Education Centre

Luck of the Irish to Ya'

Digging the Hole Deeper

On a trip to America early in my career I came across a shop in West Main Street, Somerville.  This dainty, well maintained shop, not far from the local cathedral, had shelves stocked with Catholic supplies such as rosaries, Bibles, gifts and crucifixes.

I was surprised to see one of the hottest-selling items were 4-inch statues of St. Joseph. That is because St. Joseph is revered in many circles for his uncanny ability to sell real estate in a pinch.

To uncork St. Joseph's selling magic, the statue is typically stuffed inside a protective canvas bag and buried head first in the front lawn near the 'For Sale' sign. Once the home is sold, the statue must be exhumed and displayed prominently in a person's next home.

Other then statutes in the front lawn how else can we sell homes?

In this boom market expensive advertising campaigns are not necessary.  Your agent should have a database of buyers ready to purchase.  Before listing ask them how big their database is and what program they use to match buyers to sellers.  

I once sat in on a marketing meeting where the Principal of a well known franchise told her staff (while she proudly displayed her latest self published glossy magazine), "Sell your clients a page in this mag for $700, it only costs you $400, but make a $300 profit which we'll call 'booking fees'". 

A franchise can't exist unless they greedily steal marketing dollars from clients which only serves to advertise their brand.   

It's not Saint Joseph we need, it's St Patrick

Today (17 March) is not the day of Saint Joseph (that's Monday, 19 March), it's the feast day of St Patrick, and luck of the Irish to you (pretend I said that in an Irish accent). 

St Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland, we might recall from our Christian Brother's dogmatic religious instruction, drove all the snakes from Ireland. 

St Patrick, where are you now?  Have you seen all the snakes in the Real Estate industry?  They're slithering, shimmering everywhere, and in a boom they're taking advantage of poor unsuspecting real estate consumers. 

Look, we can't rely on mythology to save us from slimy snakes; we have to rely on good old common sense.  Consumers are turning away from the franchise system  in droves over the 7 years I have been selling homes.  One survey I recently read showed 60% of people prefer the personal approach offered by independent agencies. 

An agent should sell your house from their database using good, well priced, internet concepts.  Be very afraid if the agent asks for a shovel and starts digging up your front lawn.  Your fears will be confirmed if they start praying next to the 'for sale' sign. 

Next time those franchise people beat a path to your door pull out a staff, throw on a habit, and bellow in your feistiest Irish accent, "Be gone wit ya, before I send St Patrick to drive ya to da sea."  It might not do anything other than make 'em think you're too kooky to ever bother again, but at least they'll peddle their lies elsewhere.   

Happy St Patrick's day.