I agree with most of the responses so far. Unless you are in a christian leads group/networking group/church group (not a bad idea BTW), it's irrelevant, and most likely, unsolicited.

I realize many religions encourage evangelizing, and if you feel that you must evangelize with everyone you meet, maybe joining the ministry is more appropriate for you. I'm not trying to be smug. I'm just saying that if evangelizing is that important to you, you should follow your heart, but I'd be surprised if that were to help you be successful in real estate sales.

At least if you were in ministry, your actions would be in context with what you do, and you'd be doing what you love most.

vermont, we went thru the great windmill debate many years ago - many many. they're good, they're bad, they kill birds...in some real estate ads they're a great feature, as if they were mt. hood or something. "View the windmills from your porch."

gotta love it.

Side note to lighten the tone - Our pastor at church doesn't drink and he tries to make me feel guilty when I have more than a beer. I tease him saying that Jesus drank wine, so I'm just trying to be more Christ-like.

Another friend chimed in on the conversation saying [i]"Yeah - isn't Jesus turning water to wine when they ran out at a wedding why they call him "The Savior?""[/i]

Even our pastor couldn't help but chuckle.

I am a Chameleon; and strive to stay out of the emotional fray. In Real Estate, if you like them; so do I ! I run into problems when people want to put Restrictive Covenants into their Listing Agreements and the resulting Deeds . . . . like prohibiting Wind Mills, solely to perpetuate their viewpoint into posterity. It's a Control Thing.

Some of you may be old enough to recall the controversy that developed in the 1970s when Nixon nominated William Rehnquist to the Supreme Court and it was discovered that Rehnquist owned a Summer Home in Greensboro, Vermont, a couple of miles from me here (I wasn't here) and the Deed to his property contained (and still contains) Restrictive Covenants dating from the 1860s which barred any future transfer of Ownership to anyone of the "African or the Hebrew Race". Though unenforceable in the present time, it is still part of Historical Land Record.

People will always want to find a way to "Pigeon-Hole" you with a specific adjective; it makes it easier for them to make all future judgements where you are concerned. It is my job to Frustrate these Efforts and be my own person. My opinion or personal beliefs, including any religious affiliation, should have nothing to do with their decision making in Real Estate.

I live in the Bible belt and there are plenty of people I encounter who want to talk about being Christian. If they bring it up, I'm okay with it and will share with them. I am not one to "sell myself" as a Christian business person by TELLING YOU that I am. I tend to run from those people who tell me I should do business with them because, heh, they're Christian and I'm Christian and us Christians need to stick together! (as if we're an exclusive club and the "others" are somehow substandard). I've seen a lot of that around here in the past 25 yrs in a variety of businesses. Some of those folks have been the biggest scam artists . . .

Talking about your religion or your politics or just about any other deeply held conviction or belief should be approached with the utmost care.

You could just as easily lose as gain a client by coming down on the 'wrong' side of some issue.

Just as you could easily lose a client by saying something negative about his favorite football team.

what does religion or politics have to do with selling a house?

I actually almost scared a client because I had a bible in my car (forgot to take in in after church and I slid it under the console - but it snuck out going around a turn.

She expressed concern - because not only did she see my bible but she saw other names of locations in my area that made her wonder if she had entered the religious twilight zone: Lords Valley and Promised Land.

I don't think she believed me when I told her that no, we weren't a cell of religious nutjobs - the name Lords Valley was a family name that became a village, and Promised Land was a sarcastic name given when people who thought they could farm the land came to find out they couldn't. LOL

I never did see HER again...

Yes, this IS a big deal in places like Texas and Oklahoma! . . . Oklahoma University (Sooners) vs. Oklahoma State University (Cowboys) . . . and Oklahoma University vs. Texas University . . . and even the local perceptions about shutting down the local University's football program several years ago still linger . . . I try to just stick to real estate! (But with the really chatty types, I at least try to find out "which way the wind blows" with them before opening my mouth and running them off because I hold an opposing view.)

The Bible says Dont let your right hand knows what your left hand is doing. I do think this can pertain to this topic too. There is no reason to mention this. But when asked, I have no problems telling them that I'm a Christian.

What I've found to be the best approach when clients bring up religion or politics or sports is simply to listen and acknowledge what they have to say... which is different from agreeing with what they have to say.

That goes not only for clients... but for other agents and business associates as well. An agent in the office the other day was trying very hard to pin me down on who I support in the presidential election. I simply wouldn't offer an opinion. When she finally blurted out who she supported, it was not my first choice. But I simply smiled and told her she was doing the right thing for keeping abreast of the important issues facing the nation.

There are exceptions to this rule. Associates who I've known for a long time or have more personal relationships outside the office know much more about my religious and political views... but that's another ballgame altogether.

I have no problem telling people I'm a Greek Orthodox Republican, but I don't know that that always gets me business.

So do you say "Hi, my name is C. Barris, and I am a Greek Orthodox Republican. How may I help you with your real estate needs?"

LOL

Oh, Perky - that's a riot! At this point, I'd rather talk religion to a chatty client because I REFUSE to talk politics! This election year has annoyed me so much, I can't see straight-- I only discuss politics with a small handful of like-minded friends, very close friends.

barb3^^^^^^^^^who are you going to vote for;-)?