Realtor Marketing Gone Overboard? Or am I Overreacting?

[Anonymous]

AroundTheBlock wrote:Working in the real estate world I know many real estate agents. Let me simply say 75% of them are crap. Now, onto the topic...

I receive real estate agent crap all the time in the mail. It's very annoying and I would NEVER HIRE ANYONE who resorted to "cold calling" to get business. Sorry, but any good agent DOES NOT NEED TO ADVERTISE. I know six amazing agents and they find their business through word of mouth and simply doing a good job.

There is one agent who keeps sending junk mail to my house (with my property info, photos, etc), even went as far as to use a return sticker from a pet adoption agency! Nice way to get my wife to open the letter. After 3-4 of them I decided to get even.

This is what I did:

1. I went online to the University of Phoenix and ADT and filled out all their "request more information" form and used this agent's information. Both of these companies will call 3-4 times a day regardless if you ask to be taken off the list.

2. I took his mailing address and registered a ton of junk mail.

Some of my friends say it's going overboard. Some say it's perfect. To me it's getting even. I don't need some real estate agent who can't hack it to be sending me nonstop junk mail with fake return addresses. Especially when he's sending me property tax information (yes, I know it's public information but still) or photos of my area and house.

What you just described doing is illegal. I hope you are arrested.

[Anonymous]

That's a lot of effort when all you have to do is call that agent and be taken off of his marketing list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's a lot of effort when all you have to do is call that agent and be taken off of his marketing list.

Yes. You seem unhinged. That's not going to stop him from mailing you stuff, you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, trust me, everyone knew already. I also live in a neighborhood where a home just went into contract and then sold. I was checking the property records every day dying to know!

+1

+2

Me too. And then I text my neighbor to make sure she saw it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last night I found a postcard in my mailbox from the realtor who represented the sellers of the house I just moved in to 6 weeks ago. It had a picture of the exterior of my house on the front, with a quote from the sellers talking about how amazing their agent was, blah blah blah. It also screamed in huge font "14 offers!!! Sold for $xxx over list!!" Then on the back it had more pics of the house (pre-sale obviously). I am almost certain that I have no recourse here but isn't that a little effed up? Now all our neighbors know about the bidding war, and how much we paid. I know this is public information but how many people are going to actually go out and search for it? Not many. Of course if it's handed to them in their mailboxes then they'll have it and it just totally irks me. Am I overreacting? It just feels like a weird violation of privacy.

You are naive. All is the correct answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL -- you are funny. You better believe people checked out how much you paid and have been discussing.

Get a life, and some real investments loser.

[Anonymous]

As an agent, I love this thread.

I don't do those postcards but when one arrives in my mailbox at the house I've owned for 10+ years I think, "Should I be doing those cards?" Clearly the answer is no. So thanks for that, because you always do wonder what the general public is thinking.

As far as the person who put the agent's name on all these lists, I was sure after I read that that you all would high five him, and you didn't. You called him out for it, and I am honestly surprised and happy, because I think that's a rather mean thing to do as well but am pleasantly surprised to see I'm not alone in that thinking. I like the word "unhinged." Going to add that to my vocabulary now!

OP, call that agent and ask to be removed from their list. I can see where this would irritate you even if all the info is public record. You're the catalyst for driving prices up in the neighborhood so the neighbors will be pleased with you, not upset like they might be if you sold a house for less than it was worth just to get out. And for what it's worth, the idiot agents in my former office "farm" my building and I get their post cards all the time. It's hilarious when I see them piled up in the trash in my lobby.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that while this is irritating, there is nothing you can do about it. Additionally, don't think that people will not know. In a few weeks, that information is going to be out on zillow (which will list the sale price from the last public record). In every neighborhood there are people who watch sites like zillow to see home prices especially to figure out how it affects their own home value and if the neighbors talk at all, once one person finds out how much you paid for your home, word will get around quickly.

Don't be surprised if you see a few listings in your neighborhood pop up when they can use your home as a comp for setting a higher price than has been common since the recession. You may have helped create a minor localized bubble in your neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

AroundTheBlock wrote:Working in the real estate world I know many real estate agents. Let me simply say 75% of them are crap. Now, onto the topic...

I receive real estate agent crap all the time in the mail. It's very annoying and I would NEVER HIRE ANYONE who resorted to "cold calling" to get business. Sorry, but any good agent DOES NOT NEED TO ADVERTISE. I know six amazing agents and they find their business through word of mouth and simply doing a good job.

There is one agent who keeps sending junk mail to my house (with my property info, photos, etc), even went as far as to use a return sticker from a pet adoption agency! Nice way to get my wife to open the letter. After 3-4 of them I decided to get even.

This is what I did:

1. I went online to the University of Phoenix and ADT and filled out all their "request more information" form and used this agent's information. Both of these companies will call 3-4 times a day regardless if you ask to be taken off the list.

2. I took his mailing address and registered a ton of junk mail.

Some of my friends say it's going overboard. Some say it's perfect. To me it's getting even. I don't need some real estate agent who can't hack it to be sending me nonstop junk mail with fake return addresses. Especially when he's sending me property tax information (yes, I know it's public information but still) or photos of my area and house.

Wow you are a huge asshole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last night I found a postcard in my mailbox from the realtor who represented the sellers of the house I just moved in to 6 weeks ago. It had a picture of the exterior of my house on the front, with a quote from the sellers talking about how amazing their agent was, blah blah blah. It also screamed in huge font "14 offers!!! Sold for $xxx over list!!" Then on the back it had more pics of the house (pre-sale obviously). I am almost certain that I have no recourse here but isn't that a little effed up? Now all our neighbors know about the bidding war, and how much we paid. I know this is public information but how many people are going to actually go out and search for it? Not many. Of course if it's handed to them in their mailboxes then they'll have it and it just totally irks me. Am I overreacting? It just feels like a weird violation of privacy.

Is this some kind of humblebrag? "Look at me! I beat 13 other offers for my house!"

I think the OP wanted us to believe to she's irritated but really, she's bragging. How tacky!

[Anonymous]

OP - the Washington Post publishes sales information with the names of the sellers, buyers, price and address. I was dismayed to see my info in WaPo, but t is all public information, so nothing you can do about it.

[Anonymous]

AroundTheBlock wrote:Working in the real estate world I know many real estate agents. Let me simply say 75% of them are crap. Now, onto the topic...

I receive real estate agent crap all the time in the mail. It's very annoying and I would NEVER HIRE ANYONE who resorted to "cold calling" to get business. Sorry, but any good agent DOES NOT NEED TO ADVERTISE. I know six amazing agents and they find their business through word of mouth and simply doing a good job.

There is one agent who keeps sending junk mail to my house (with my property info, photos, etc), even went as far as to use a return sticker from a pet adoption agency! Nice way to get my wife to open the letter. After 3-4 of them I decided to get even.

This is what I did:

1. I went online to the University of Phoenix and ADT and filled out all their "request more information" form and used this agent's information. Both of these companies will call 3-4 times a day regardless if you ask to be taken off the list.

2. I took his mailing address and registered a ton of junk mail.

Some of my friends say it's going overboard. Some say it's perfect. To me it's getting even. I don't need some real estate agent who can't hack it to be sending me nonstop junk mail with fake return addresses. Especially when he's sending me property tax information (yes, I know it's public information but still) or photos of my area and house.

That's pretty funny OP, but it's also mail fraud. Be careful bragging about it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's a lot of effort when all you have to do is call that agent and be taken off of his marketing list.

Yes. You seem unhinged. That's not going to stop him from mailing you stuff, you know.

Naw he's ok... This guy however is an asshole:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJObXK1FtVo

[Anonymous]

OP, it is in your favor. You will know who are the nosy and troublemaking neighbors - whom to avoid. Whatever you do, do not let them in your house. Are you in a mixed neighborhood of now mostly knock downs? There is huge disparity, and often animosity, in these types of places.

My friend had this and is moving to a much nicer neighborhood. While her former neighborhood looked nice on paper, so to speak, the people were trashy and gossipy.

In her new neighborhood, she bought one of the smallest houses for a change and is much happier.

People can be nosy and worse, but that doesn't mean you have to engage.

[Anonymous]

The realtor is trying to drum up business in your neighborhood, which presumably is desirable, in a dry market.

Remember, they are sales people. Not that different than car salesman. "If you see my name surely you will go to me when (not if) you sell your home..." Yeah right. Remind me who to avoid, thank you.

Chances are, in this area, between friends, neighbors, acquaintances and everyone in between, you already know about ten or more realtors. Not counting family who happen to be realtors in this area. You have your pick. Go with whom you trust.

OP, I think it makes him look bad. And desperate.