Grandma Thinks I’m Broke & Finding A Realtor & Wife Online
My grandmother thinks I’m broke!
The other day she calls me and says in a thick accent,
“Are you still able to feed yourself? Why are you still in Real Estate.”
I asked why, and she proceeds, “I keep reading in the paper that the market is tanking.”
I assure her that even though gas prices are higher I have just enough to still buy food.
Three years ago if you said you were a Realtor, it was like E.F. Hutton. Strangers would be caught listening in and people were impressed. (sidenote: I got stuck bookless once and picked up a 1993 book by Peter Lynch of Fidelity. I loved his insight saying that the market turns down not when he starts getting advice from friends or his dentist, but when he starts considering following their advice!)
Today it isn’t just my grandmother, but others cringe or feel bad that I am in Real Estate. 
But after I use the pity to get a free beer, I tell them that business is doing great!
The weekend warriors [agents] all packed up and went home. Fewer agents and the explosion of the blogging world and things are great.
Nah, I’m not making a “killing,” but don’t want to be. I like a balanced life.
Did you know I get 80% of my business from this blog, and I get to be picky and take on fun and great clients!
BUT I am pretty bad with the initial contacts. In part since I get so many bogus requests. But once a match is made, they get my full attention… and my cell phone number. (see, Sorry, I don’t answer my cell… unless)
For example, just the other day I got an email from somebody that already spit out 2 Realtors. Why I can see one being lazy, but 2? My bet was it was an unrealistic client and I don’t have time to find them the impossible.
Another barely remotely related story, I was using my new live chat feature (on Blog.FranklyRealty.com) with somebody at 1 AM the other night (It tells you if I am online). We were chatting and I was talking her out of building a home in McLean (where I grew up) and how it would cost more etc.
Then she told me she had a bad experience with her former Realtor with her last home. I then asked “Was it a rebate company?” to which she was amazed that I was dead on! (disclaimer: Rebater does not = bad, see my blog where I say “I used to rebate, but then I got good“).
Then she proceeds to tell me that during this round of buying she is disappointed in her current Realtor. Especially her lack of a financial understanding to which I asked… “Let me guess,” and she said “Oh no, not again,” and
I said “So is it a cousin or aunt Realtor?” Bingo! Deal or No Deal! “Yes” She was amazed. That will have to be for another post, “But My Cousin is a Realtor.” (make sure you subscribe to not miss it!)
What does this have to do with my grandmother thinking I’m broke? I dunno. Probably somehow, but I forgot.
Anyhow, business is great.
I just wanted you to know that you aren’t the only one looking online to hire a Realtor… And heck for those that say it isn’t personal enough, I found my fiancée Carrie (as of last week) via match.com, so why not a Realtor?
-Written by Frank Borges LL0SA- Broker FranklyRealty.com(please report typos)
- 4
- June
- 2008
IF you are willing to work it will come. The elite realtors will survive.
Frank –
Does your grandmother hang with my mother?
It’s laughable their reaction to the market, but they are just concerned about our well being.
My bigger concern – PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS read the same stuff, and that may force them to the sidelines for a longer while (although I never turn down a free beer from one of them!)
Keep on track – and call us anytime!
DEAN & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
Why isn’t your grandma on your mailing list!
Sarah,
Mail? What is that?
Frank, you’ve got to get Grandma to read your blog! Sign her up so she can follow your activities and get the real picture.
Hi Frank. Your fiance is just adorable and you’re so lucky to have such a loving grandmother! Glad you are doing so well and that you’re blog is so well read. I just feed off these positive stories. Perhaps that’s why the virtual water cooler in the RE Blogger’s world is so upbeat.
I can’t believe you got that woman to marry you!! ;-)
Is your grandmother in South Florida? She echoes what I hear all the time about real estate being bad and times being tough. Yes, things are slower, even much slower, but as you’ve mentioned all the weekend warriors are getting out. Those who didn’t take the time to learn and understand the trade are also getting out. I heard a stat that around 65% or so of agents in Broward County did not renew their license this year. That means a lot less agents left so though business is slower, we still do alright.
Ok – great story… Tell your grandma – we all said hello… WOW – you are a true online kind of guy…. Congrats on your engagement… God bless,
I know I get the same questions about mortgages…. but my husband and I seem to be busier than ever because like you said…the part-timers have moved on and the ones that make this their full time career and truly love and know real estate are here to help the homebuyers and sellers.
I hear the same thing from my Grandma, and Mom, and Dad. I also get free beers from sympathetic patrons as well. One even ponied up a nice couple looking to buy a house though!
Hey Frank ~ It is Grandma’s job to worry. Here is another way that the News Media is hurting our ability to rebound.
Congrats to both Carrie and you Frank on the engagement & your pending nuptials. All the best! Joe
I dunno Frank. You do look a little thinner every time I see you. Are you getting enough to eat? ;-)
Hey Ben, Actually that photo of me any my Grandma is an old shot. So you are basically saying that now I am fat.
awesome, awesome, awesome. Marriage is VERY cool! Congrats.
You need to send Grandma a really expensive gift so that she knows you’re doing well. Maybe a cruise or something :)
congratulations Frank on your fiance– she’s a cutie!
Frank,
CONGRATS on your engagement! So, when is Grandma going to start blogging???? I can’t WAIT to read what she has to say!
Tina in Virginia
Hey Tina,
She won’t even touch an ATM, let alone a computer, let along become a blogger!
Frank
I am SO glad I’m not the only one! My dad called the other day and asked: “Do you have health insurance?” I answer, “Ummm yes…[wondering why on earth he called to ask this]…do you?” Then he goes on the explain he wasn’t sure if I did because “it’s so expensive…”
Then I decided he must be watching too much news on TV again because according to them: NO houses are selling and NO one has health insurance…
Just had a blog chat with somebody. They wrote:
“I worked with one, who tried to screw me”
I wrote: “that sucks. Let me guess,
was he offering a rebate?”
They replied. “yep. he was, my problem was that he was lying to me”
I proceeded to laugh.
I think it is pretty cool your grandmother uses the word “tanking”.
Hey Greg! Very funny. She might not have used that exact word. And it might have been in Spanish.
Felicidades, y buen suerte!
Good news about the engagement.
You *could* ask your granny to send you something yummy. . . my abuela is great about that!