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#161637 - 08/08/07 10:48 PM
Does the type of car you drive really matter?
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Member
Registered: 08/08/07
Posts: 15
Loc: Maryland
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Well, in my short time of being a Realtor I've gotten a few comments from Realtors stating how I need a expensive car to show how 'successful' I am. I counter these statements saying something like "As long as my car is clean I don't see why make/model of expensive car would matter" After that most just say you'll see. One fellow Realtor did go further saying it's about perception. 'If you drive a nice car people will view you as successful. When a client sees the nice car their agent is driving they will think he/she is good at their job. Being a successful agent will ease the buyer/seller doubts and trust you better. They don't question you as often, and go along with your thoughts more often.'
I've seen a agent rent a BMW (threw a yard sign in the trunk) while my car was getting an oil change some time ago so it seems many agents feel a car does make a difference.
I'm still not seeing it. If I talk with knowledge and do my best at customer service it shouldn't matter what I drive...or does it? Comments welcomed...
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#161644 - 08/08/07 11:12 PM
Re: Does the type of car you drive really matter?
[Re: Shawn_S]
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Veteran Member
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Registered: 08/23/05
Posts: 704
Loc: Spring Hill, FL
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if you're not driving one of these ...you're just not good enough.
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#161662 - 08/08/07 11:53 PM
Re: Does the type of car you drive really matter?
[Re: Shawn_S]
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Veteran Member
Registered: 01/19/06
Posts: 994
Loc: New Jersey
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Well, in my short time of being a Realtor I've gotten a few comments from Realtors stating how I need a expensive car to show how 'successful' I am. I counter these statements saying something like "As long as my car is clean I don't see why make/model of expensive car would matter" After that most just say you'll see. One fellow Realtor did go further saying it's about perception. 'If you drive a nice car people will view you as successful. When a client sees the nice car their agent is driving they will think he/she is good at their job. Being a successful agent will ease the buyer/seller doubts and trust you better. They don't question you as often, and go along with your thoughts more often.'
I've seen a agent rent a BMW (threw a yard sign in the trunk) while my car was getting an oil change some time ago so it seems many agents feel a car does make a difference.
I'm still not seeing it. If I talk with knowledge and do my best at customer service it shouldn't matter what I drive...or does it? Comments welcomed... It does matter. This is an image business to a certain degree. A car is a basic tool of the business. It does not have to be a Lexus, but it has to be more than just "clean". I think the minimum acceptable car is something like a new Camry or Acura or the like. And clothes matter too. Being knowledgable and nice is not enough. You should look the part. And this goes for everything, including your car, clothes, camera, padfolio, etc. It is well-known that successful real estate agents make a lot of money. To get listings and customers you want to be perceived as being successful, whether you are or not. Besides that, driving a nice car is fun. I think you will find that the most vociferous anti-nice car agents are usually the ones with no money. There's nothing wrong with being successful AND looking the part.
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#161676 - 08/09/07 01:32 AM
Re: Does the type of car you drive really matter?
[Re: navarac]
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Member
Registered: 02/24/07
Posts: 133
Loc: WA
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I'll get a new car as soon as I make the money...
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#161706 - 08/09/07 08:42 AM
Re: Does the type of car you drive really matter?
[Re: K20]
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Member
Registered: 01/08/07
Posts: 98
Loc: Ca
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I did an experiment back in Psychology about people who drive real nice cars and people seem to think these people are....
Cocky and Arrogant
frivolous with money
Cold and Unreliable
I did ask about the Unreliable part because i had a big question about that one LOL. The answer that I found was that people seem to think that they will always help the person that makes them the most money.
How I believe this applies here is that if your selling there home for 200,000 and you have a house over 500,000, then your more likely to help the 500,000 more
ALSO, people get nervous getting in an expensive cars because they try to be more carefull not to do anything to the car.
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#161733 - 08/09/07 09:53 AM
Re: Does the type of car you drive really matter?
[Re: Shawn_S]
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Member
Registered: 09/24/04
Posts: 299
Loc: Alexandria, VA USA
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Generally speaking, most folks ARE going to equate success with how you look, what you drive, etc. People are generally more attracted to people they view as successful, don't you think?
Depending on your target market and your client base, perhaps it won't matter, but I have actually had people say to me, "you obviously know what you are doing!" when seeing my car. Is that necessarily true? Well, of course not, but perception is reality.
Again, though, it can be market specific and depends on what kind of clients you hope to attract. I drive what my peers drive because that's basically who my clients are. I can tell you they'd be mighty uncomfortable if I showed up in a Honda Element because that would just confuse their senses.
I live in a market where it seems every other car on the road is a luxury car, so driving a nice car is the norm, not the exception. If you are in a different type of market, then adjust accordingly.
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#161743 - 08/09/07 10:23 AM
Re: Does the type of car you drive really matter?
[Re: SusanScuba]
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Member
Registered: 05/13/06
Posts: 105
Loc: NJ
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Agents who work rural areas can rock up in a dusty pickup truck wearing jeans and a cowboy hat, but agents in urban, affluent areas probably find it better to drive at least a Camry or Accord.
A lot of my customers noticed when I purchased a new, "luxury" car. I purposely got one where the models have not changed much outwardly over the years, so I can drive a 7 year old car, but my clients have no idea that it's not brand new.
The biggest issue for me is having a car that 4 people can comfortably fit into, and one where the AC works very quickly. I had a leased Toyota when I first went into real estate and it was awful in humid weather, the AC took about 10 minutes to get going.
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#161862 - 08/09/07 07:08 PM
Re: Does the type of car you drive really matter?
[Re: undercoveragent]
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Mod Squad
Major Contributor
Registered: 11/27/06
Posts: 7685
Loc: PA
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Have any of you heard how Brian Buffini started out? His first car? It was a rusted rattle trap covered with Grateful Dead stickers.
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#161890 - 08/09/07 08:48 PM
Re: Does the type of car you drive really matter?
[Re: Perky_REALTOR]
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Major Contributor
Registered: 09/01/06
Posts: 2834
Loc: upstate New York
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undercoveragent obviously understands my market. The car should be clean and reliable but if you come across as "showing off" wealth there will be a segment that will complain that is why the commissions are (in their perception) too high. In general I think the expense of the car you drive means more to your competing agents then it does to your clients and customers.
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#161940 - 08/10/07 12:24 AM
Re: Does the type of car you drive really matter?
[Re: fatmaxxv]
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Member
Registered: 07/21/07
Posts: 71
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Yes, I've read the millionaire next door, and basically 'frugality' is what it's all about...
But remember, we are in commission sales. And IMAGE matters...look at it this way...I'm a seller. I want somebody who is going to be SUCCESSFUL at getting my home sold...I've got one agent who comes to my home to give me a listing presentation...he pulls up to my house in a brown five year old Honda Civic...The other agent shows up to give a listing presentation in a black cadilac escalalde EXT...rightly or wrongly, I'm going to think the guy in the Cadilac is a more successful guy at selling houses...
Maybe working with buyers it doesn't matter...but to a seller, they are going to want to think you're successful at doing your job...Is it all 'IMAGE'? Sure. But in this market, any competitive edge helps...
Edited by Closer Joe (08/10/07 12:25 AM)
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#161946 - 08/10/07 12:45 AM
Re: Does the type of car you drive really matter?
[Re: Closer Joe]
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Mod Squad
Major Contributor
Registered: 11/27/06
Posts: 7685
Loc: PA
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Yes, I've read the millionaire next door, and basically 'frugality' is what it's all about...
But remember, we are in commission sales. And IMAGE matters...look at it this way...I'm a seller. I want somebody who is going to be SUCCESSFUL at getting my home sold...I've got one agent who comes to my home to give me a listing presentation...he pulls up to my house in a brown five year old Honda Civic...The other agent shows up to give a listing presentation in a black cadilac escalalde EXT...rightly or wrongly, I'm going to think the guy in the Cadilac is a more successful guy at selling houses...
Maybe working with buyers it doesn't matter...but to a seller, they are going to want to think you're successful at doing your job...Is it all 'IMAGE'? Sure. But in this market, any competitive edge helps... But not everyone equates success with clothes or cars. They have to like you, trust you, and believe YOU as a person, or even your company (we have had people call up our office and say "I see your signs all over, we want to list our house. When can you send someone out?" LOL).... not what kind of car you drive.
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Registered: 02/09/07
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