I've been selling Real Estate for about 12 years now. and I have to met some of the most professional Realtors® in the business. But I have also met some of the most unprofessional ones too.

Sometimes I have to go meet an agent at the house because the seller wants me to open the door. I don't have a problem with that part. The problem I have is when they show up they don't present their business card. I usually go around to all my listings maybe once a week just to make sure my clients are keeping the properties in prime condition and in case they have a question. But when I make my weekly rounds I also like to pick up all those business cards so I can keep track of all the agents who showed the property and this way I can contact them if we are looking for feed back. Lately I do not seem to find any cards or when I ask the homeowner for them they tell me the agent never left one.

If I have to meet an agent to open the door.... I ask them for their card but some of them seem to give me these lame excuses such as "Oh...I left them in my office" OR " I don't have them made up yet" OR "I don't have any in my car"...have you ever heard this one? "My dog ate it" OR "they blew away in the last hurricane" While some of those ridiculous excuses might be true....I find it hard to believe the hurricane story since we haven't had one in 2 years. I just don't get it? I thought we are supposed to represent our industry as professionals? Even in a slow market we still want to make sure that we don't miss any opportunity to show the property...but sellers should never let an agent enter their property without a card. This is also for safety reasons as well as professionalism.

Is it that these cards are just too much of an expense for an agent? Last time I checked you could get 1000 of the cheapest cards for like $30 to $40 dollars. I know that no matter how many cards I purchase I still seem to always have enough of them to give out. Why even have them if you don't use them. Just show me anything...I don't care if it's a temporary card printed from a computer...just show me something to prove who you are.

It's just another cost of doing business.

It's just like when agents are always wearing their company badges. Why?...Because you never know who you will meet that might want you to help them with their Real Estate needs.

Here are some tips you can use to remind you to always have them with you:

Keep a large stack in your car glove compartment and replenish as needed
Keep a large stack in your brief case or pocket book or daily planner.
Every morning before you go out....put a 10 cards in your pocket
Leave the box in your office in case a client comes by while you are there
I play golf so if you do...please put a stack in your golf bag. I always seem to meet people who want to talk about Real Estate on the golf-course.
If you have a spouse then give them a large stack so this way if they meet someone interested then they can give out your card.
There are various places for you to leave you cards as well such as restaurants and certain stores.
Leave a stack at all your listings.
Don't make our profession look bad....JUST DO IT!...present your cards.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

For more information please contact Neal The Real Deal Bloom -REMAX Hometown

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