Realtor Marketing Gone Overboard? Or am I Overreacting?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

We get those all the time here in Bethesda. Usually a list of a few of their top sales in the neighborhood in the last few months, along with photos. It's public information, get over it.

[Anonymous]

Tacky. I'd never hire an agent that sent those.

[Anonymous]

I'd be irritated, but be realistic, I'm betting your neighbors know exactly what you paid and likely know there were multiple offers already. At least in my neighborhood everyone pays very close attention when a house goes on the market and talks about the outcome frequently. We all want to know how it's going to affect our property values.

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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

[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.

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

[Anonymous]

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

[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!"

OP here. I assure you I did not mean to humblebrag. I wish there had not been a bidding war and that we got the house at list price. That's part of why I hate this postcard so much, since it shouts to the world what happened. I know that marketing postcards like this are the norm, but usually they have a few houses, not just one, and not so detailed.

[Anonymous]

It's reasonably public information. Definitely the list and sold price. Maybe not how many contracts there were.

Realtors are into the business of marketing themselves.

Let it go.

[Anonymous]

Do you feel that you overpaid for the house?

[Anonymous]

The first card like this I saw (with my house) freaked me out but then I kept receiving for every sale in the neighborhood and I lost interest. It is more shocking to you than to the neighbors.

[Anonymous]

It sucks but most people don't even read those cards. Those who do already know what you paid. Don't let it bother you.

[AroundTheBlock]

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.