I saw a video about a company using models to sell luxury properties in New York. I thought I'd take the message to the next step and see what you guys think.

Link to the video: http://vodpod.com/watch/212892-models-as-real-estate-agents-a-new-business-model

I think there's a place for models in major cities like New York, Toronto, Chicago, ect. But will being beautiful help you in smaller markets? Will it help a girl more than a guy? Am I crazy to think an agents looks play a role in getting leads or selling a home?

Hey BP, I think it depends on who you're trying to reach. It's like the old saying that you should wear appropriate clothes when going into a sales meeting. If you over-dress you may offend your prospective client by making them feel inferior. If you under-dress they will think you're a hick. Same with models in your videos.

sure it will help. don't you watch the "sell my house" shows on cable channels? the female agents often wear low cut tops revealing their cleavage. all other things equal, a male cient is going to favor an attractive woman.

Why else do women wear makeup to work? Or men keep their hair cut and facial hair neatly trimmed? It's basic biochemistry.

Why do bars have hot bartenders? So that people come up to the bar more often and spend more money just so they can talk to the hot chick behind the bar.

Of course, there may be those clients that just want to spend time with a hot agent and don't really intend to buy anything.

In my previous career, selling yellow page advertising, I worked with a "hot chick" of about 21 yrs of age, who specialized in selling ads to contractors. She would dress in what I would consider to be a provocative manner.

The office had a call one day from a contractor who said, "I just love it when I say no to her. Her skirt goes up an inch with every no."

Was she successful?

You bet she was!!!

As I, and most of the other women I worked with didn't employ those "objection overriding" techniques, we weren't as successful as she was.

Go figure!

Sometimes being atractive will work against you.

I am so hot that I have burnt holes in carpets. The women of course want me to represent them, but many a times the husband gets so jealous they have to move on to a new agent. I have turned gay women straight, and turned straight men gay, I'm that good.

I don't mean to brag or anything, because being good looking can be a curse. I have to ugly myself up to meet clients. I'm constantly telling clients "hey my eyes are are here". Im constanly picking up pens that seem to "jump" out of peoples hands.

I know to you people i'm just a body to look at and accidently fondle, but I am a human being. Please quit hating me because i'm a beutiful person.

A few years ago there was a female agent in California that purchased a billboard ad that had her pictured in a bikini. She took a lot of criticism because it looked more like an ad for a strip club than for real estate services.

Everyone uses their strongest asset in sales. I guess she was displaying her two biggest.

Dayton, You stole all my lines- NO FAIR!!! Except I turn gay men straight and the wives get jealous... Oh well, you get the idea...

Seriously, I am not an attractive person. I don't put my photos on ads because I know it may work against me. Most of my business originates on the internet or phone calls, so people are not screening my appearance, but what I haveto offer them.
Yes, people often go with a more attractive person over a plain or ugly person. It sucks, but we all know it happens. I don't think it's right to use your appearance as your best asset, but for some, that's really all they have. If I were gorgeous, I would have my photos on ads. I would not rely on my looks to bring in the customers or money, though, I just wouldn't expect them to be repulsed enought to go elsewhere.
I would never pay a model to advertise my listings, though. To me, that's morally offensive. Spoken like a true ugly woman, eh?

Feelin' ya on all that... but can i hate ya cuz you're a poor speller?

[quote=zephyr]Dayton, You stole all my lines- NO FAIR!!! Except I turn gay men straight and the wives get jealous... Oh well, you get the idea...

Seriously, I am not an attractive person. I don't put my photos on ads because I know it may work against me. Most of my business originates on the internet or phone calls, so people are not screening my appearance, but what I haveto offer them.
Yes, people often go with a more attractive person over a plain or ugly person. It sucks, but we all know it happens. I don't think it's right to use your appearance as your best asset, but for some, that's really all they have. If I were gorgeous, I would have my photos on ads. I would not rely on my looks to bring in the customers or money, though, I just wouldn't expect them to be repulsed enought to go elsewhere.
I would never pay a model to advertise my listings, though. To me, that's morally offensive. Spoken like a true ugly woman, eh? [/quote]

Zephyr, your honesty and humility are attractive features! I, ...erm... don't photograph well either. I discovered that the Comic Book Effect on my MacBook makes me look great! I'm thinking of putting a comic-book-image of myself on my business card.

I have seen a lot of people come and go over the years. It has been my observation that the really successful people are successful because of how hard they work, not how good they look. I have seen unsuccessful people who were great looking and highly successful people who were less than great looking. Maybe the great looking babe was successful selling stuff to truck drivers but I think that most buyers and sellers of real estate base their decisions about who they work with on things like professionalism, knowledge and experience.

I actually look better in photos (carefully chosen photos that is) than I do in real life. I pick the photo that most flatters me but I'm sure I seriously surprise people when we meet in real life. Then I wow them with my dazzling personality and irresistable charm and they're eating out of my hand as if I were Jennifer Aniston.

And if you believe that I have several bridges for sale...

I am a sucker for a good looking woman in a hot skirt! Great legs and a cute face are always attractive.

Megan Fox in Transformers 2 looks WOW on that motorcycle.

That skirt thing was funny. I guess that's what you call "using your ASSets!"

[quote=Laure]Zephyr, your honesty and humility are attractive features! I, ...erm... don't photograph well either. I discovered that the Comic Book Effect on my MacBook makes me look great! I'm thinking of putting a comic-book-image of myself on my business card.[/quote]

Laure,

That's an awesome idea, I am getting my fiancé to make me into a computer cartoon, I think it's a great marketing strategy. If u decide to go that route, I'd love to see it.

Best of luck

Of course! Easy on the eyes will always sell more service or product even if flirtatious or even blantently sexual techniques are not put into play. People want to be like attractive people and they will buy products or services based on looks and sexuality.

Even PETA endorces figures such as Pam Anderson and Jenna Jameson to gain attention. Sex sells.

I think guys would be more likely to buy from a hot woman. I dont think women would fall for this as much.

Except that this can backfire because most guys have a significant other who will not be happy with their man going gaga over an attractive agent.

I always focus my attention on the wife and never goof around w/her husband.

I don't know about that. I would rather look at the hot woman, but when my money is on the line, I want to know that there is brains involved. If I was in need of an Attorney, DR, CPA, etc, I don't care how hot she is, I want to know that she good.

I'd hire someone that looked like Janet Reno to defend me over a hot lawyer in a bikinni. If you are that ugly, you have nothing better to do than study and be great.

OMG REO!!!

Did you just call JR "...that ugly"?????

Wouldn't you????

I'm taking the fifth!

Put her in a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt would you wonder of if she was a man? You might even mistake her for Bill Gates.

I titled my blog Honest but Ugly and even have a page on my website that alludes to my lack of looks. If looks are important, then go somwhere else. If results are important, call me.

Ugly But Honest would make more sense - imho

but you're not ugly.

Too bad most of them have wives, who also make the buying decision.

Well as somone who has been working sales since 2001, I heard from my male co-workers all the time about how if they were female/attractive, they would sell more because they would take advantage of it. Alot of us females realize when others find us attractive, but we also realize when people are focusing TOO much on the wrong factor, and don't like to have our time wasted. It's more than a double edged sword when you are talking about it in the workplace, women in general (ESPECIALLY if they are attractive) get punished with all of the sterotypes, psychology and politics and it comes from both males and females. Males will assume that because you are attractive, that you must know how to use your looks or feminine wiles (sp) to attract others and getthe job done, and females will assume that you take it too far in using your looks and MIGHT call you every name in the book behind your back, or at least think that you think too highly of yourself because of how you look. This is something we can go on all day about, it's unfortunate, because if you make it clear that you are about business and aren't comfortable with any other kind of talk beyond a simple compliment, your branded every kind of negative word so as to have people label you and your not allowed to have your work speak for itself!

Is this topic settled?

I think so. If I read it right:

1. Ugly women are better than pretty women in Real Estate.

2. Attractive Men are better than Ugly Men in Real Estate.

so... if you are beauty-challenged, maybe you just have to find clients uglier than you

It's funny - I was just thinking about this same topic today before I found this post so here are my thoughts from earlier:

Think about your own tastes for a moment... what do you consider attractive? I mean attractive qualities, not what the media says we should think is attractive. I know for myself, CONFIDENCE is an attractive quality.

I wouldn't call myself completely unfortunate, but I'm not exactly hot either. I can go from completely homely to getting wow's. When I go out in public with my hair up and sweats on with no makeup, I am not as confident. I tend to not do business on those days because I don't typically feel good enough about myself to do it... however, when I put on nice, professional, classy and trendy clothes (NOT provocative! and do my hair and makeup, I am much more confident and it's noticeable! I talk more, look people in the eye more, smile more and exude more confidence in general.

I have found myself attracted to people who are confident, but not necessarily perfect looking per society. Confident people look you in the eye and are engaging. They want to know about you and listen. That is attractive. People who are well spoken and attentive are attractive. Ever noticed that? Even if they aren't "pretty" they are still attractive to us.

So don't think that 100k in plastic surgery is going to make you sell more real estate. There are simple things you can do to boost your own confidence.

Here's a few:

Take some courses on public speaking. Being able to talk in public and talk confidently to people will automatically make you more confident, and therefore more attractive. Look into Toastmasters in your area or do some public speaking classes.

Keep yourself fit! Even just go for a walk a few times a week. It produces endorphins, making you happier, and therefore... more confident. This sounds stupid, but I also pay $50/mo for a tanning membership. I go get sprayed every few days because it just makes me feel better. Guys - keep yourself well groomed and well dressed. Girls - put a little effort into your hair and makeup as well as choice of clothing. It's okay to spend a little money on yourself. No, it's not shallow if it makes YOU feel better. First impressions are everything!

Eat a good clean diet - this will help you feel better about yourself. Remember, you are what you eat! Eat of load of junk, you'll feel like a load and that passes to your actions too. You'll feel heavy, greasy, frumpy etc.

Make sure you know your stuff! This one is huge. Know your target market details, whatever that may be. That way, when someone asks you something, you'll have the answer in your back pocket. Always do your research and be up to date.

Don't forget - Knowledge is Power.
When you have knowledge, confidence replaces fear!

I think everyone has their own idea of what "attractive" is, but I really think confidence is key. It sounds cliche, but watch yourself being engaged by those that exude confidence and then dig into what makes them that way. I've come across pretty darn good looking people that I don't care to work with, be around or associate with because they are airheads, into themselves, don't know what their doing, etc. You get the idea.

After saying all this, I can honestly say that I struggle with confidence and that is why I employ these things myself. For some reason, I can't get past my own negative inertia sometimes. Don't laugh, but I actually have a bracelet that says "Damn, I'm Good!" When I need a little boost, I look down, read that and then stand up straight again and keep going!

I know this was long, but I hope it helps - at least to clear up any "attractive" myths!

You are what you think you are...

P.S - Did you know that 70% of those in real estate are women... and that women in general are more successful in real estate? Know why? Cuz' we LISTEN! Not because we hike our skirts!

And someone said it best - always, always engage the wife. I promise she almost always holds the last card! Leave her out, and you may leave yourself out of a deal.

interesting, what study was it that had published this result?

I don't put my pictures on business cards now (I have before), internet or anything that may have someone looking for an open invitation to trouble, especially open houses. Should this be another topic or does anyone else have these concerns.

I was thinking the same thing. The draw back of being an attractive woman is that you are an open target. You shouldn't have to worry about these things but we know that you do. That is why everyone should be aware of their surroundings and always practise safe habits to help identify potential situations. This goes especially for women who are considered attractive by the general population. Its like when your younger and your at a club or party and the extremely attractive girl gets all the attention while the so-so will maybe get an occasional visit or 2. Just some random thoughts. Hopefully most of my spelling it ok. Kind of late right now...

After age 35, you can go back to putting your picture back on your card because by then we're too old for any one to want to attack let alone come on to us.

.......

Are you kidding me Artiste? after 35 is still very young. I am not saying that because I myself am in my mid 30's, but because as a man I have seen plenty of women in their mid to late 30 and 40's who are still gorgeous. Maybe by the time you are in your late 50's and early 60's most mid to younger guys will gravitate towards the younger looking woman. But I think an early 40 to late 40 yr old woman can still compete and get the looks. Definitely a mid 30 yr old can.

................

This question is so ridiculous!

I'm thinking of using this picture of me in my marketing, in spite of the fact that it's 22 years old...what do you think?

?

No answer to your question yet, estatereal?

Apparently, she's not listening!

87% of all statistics are made up!


that was a tagline on somoenese forumname thingy and i use it all the time now since i saw it.

it's one of my favorites

In my opinion, it is all relative.

I know an average looking woman who actually makes over 10 million with her business as a realtor and know Mortgage company owner. However, her niche in the market was looking for investors who wanted to buy homes. She has around 300 loyal investors that always come to her for their investment home buying needs. Its all about your market as has been said on this thread before.

Respectfully,
Tony

Not easy for me to do!
Clay Branyon
www.northmyrtlebeachrealestatesales.com

Perky Realtor, Is the car for sale? (just kidding)

Sex sells, sexiness sells, attractiveness sells if not over-exploited. Good looks are a huge asset. Advertisers spend hundreds of millions of dollars putting attractive looking people in ads because it gets results. This doesn't mean that less attractive people cannot be successful and it doesn't mean that gorgeous people cannot fail -- but as a generalization, good looks in your arsenal is a huge plus. Of course you have to be competent as well. Good looks won't help you if you have zero brain power. But I don't know a single person who wishes he or she was less attractive.

Cute babies are held and picked up more than ugly ones.
Sad but true.

If you consider that your first sales job in life is to convince someone to pick you up and hold you, then the answer to the question is yes.

lol. sadly that car is probably in a junkyard by now. someone bought it and two years after I sold it, it looked like a piece of crap. and that was 20 years ago. dang I feel old...so old...that pic was actually taken over 20 years ago...

Keeping yourself fit is one way maximize whatever assets the good lord gave you. Just an obervation. Plus, you feel better and have more energy, also a good thing!

what cave man said