggest stressors in people’s lives, you need to feel as comfortable as possible
June 19th, 2008 at 8:08 am
I agree with john, I think it has a lot to do with easing a potential customers apprehensions. Personally I would love to get into real estate and if I ever do I will rely more on a solid network rather than slapping my picture on everything that isn’t nailed down.
Another aspect to consider is that this has worked before… new agents are probably told this is how its done and what works and they simply mimic without thinking up new means of marketing.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:16 am
I’m gonna have to go with a little bit of John’s answer above, mixed in with a “well everyone else is doing it, so i must need to also!”. I find it does feel better associating a face to a name/business myself, but it really doesn’t need to be all over the place.
I was a realtor for a bit, and one of the first things I noticed was that everyone in my office had their faces all over the place - so I figured I must need to do the same to fit in and get my business going.
I only plopped them on business cards and letters, but I knew of many posting their mug on their cars, signs, and well, on their mugs!
June 19th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I was a Real Estate agent for 5 years. Turns out that the only ones who make money are the pushy, self-promoting, cut-throat type. I have to laugh at the image all of the agents try to promote. I wore jeans to the office on a Saturday, and was promptly sent home because I wasn’t wearning my matching polyester pantsuit with the floral scarf around my neck. Real Estate “professionals” have big parties for themselves at country clubs, and put on so many airs that I’m surprised the place doesn’t blow up.
That was only one of the reasons I got out of it. You spend hours…sometimes days driving potential buyers around, using up your gas, and then they see a sign in a front yard and buy from someone else. The MLS dues and all the other fees can put you in the poor house if the market dries up. Mostly, I found people in the Real Estate field to always have an ulterior motive, and that is to make money from every person they meet. That makes them untrustworthy, and more than a little creepy. Out of the thousands of professionals I met, I only met two brokers who were worth knowing, and that’s not a very good percentage.
I think people go into Real Estate with good intentions, just wanting to make some money and look at pretty houses. But the industry changes you into that person who puts their picture on every thing that moves (or doesn’t). I didn’t want to be that person, so I got out.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:34 am
It’s a relationship-oriented job. Each agent is his own brand, and his face is his logo.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:38 am
[...] do real estate agents put their photo everywhere?” It’s a good question, and one we sometimes ask ourselves when an unsolicited “EXCITING NEW OFFER!!” or [...]
June 19th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I am an agent and I don’t like to put my photo anywhere. The only place I put it is on my website because of what John said. I don’t put it on my card because I gave that person the card most likely.
Most agents don’t look like their photo. One gorgeous agent had a photo that turned her from a 9 to a 6. Older agents often use pictures that are 10+ years old. Stupid.
But I have been told by friends and clients that I should use my photo more because they do judge you by the way you look.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Mike, I have been told all of my life that I am beautiful…long auburn hair with eyes that match, with a great smile. My picture would be good. That doesn’t make me a good person or agent.
I am a decent and honest Christian person, but my picture wouldn’t show that. My picture would (and has) lure perverts and people who weren’t serious. In my book, although my picture could bring in business, it would be the wrong kind. This is about “judging you by the way you look”.
I quit Real Estate because it is a sick business.
Now I know how to write a contract on my own and take it to the title company, without the crap or the over-priced commisions.
June 20th, 2008 at 1:09 am
I agree. It’s entirely unnecessary most of the time. However, I was at a local grocery store recently and there was one picture of a real estate agent on the shopping cart that caught my attention. She was extraordinarily hot!
It made me think that she probably gets a lot of calls that are unrelated to real estate.
June 20th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Our realtor didn’t had her picture on her business card. I thought it was weird when I saw the other realtors cards, ALL of them had a picture except for her. I should have asked. I only saw her picture on their company website.
June 20th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Rhonda,
The queen protest to much, me thinks.
Kidding! I agree withe MIKE 100%
June 20th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
It is a simple marketing trick. People tend to trust more someone they can visualize. Jonathan, will we ever see your face on this blog?
June 20th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
When I took the real estate license class the teacher asked how many people planned on putting his/her picture on business cards. Almost no one raised a hand. She then told us that some study was done and that 85% of people would pick the business card with a picture on it over one that did not have it. She asked again how many people were planning on putting a picture on his/her business card and almost everyone raised a hand.
June 20th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Michelle, my point exactly. You either become one of “them”, or you aren’t one of them. It is one of the most pier pressured industries ever.
In my previous post, I didn’t mean to come off as being “all that”. I just meant that pictures can be good or bad, and for many different reasons. Now, I get Real Estate agents magnetic calendars in the mail for the fridge, and all kinds of other pictures, and I promise you I would never connect the name to the face…even with me using the pictured magnet to hang one of my kids pictures.
June 21st, 2008 at 5:44 am
[...] about investing but asks a much more important question - why do real estate agents insist on plastering their picture [...]
June 21st, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Right now, I trust that guy holding a tire and a plunger more than I trust any of you. This isn’t Nam, there are rules!
Rhonda, you sound hot, what’s your phone # or email address?
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
At some point in life you need to decide whether you are an introvert or extrovert, private or public.
Those who choose professions such as real estate have convinced themselves that they are public extroverts.
I have bought several properties and the best agents are retired form something else - the very best was a retired lawyer of all things!
The internet allows us private extroverts the opportunity to express ourselves under our own terms and conditions.
I, for one, would never be a real estate agent. I really do not like being ‘out there’ despite recently starting a blog.
June 24th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Funny comments. I’ve been a Realtor for about 7 years, and I started with a picture on my card, because everyone else did, but I always thought it pretentious and shallow, so I quit doing it about 4 years ago. Plus, I found that ALL of my business in the last 5 years is from repeat or referral, and it’s my actions that matter, and not my business card, photo, looks, or what I wear. In fact, I take some pride in the fact that I usually wear shorts and a t-shirt, even on multi-million dollar commercial properties.
I will concur, though, that most Realtors are sub-human lower life forms. There is MOST definitely an 80/20 thing going on (and probably a 90/10) wherein 10% of the agents do 90% of the volume. Good agents are worth their weight in gold. Bad agents (most of them) unfortunately aren’t worth spit. Maybe that’s why I turn away most referrals, and even repeat business. I do a good job, but I can’t do it all for everyone, so I have to be real selective.
Plus, I’m almost semi-retired at the ripe old age of 41, so I just don’t want to work as much any more.
So back to finances: Make sure you include a healthy amount of investment real estate in your long term portfolio and wealth planning strategies. Wisely selected, real estate will far outperform the stock market.
Best wishes all. . . . .
June 24th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Jackie, forget about it!
I completely agree with Asset…I was told by a counselor that Real Estate wouldn’t work for me because I was an introvert. But that was my dream, so I went for it. Turns out, she was right. I hated being out there pusing myself on people, or even having to deal with people at all. If I had listened to her, I would have saved a lot of money and time. Here’s a hint…if you are thinking about going into the Real Estate field, make sure you are pushy and ruthless. You will make a lot of money. I was a marshmellow compared to the sharks.
I learned a lot, though, and can write a contract and make sure everything is right in any transaction. Experience and education are a great teacher.
Even though the market is crap right now, I agree that investing in Real Estate at the right time as an investment is the right thing to do.
June 29th, 2008 at 7:05 am
I believe it’s their way of saying that this is what’s at stake if they screw this up.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Jackie, that comment is crossing the line. This aggression will not stand, man. This is about drawing a line in the sand, you do not…Rhonda, seriously, what’s your email….
June 30th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Rhonda, let me give you my business card, it has my picture on it. You might reconsider. With regards to RE agents, remember they’re still salesmen/saleswomen (albeit on a grander scale) and sales is a cutthroat profession irrespective of the product being sold. What does this topic have to do with finances or money anyway? I would like to hear more advice or info on investing in RE and how to take advantage of the current situation.
BTW, I’m a publicly introverted confident pessimist. The meds help.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Well, great. I’ve managed to bring out the financial pervs on mymoneyblog. Y’all are funny!
Now let’s get back to the subject of money! (But thanks for the comps).
Rhonda
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 am
I agree with Rhonda. Let’s talk about money, and how much realtors ™ make ripping people off.
How is it realtors can represent the buyer and the seller, who have conflicting interests? It’s sortof like getting into a threesome with another guy. Sure, you’re getting screwed, but you might as well pretend you’re ok with it until the transaction’s finished, thereafter forgetting it ever happened.
Under these circumstances, the least realtors can do is provide their picture.
Treehorn, I’m a nihilist, which is exhausting.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Well….its this simple… There are crapbags in every industry and sterotypes to follow….anyone who has been a self-employed business owner and has overhead will d whatever it takes to cover that overhead and survive…its easy for one to criticize others when they haven’t the balls to step out on their own and do something vs. keeping their safe and steady jobs. Marketing/Advertising is plain and simple..”BRANDING” and the more people see your name/face the more they feel like they know you. The most sucessfull insurance agents/real estate agenst out there put their name and face on everything per recognition…again its just easy to criticize because its not something most people ever undertsand.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Michelle
“She then told us that some study was done and that 85% of people would pick the business card with a picture on it over one that did not have it”
Do you know who did the study?
August 29th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Holy cow! I’m a Realtor, I have a photo on my card and I don’t live in a bubble. I work with ethical people and have never had a cut throat encounter with anyone. I deal honorably and in my client’s best interest, always. Yes, it’s a competitive business, but I have never run into the kind of sharks like you all describe. Why do I have a photo on my card? It’s personal marketing - I am my business. People recognize me, remember me, and hopefully will call me when I can be of service to them.
March 21st, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I’m so glad I found this blog….I’ve been looking to find a place to vent regarding realtors and the industry. The picture on the card thing has had me disturbed for years and it is great see that I’m not alone. There are so many flaws with the existing real estate industry; commission structure, incentive alignments, the fact that inspection is done after the contract is written….(that would be like deciding on the price you will pay for a stock before doing the research on a company) For most, purchasing a home is the biggest purchase of their lives and realtors don’t help with the two most important parts of the process; 1. Can I afford it 2. Is the house worth what I’m about to pay. Someday, I hope we will see a realtor that has a financial planner and a inspector on staff…..I might pay 6% for that!
June 14th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Dan…..
Actually that is our job as a Real Estate agent is to assist our clients in deciding 1. Can I afford it? 2. Is the house worth what I am about to pay? If you have ever dealt with an agent that has not assisted and guided you as to dealing with those very important questions, then you have not found a very good agent. I understand that most people feel that Real Estate is a very untrustworth industry and that we all are only out to make the most $$ we can off of people, and for some agents, that may be true, but for many of us who honestly enjoy helping people find their “affordable” dream home, it’s not fair to lump us all into the same category. There are scum in every profession, especially sales, but not everyone is the same!! And the financial planner should be the lending institution loaning you the money, and if they tell you that you can afford more than what you really think you can and take the deal anyway, then you are the dumbass for doing so. Thats why we are in the situation we are in today, people didn’t think about the long term effects of taking on such a large purchase that they REALLY couldn’t afford, and went on the banks “approval limit”. And unless you are BLIND, when you go to look at a house, it’s Caveat Emptor, let the buyer beware. Inspectors are there to point out defects that aren’t noticeable to the untrained eye, and that is where, once a house meets your expectations after you have checked it out yourself is where they come in. If you have an inspection before you look at it, do you honestly think that you would look at ANY house after having an inspection done??? I think not. Even new builds have defects! Maybe you just haven’t had the opportunity to work with a great agent who is there to look out for your best interest, which is what we are REQUIRED to do by law. And for that I am sorry. Oh yeah, and if you are a buyer, you are not the one paying the 6% comission, the seller is.
August 4th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Jen,
I’m afraid you are missing my point……I do agree that there are good and bad fiduciaries in every type of business and I in no way intended to slander all realtors. My goal is in no way to make fun of the broken system….it is to modify the industry through constructive criticism….. Let me touch on a few of your “points”;
1. The financial planner should be the lending institution;
Jen that does make a bit of sense…you do realize you contradicted yourself…..we are in the mess we are in today because the lender was incentivized to sell products…nobody was there to help the buyer avoid poor financial planning decisions…..I’m not sure who the “dumbass” is, but when the foreclosure comes everybody loses….well, except the realtor.
2.Caveat Emptor;
Love the Latin Jen…nice touch…you should put that on your card. Seriously, you’re spot on that Inspectors are there to point out defects that are not noticeable to the naked/untrained eye. (That is my point) However, those defects can, in many instances be substantial. (new roof, plumbing, electrical, termites, structural, etc) Having that information in hand prior to writing a contract is only one thing…LOGICAL! I put it to you Jen…..Give me one good reason why the inspection is traditionally done after the contract is written? (I do realize it costs about $250-$400 dollars, do you know what $250 dollars is as percentage of a $250,000 thousand dollar home?) My guess is that your commission is tied to the number on the contract and it is not adjusted once inspection report shows massive defects. Therefore, if one wanted to maximize commission the inspection would fit neatly in at the end of the process.
3.Oh yeah, and if you are a buyer, you are not the one paying the 6% commission, the seller is.;
Now Jen…that sounds like something a 2yr old would say. I could care less who actually has to pay 6% ….I would rather challenge the amount of the vig and the nature in which it is charged (see #2) It would be my recommendation to convert the commission structure to a fee for service system. That would align the realtor’s incentives with those of the buyer or seller.
You may be surprised how many of these suggestions would reignite respect and generate more consistent and higher cash flows for the industry.
August 4th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Dan and Jen,
I think both of you should take a breather here because it sounds like tempers are getting ready to flare.
I have been involved in the real estate market for many years, particularly in the Malibu area. Recently I sold a 7000 sq ft house on 1 acre in the Malibu Hills with a beautiful avocado orchard, but that is neither here nor there.
The one thing I know is that when it comes to buying a house, it is all art form. Much like trading stocks some people have the touch and some people don’t. Pricing a home whether you are the buyer or seller is really dependent upon your needs. Sure when I first got into this business 30 years ago I was concerned about valuation, the gross income multiplier, ROI, and leverage but after a while I realized that an interior decorator provides more use than a calculator. As a matter of fact I don’t even think I have a calculator in my office.
Jen, Dan is right the inspections should be done before the contract is written. Do you agree to buy a car and then take it to your mechanic?
Dan, Jen is right buyers need to take responsibility for their own actions. Do you buy airline or train tickets online without accepting responsibility for the affordability or conflicts in scheduling?
However, my own personal belief is that it boils down to how bad you want the house and how bad the seller wants to sell. If there are 5 houses for sale on the street for $200,000 then well your house is worth $200,000. You buy it for 190 then you got a good deal. Supply and demand my friends.