Comments on: Fighting Armchair Quarterbacking [Dear Ginny, WTH?]

By: Need more lipstick! | Real Estate Magazine - Real Estate Opinion Column - AgentGenius

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:05:35 +0000

[...] Particularly, if they’ve visited a website that has helped validate their misconception – as Ginny Cain discussed last week. Mark Eckenrode commented on Ginny’s post “it’s important [...]

By: Ricardo Bueno

Ricardo Bueno — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:17:24 +0000

This looks like a fun new column for @AgentGenius http://tinyurl.com/aoyo25 "Dear Ginny, WTH?"

By: Blog, Blog, Black Sheep. | Real Estate Magazine - Real Estate Opinion Column - AgentGenius

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:13:37 +0000

[...] it works. Instead, I felt frustrated that I just seemed to have nothing to offer today. I read Ginny Cain McMurtrie’s first post, I read Kim Wood’s most recent post, I read Bill Lublin’s latest after he tweeted about [...]

By: jf.sellsius

jf.sellsius — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:44:09 +0000

The gazzintas are what professionals use to slay the TruZillas of the net.

Welcome Ms. A Genius

By: Paula Henry

Paula Henry — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:43:51 +0000

Ginny – Welcome! There are so many sites out there competeing with us – our clients want to know that we know what they know.

Better yet, when we have an offensive play book, it will keep them on their toes and on our side.

By: Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:13:40 +0000

Hi Ginny, welcome to AG.

I sold a home a year ago to a Google guy, I found out later they researched everything I told them on Google Earth. LOL

By: Matt Stigliano

Matt Stigliano — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:07:13 +0000

Ginny – Welcome to AgentGenius. I love the concept of your posts and think I’ll have to take advantage of the open offer of advice. I’ll start thinking of questions (right after I get my post written).

Mark – Great follow up and your idea is gold. For all the times I get asked about this site or that, this is an easy, simple way to help and encourage the “researcher” but also explain what’s good/bad about any given site.

By: Kim Wood

Kim Wood — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:51:28 +0000

Welcome to AG It will be fun to see some of the questions that roll into your inbox, I’m sure !

As far as this one goes….
I have found that the ‘researchers’ are going to do their ‘research’ and sometimes they want to hear your side of the story – even when you disagree with what they are saying.

We just have to make sure we lead them to the right information for their research – including googling onto our blogs

By: Ginger Wilcox

Ginger Wilcox — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:23:54 +0000

So excited to see the fabulous Ginny on Agent Genius. You are incredibly bright and I look forward to reading your words of wisdom!!

By: Ken Montville - The MD Suburbs of DC

Ken Montville - The MD Suburbs of DC — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:30:30 +0000

You’re absolutely correct. You have to know what your clients know and where they’re doing the research. Of course, there will always be the “engineer types” that need to know every detail and every possible option. It’s the personality type. In the meantime, it’s good to know the competition (and these sites are competition) so they can’t make an, er, end run around you.

Welcome, Ginny!

By: Michael Bonfils

Michael Bonfils — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:47:58 +0000

Ginny who?

By: brandie young

brandie young — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:46:13 +0000

Dear Ginny, WTH!!! ... Dear Abby for the RE Crowd ... must read! http://tinyurl.com/aoyo25

By: sheilabragg

sheilabragg — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:27:23 +0000

Dear Ginny, WTH?: Get out of your feed reader and comment on this post- we PROMISE that the ShamWow guy won\'t p.. http://tinyurl.com/aoyo25

By: Mark Eibner

Mark Eibner — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:16:44 +0000

we're at it again Dear Ginny, WTH?: Get out of your feed reader and comment on this post- we PR.. http://tinyurl.com/aoyo25

By: Anni Hagfeldt

Anni Hagfeldt — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:49:13 +0000

Great question and what a valuable answer! It is important to know what our clients are reading/searching, so we can be prepared to answer and meet their concerns with knowledge!

By: Brandie Young

Brandie Young — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:31:29 +0000

Welcome to AG, Miss Ginny Cain!

As expected, great advice! Expanding on Mark’s comments, I think setting realistic expectations still applies to present yourself as the expert. Unfortunately, sometimes access to information can be a dangerous!

By: Ginny Cain McMurtrie

Ginny Cain McMurtrie — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:25:17 +0000

Awesome comments Mark!

By: Sam Basel

Sam Basel — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:25:04 +0000

I am looking forward to reading more, Ginny! Especially if you keep throwing in the football analogies!

I get clients playing monday morning quarterback all the time but I find it can be beneficial. IMO if they are doing all that research, they are showing they definetly have interest. If nothing else, all these information websites are good conversation starters so that Realtors can show off their expertise whether its confirming or rejecting the data that is presented.

By: Mark Eckenrode

Mark Eckenrode — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:14:53 +0000

first things first: welcome to AG!

i like that you’ve pointed out that no website can compete with the true dynamics of Streetwise Real Estate. but, it will always be tough for an agent when they’re trying to compete against the website.

i’d add that it’s important to remove the website from the playing field altogether, or at least re-frame how the client views the website.

at the beginning of the relationship, the agent can give the client a handout with a list of the websites…

“I realize some folks like to get involved so just in case you do, here’s a list of websites you can turn to. When you’re browsing these, just keep in mind that they’re not these site aren’t actively on the streets so their data can be old or inaccurate but they’re good for window shopping.”

this removes the sites from the game and reframes how the client looks at the sites. all without the agent sounding as if they’re hateing on the websites.