1) Love the FJ!! If I can stash a few closing checks from the wife I will get one.

2) Borrow dad's SUV and get it prof. cleaned the day before. If similar to my market, this will only be an issue 2-3 times per year.

I wouldn't think this would be a realtor car showing properties but I would LOVE to drive it. I love those cars.

Hi agents and brokers,

i'm a new agent that will be prospecting for sellers/buyers in the residential market. Just browsing around and found this topic about the cars we drive. I'm thinking about purchasing a Scion xb. It has low emmissions, compact, and economical. Best of all, it has great surface area to wrap for advertising. I'm very open minded to accept any opinions on the pros and cons about promoting myself on my car . Wondering if it would make me look cheesy or cheap driving around a mobile billboard. I've seen people driving all around my area advertising their company, products, and services, but not yet a real estate agent. I'm confident that it's an aggressive way to get my name out there and start acquiring leads. Any comments or advice would be helpful.

People have done it with success. I don't know if I would do it myself, though. I'm personally too low key for something so in your face.

I did the car magnets for a month when I started. My insurance company told me I'd save a lot of money if I took them off. So I did. Never looked back.

People are not going to call you since your number is on your car. Have 5000 cards made and hand them out at a pace of 20 a day with a warm smile and hearty hello.

Why would not using car magnets save you a lot of money? Scratching the paint job?

I had my first showing in a old beat-up Honda Civic. Stick shift. Noisy. Hard to close driver-side door. Needed a push once in a while. No AC, no radio... nada. This thing looked like it made it through world war two.

So the buyer gets in. He's an easy-going guy, just got divorced, looking for a condo.

We get going. I'm trying to keep speed below 40, otherwise the entire front shakes like a pony ride in front of a super market.

The guy just laughs.

A week later I was on a listing appointment. I listed the place, shook hands with the clients, walked out (all happy and glowing), and my old Civic just wouldn't start. Dead.

So I had to go back and ask for a little push. Talk about embarrassing! LOL
Finally, the poor thing just died on me one day. Of an old age, I guess.

Yeah, it's possible to sell real estate in a crappy car. It's just a bit more challenging

My husband and I bought an '03 Avalanche. I use his truck when he isn't. We have 2 four-wheel drive vehicles now. Living in northwest Indiana, we need them.

I traded in my Hyundai Elantra for a larger Sonata because it's more comfortable for clients. In my area you do have to drive clients around and my Elantra didn't have much leg room in the rear seat. The Sonata is not a showy car at all, in fact it's almost boring, but very reliable and I love the 100,000 mile warranty. I intend to drive it till it drops.

Its extremely interesting to me how the specific cars many people drive say so much about them. Therefore I feel it is important as real estate agents to keep your car looking nice and in good condition. It says a lot about your professional appearance and work ethic.

http://www.bryanandbill.com

I am going to throw this out there. Maybe someone will grasp it and benefit from it.

A good frend of mine who got his R/E liscence at the same time as me drove the same car (a Lexus GS 300) kept that car for 11 years. Gave him no troubles, very reliable car. His R/E production also stagnated for 11 years between $150,000-$200,000. Finally I got thru to him that he should get himself a car that would put a little spring in his step, that would create a little emotion/excitement as he walked towards it going to an appointment. A car that he really liked and wanted and was reasonably within his grasp and yet a little bit of a stretch.

So last year he bought himself a turbo charged BMW hardtop convertible 3 series. Yes it's only a 2 door, yes the back seat is almost non existent but guess what? His production is over $100k already in the 1st quarter. He comes to the office a little earlier and leaves a little later. He's working the odd Saturdays. He's much more focused and driven and excited.

So YES, I do believe that the car we drive is an extension/indication of who we are and what is going on between our ears

Lucky,
So what vehicle did the friend buy and I am going to guess that his production made a huge jump with the new ride.

100k in the first quarter? That would be a good year for me! Perhaps I will head to the BMW dealership...

Time for you to set some serious goals. $100k gross in a year is good if it were part time.

Lucky again with cruddy attitude. What gives? You could have taken FSBO's comments as a compliment. He said in as many words, hey good for you, you make (or report to make) 4 times more than me. Instead you went low. You could have made 6 expired calls in that time. I recommend you check your priorities. Afterall, we all can't be lucky.