Opinions, please!

[JohnnyD 0]

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Johnny, why do you remember her? What did she do that created the impression that she was the one who you wanted to work with - *before* you worked with her?

Ciels-
Michele

She seemed to actually be paying attention when I told her my price range, location I wanted, and what I wanted in a house in general. She also returned my calls right away and generally made me feel like an important client even though I was well aware that I was really small potatoes to her. She showed me four houses. Three were great, one I bought. She was also the lender which made her one stop shopping. Very easy process.
Basically, she seemed very in tune to my needs and how it was best to handle me. There was nothing about her that suggested in the least way that there was anything else on her mind but me and getting me the house I want.

[Michele 1]

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She seemed to actually be paying attention when I told her my price range, location I wanted, and what I wanted in a house in general. She also returned my calls right away and generally made me feel like an important client even though I was well aware that I was really small potatoes to her. She showed me four houses. Three were great, one I bought. She was also the lender which made her one stop shopping. Very easy process.
Basically, she seemed very in tune to my needs and how it was best to handle me. There was nothing about her that suggested in the least way that there was anything else on her mind but me and getting me the house I want.

But why did you start talking to her in the first place? How did you meet her? What made you decide to go looking with her specifically? Referral from a friend? Open house meeting? Cold calling? Standing in the supermarket line? How did you first come in contact with her?

Thanks...and btw, that's great feedback regarding what you liked that she did...I appreciate that, too!

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[JohnnyD 0]

She was cautiously referred by a coworker. He was moderately happy with her when he bought a house years earlier. Being new to the area, she was my only contact so I called her and talked to her to decide if I actually wanted to use her. I told her what I was looking for and I had ten listings faxed to me within the hour. We decided which four to look at and I bought one. The whole process took less than 4 hrs.

I guess the moral is: if I didn't have her as a referral I would have been on my own to find a realtor. If I made a contact that had a business card that was less than 100% professional - even if it looked cool - that person would automatically go to the round file. My feelings mirror Kallend's. If I need (not want, but need) a professional, the job is all I care about.

Hope that helps.

[Michele 1]

Thanks, Johnny. What I was trying to find out was if the business card made a difference. You had already been "cautiously" referred, talked to, been faxed listings, and had decided on 4 homes to see prior to your receiving her business card. That's the info I was looking for.

It wasn't a cold contact, where the card will make a difference. It was a warm contact, and that's handled a whole 'nother way. (This is not said to discount your opinion on the card, however...simply to clarify for myself as to where you're coming from.)

And the feedback really helps. I'm teaching a class on client needs, and would love to use this (and any others people would care to contribute, good or bad) in the class. May I? It's great when I can use real experiences, and discuss them with my trainees. Gives them some real, tangible issues to contend with. So if anyone else wants to give me a bit about what they like/dislike in a realtor, I'd love it!

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[JohnnyD 0]

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Thanks, Johnny. What I was trying to find out was if the business card made a difference.

The short answer is yes, it would.

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It wasn't a cold contact, where the card will make a difference.

It made a difference for repeat business. I wasn't left feeling as if I had gotten lucky with some crack pot that just had an unusually good week.

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And the feedback really helps. I'm teaching a class on client needs, and would love to use this (and any others people would care to contribute, good or bad) in the class. May I?

Sure.

[airtwardo 7]

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Shoot, if I could get my company to sponsor it, how cool would that be? Alas, not yet...maybe next year, but not now....

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Just photoshop it...
I do it all the time to give potental sponsors
a concept of what I'm talking about.

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As for the kiss, well, I'll try to arrange it better...but still. It caught you by surprise, and that was the point!

***

Boy...DID IT!

And I wasn't the only one...

Right there in a Country Western Bar,
and the bartender suggested
"it wasn't THAT kind of place!"

***

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Nightingale 0]

hmm... maybe, instead of having a skydiver under the parachute, put a house under the parachute, and your company logo on the canopy. That way, it looks as if the realtor will be the buyer's parachute and help them land a great house.

dunno... probably silly.

[bigway 4]

Michele can land a great house......
At first i think the parachute is like someone who has just started jumping wanting everything in theiir life to be about by skydiving and wanting to tell everyone they are a jumper, you know when we first start jumping we can not tell enough people..............but on the other hand, if someone like michele, who is not new to the scene wants to incorporate the skydiving theme, i think it would look fantastice with a house under it, as nightingale said, you can land a great house with my experience.
It kind of works.....anyway michele, good stuff landing a position where what you say counts.....ha, that worked to landing...get it?

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
.

[Amazon 7]

Ok.. Love the color.. lose the parachute. For a personal card maybe.. but as others said.. its not the image you want to portray in the real estate market.

[78RATS 0]

I say keep the card the way you like it. Keep the canopy. I would make it smaller, not just in size but also in relation to the jumper. That thing is a boat.

Do more swoopier.

Rat for Life - Fly till I die
When them stupid ass bitches ask why

[tigra 0]

I like the idea, and I see nothing wrong with wanting a card that stands out a little bit. Personally, I can't stand the ones with the glossy color photos on them! I know they're meant to be more "personal" but to me they come across as pretentious and kind of cheesy! The parachute (I do agree it should be smaller, not take up so much space on the card) is unique and personal without being a cliche, IMO! Its a tough market and everyone needs a hook!

I bought a house last year, actually started looking in the fall of 2002. If you think it will help your presentation, PM me and I'll share my experiences with you.

maura

[smiles 0]

hey Michele,

congratulations!....business card design is exciting and so personal, go with your guts.

I tried to change some stuff in a sample attached:
re: everyone's choice is different, but good to have few to choose from
An outline in gold- address in upper right corner- e-mail address larger across bottom line- a white canopy graphic.

SMiles

...edit...sorry I put 2 l's in your name

[smiles 0]

--cannot view the back of your card,
re: .jpg.psd

SMiles

[kai2k1 0]

Sounds and looks awesome to me Michele! BTW how are you? i havent talked to you in ages

There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan

[pajarito 0]

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I wouldn't use the parachute for a logo. When one hires a realtor, they are looking for someone who will make them feel safe by minimizing risks.

I agree. Most of your target markets aren't going to consist of skydivers. They'll be a very small percentage. Others just won't understand the correlation. They might think, "Hey, that's a cool picture of a person under a parachute but what's that got to do with real estate?" The only way I'd put a picture like that on my business card is if skydiving had in some way something to do with my business.

[Michele 1]

Smiles, that is very very close to what I had in my head.

Nightingale, I like that idea...but to use it would eliminate sellers...but it's a great buyer's piece for open houses, and for distribution. That's going into the hopper for sure. Bigway, thanks for that! Great lines, great thoughts, and I tell ya, I appreciate it.

Tigra, yes, please share your experiences via pm with me. I won't use names, just what's happened with real people and real agents, and truth! That's the best way to teach, I've found...

I had several colleagues look at my layout today - experienced, well-seasoned agents (20+ years in the business), and all of them were enthusiastic about the card. Several suggestions (along what I've heard here) about changing the size/color of the parachutist, et cetera. One agent held the proof for a while, and I commented that he was doing exactly what I want people to do - hold it for more than about 3 seconds before it goes into their pocket, to either die a wet death in the laundry, or go out with the trash. That's all this is designed to do - get their attention, connect my name with something, and stay in their head.

As for me missing some of the market, there will always be a segment I don't reach - because I'm too young, too old, too fat, too skinny, too rowdy, too quiet, too pushy, too laid back, too something for their taste. That's fine - gotta leave some for the other realtors....LOL. Overall, the concept seems to be generally well received (both on this site as well as several others I post to, not skydiving specific), and it's been completely encouraged at my office among my colleagues.

I'm in the final stages of revamping the card to accommodate suggestions made here, and will make my decisions tomorrow.

Thanks all, and it's not done yet - so add your thoughts/comments to the thread!


Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[bobsled92 0]

_______________________________
If I could be a Super Hero,
I chose to be: "GRANT-A-CLAUS". and work 365 days a Year.
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[RippedCord 0]

Change the font for your name.

It looks like Michele Lejjer.

AMDG