Hi, what are you looking for?
This case against Starbucks reminds us to brush up on ADA compliance
Can you manage a digital PR strategy on your own?
Is a resume by ChatGPT worth charging for, or too good to be true?
Did you know influencer marketing is actually centuries old?
Mortuary workers denied overtime pay despite working the hours
Study: How do we feel about paying for our social media?
Meet Chatwise, the social media app that gives its creators equity
Reddit user? Here’s a Tweetdeck-esque browser app for you
Meta Oversight Board calls for less ambiguous nudity guidelines
Loophole allowed anyone to bypass Facebook 2FA, Meta confirms
The title of this post is part of an actual photo caption in an active MLS listing from somewhere in California.
Is the agent trying to be “cutesy”, unique, or are they just clueless?
I tend to vote for the latter. Your thoughts?
Sorry for the ginormous graphic, but there is no better way to expose this… thing…. for all its glory.
BTW, the generally accepted spelling is “Hiney”.
Larry Yatkowsky
April 28, 2008 at 4:48 pm
In an attempt to “flush” out the rational I can only surmise that the agent’s head up up his “hynee”!
Ron Ares
April 28, 2008 at 4:57 pm
It reads like a poorly interpreted software manual.
Mariana
April 28, 2008 at 5:01 pm
what?!? huh?!? That home better be owned by the agent who listed it or …
Steve Belt
April 28, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Jay, how did you find this? You must have a google alert set for combinations of poker references with real estate…
Matthew Rathbun
April 28, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Um, well. Hmmmm, I think this is just a case of a board individual with too many voices in their head 🙂
So, long as the seller’s on board, than maybe the orginiality will will get some attention… I guess.
Jay Thompson
April 28, 2008 at 6:15 pm
@Steve – let’s just leave it at “I have some sources…”
This is definitely “unique”, and in marketing, unique is often good.
But there are extremes in everything, and rarely is extremism ever good………
John Lauber
April 28, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Um. OK. Ron Ares. Even poorly written software manuals are better than this.
Benn Rosales
April 28, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I like it. I’d want to meet that agent if I liked pink, mauve, or whatever that pepto color is. That is 2.0 copy and it’s fun.
Benn Rosales
April 28, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Oh yeah, and btw! Hat tip to this agent even bothering to tag the images. On the mls here in Austin, everything is always tagged the default “exterior front” even if its the interior rear!
Kris Berg
April 28, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Benn – I really hope you are joking. This is neither fun nor funny nor professional. I think the copy will have a greater chance of offending the reader or dimishinshing the perceived value of the home which it is intended to promote than to further the goal of enticing buyers. Next time someone demeans real estate agents, I think this should be put on the overhead projector as Exhibit A.
Jay – You say this is from California? 🙂
Benn Rosales
April 29, 2008 at 8:38 am
Kris, I agree that is isn’t perfect, and a lot of what was said was over the top, like the royal flush, and the kitchen comments, but it’s an example of where many agents fall short all together in a very over looked opportunity to reach a buyer (period).
I’m saying it is permission to be creative and not a horrible crisis if no one is insulted (I can see where some of that appears like an attack on the home itself, but not all of it.) as is the case of the birds eye view- the whats behind the curtain, and a few others are actually cute.
Lani and I went back and forth on this last night and we both came to the conclusion that it may not sell me a pink house, but the agent sounds fun and that’s important if I’m a buyer. As a buyer (which mls photos address) and all the agents we’ve spoken to sound stiff and ridged, I’m probably going to go with the guy or gal that seems less harmless, easy to talk to, and is honest and most importantly- approachable <- this agent feels approachable. From a sellers point of view, it might put me off, unless I know I have a pink house - a really really pink house... The pink is growing on me. So here are my thoughts: 1. Copy even with MLS images is important 2. It is a wasted opportunity not to fill them out completely 3. Why not reach out as exciting and fun (you want to tour the thing, right?) 4. Obviously professionalism is important 5. make yourself approachable- when seeing these images, more than likely they're sitting by a phone RIGHT NOW. 6. Never sell a home you can't sell as it may be revieled in your copy 7. Remember your market/area funny and fun to a 20 something may offend and put off a 60 something especially if they love pink- a lot. 8. *** the detail time you put into details sells you as a sellers agent. Consumers want to know you spent time on their details. That's how I really feel Kris...
Lani Anglin-Rosales
April 29, 2008 at 8:54 am
From a buyer’s perspective, in a world where every kitchen is an “open gourmet kitchen,” every living room is a “grand, inviting family room” and all amenities are “opulent amenities,” this agent has gotten my attention by (1) standing out and (2) being approachable. I just might call and see what the freakin’ deal is on the pink house since it’s in my price range and I’m not terrified to call on the home that doesn’t have the snooty opulent, grand, gourmet interior- and you as a seller’s agent have just garnered the opportunity to continue that tone and say, “Lani, it’s just paint- the home is actually gorgeous and flows extremely well. Come take a tour and if you love it but just can’t get over the pink, we’ll arrange painters for you.”
Call me crazy, but hokey sometimes works. This agent should not have their head on a stake for trying to employ the Web2.0 methods we’re all out preaching, but it could be taken down a notch- I think we can all agree on that, right? Isn’t it the *point* to get in front of your buyer- THIS IS where they wanted to be, right?
Glenn fm Naples
April 29, 2008 at 9:34 am
I would not think of doing what this agent did, however, it may have accomplished something, created a buzz. The question is did the agent intend this to be the goal?
Personnally, hate the color – would have asked the seller to repaint the interior to something neutral.
Benn Rosales
April 29, 2008 at 9:42 am
Glenn, in South Austin this pink house is a gold mine and you would not just use a traditional approach to attract its buyer. Which is why I can totally see both sides to this coin.
Jay, thanks for this post, great find in case I didn’t mention it earlier.
Larry Yatkowsky
April 29, 2008 at 10:18 am
I tripped on the quote below and thought “whoops!” Many of us (including me), are too eager to refute an idea because we are looking at it from a narrowed and perhaps jaded perspective.
Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels.
– Faith Whittlesey
Thanks for the new glasses everyone. .>)
Melina Tomson
April 29, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Well In Oregon the pink house would need to be a different color. No amount of cute/unique advertising would make up for it. I don’t see that marketing tactic going over too well here, but I need to give the agent kudos for at least trying to step outside the box.
Maybe she didn’t succeed 100% this time, but maybe the next version will be better. I always think it’s better to try some unique and maybe not pull it off, than to be joe average.
Glenn fm Naples
May 1, 2008 at 9:21 am
Benn – thank you for giving me another perspective. 🙂
Thomas Johnson
May 3, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Nice find, Jay! 17 comments on a super ugly house with goofy ad copy. There is a blogging lesson in here somewhere. Perhaps under the bed? Behind the bear? The bar? Behind the curtain? Black Jack!
Maureen Francis
May 26, 2008 at 8:14 am
Me thinks he has successfully pointed out everything that is wrong with the place.