Real estate through the ages

1. Sears used to sell mail-order houses.

Think Amazon revolutionized purchase-and-ship shopping? Think again! In the early 20^th century, Sears, Roebuck & Co. let Americans order entire kit homes through Sears catalog homes — delivered straight to their doorsteps. Sears sold over 70,000 home kits before ending production in 1940. Today, these historic Sears homes are rare finds, often selling quickly, thanks to their unique charm and craftsmanship. Keep an eye out — you might spot one on the market!

2. Russia sold Alaska to the US for 2 cents per acre.

In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the US for just $7.2 million — a mere two cents per acre, per the US Office of the Historian! At the time, many saw the land as a frozen wasteland, but it later proved to be a gold mine of natural resources like gold, oil, and timber. Talk about a bargain deal in real estate history!

Fun facts about famous homes and places

3. The iconic Hollywood sign was originally a real estate stunt.

The Hollywood Sign wasn’t always a symbol of fame and fortune — it started as a real estate ad! Originally reading “Hollywoodland,” the sign was built in 1923 to promote a new housing development. Over time, the last four letters were removed, and it evolved into the legendary icon of the entertainment industry we know today.

4. The largest residential home is in Mumbai, India.

Antilia, the largest residential home in the world, is located in Mumbai, India, per the Guinness World Records. Owned by Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, this 27-story building spans 400,000 square feet and is worth an astounding $2 billion. The house features luxury amenities such as three helipads, nine high-speed elevators, a 50-seat theater, a snow room, and a 168-car garage. It definitely fits the criteria for weird real estate listings!

5. A Canadian company owns the Mall of America.

The Mall of America is the largest mall in the US — it even has its own ZIP code! Owned by the Ghermezian family through their Canadian company, Triple Five Group, this megamall is part of their impressive real estate portfolio, including the West Edmonton Mall in Canada and the American Dream Mall in New Jersey. Originally from Iran, the Ghermezians have built some of the world’s most famous shopping destinations, proving their influence stretches far beyond North America!

Quirky real estate trends and superstitions

6. Corner properties are considered less desirable in some countries.

In some countries, corner properties aren’t always the most desirable. While they offer more visibility and extra sidewalk space, they also come with increased traffic noise, fewer neighbors, and even a higher risk of burglaries. Plus, some buyers find them too exposed to pedestrians, making privacy a concern. Would you consider buying a corner lot, or would you rather stay tucked away?

7. It’s bad luck to give a knife as a housewarming gift.

Gifting a knife for housewarming is considered bad luck in some cultures. According to superstitions, a knife symbolizes severing a relationship or cutting ties between the giver and the homeowner! But if you want to give a knife as a housewarming gift, include a penny with the knife. This way, the homeowner can return the penny to you as “payment” for the knife. So, technically, it’s not a gift! Crisis averted!

8. Architectural eagles symbolize freedom from mortgages.

There are many ways homeowners celebrate the full payment of their mortgage. One of the more popular (and deeply American) ways was to put a cast iron eagle on the outside of a home. The eagle represents strength and freedom, which align with financial independence.

Related: Emerging Real Estate Industry Trends

Eye-opening real estate prices and sales

9. The most expensive ZIP code in the US is 94027.

If you still don’t know this, the most expensive ZIP code is located in Atherton, California. According to data from Redfin, in February 2025, the median home price in Atherton was $12 million. Home to tech billionaires, celebrities, and Silicon Valley executives, Atherton’s exclusivity is maintained by large lots and strict zoning laws that limit housing density. This keeps property values sky-high and competition fierce!

10. A house sold on eBay.

In 2008, British adventurer Ian Usher took “starting fresh” to a whole new level — he put his entire life up for sale on eBay! This included his house, car, job, and even introductions to his friends in Perth, Australia. After a tough divorce, Usher decided to auction off everything he owned, with the winning bid coming in at $384,000 AUD ($305,000 USD at the time). Talk about a bold reset!

Related: Real Estate Agent Statistics, Insights & Trends

Real estate around the world

11. There is a toilet house in South Korea.

In South Korea, there’s a one-of-a-kind toilet-shaped house known as Haewoojae, or “Mr. Toilet House” . Originally the home of Sim Jae-Deok, a passionate advocate for better public restrooms, this quirky structure now serves as a museum dedicated to the history and evolution of toilets. Would you ever list a toilet-shaped property on the market?

12. A building in Vietnam is full of coffee shops.

Coffee lovers, take note! In Ho Chi Minh City, there’s a one-of-a-kind building called “The Cafe Apartment.” This nine-story structure is packed with unique coffee shops, each offering its own ambiance and specialty drinks. Over the years, the building has become a popular destination for locals and tourists, providing a variety of cafes where you can enjoy a drink while overlooking the bustling city. Perhaps the only factor influencing your choice of a coffee shop for the day is its interior design.

Related article: Interior Design Trends Ready to Take Over

13. Scottish homeowners paint their doors red to show they’re mortgage-free.

In Scotland, it’s said some homeowners celebrate paying off their mortgage in style — by painting their front door! This long-standing tradition is a proud symbol of financial freedom and a way to announce their big achievement to the world. After all, what’s more exciting than owning your home debt-free?

14. Japan demolishes houses after 30 years.

In Japan, homes are often demolished and rebuilt after about 30 years — a stark contrast to many countries where historic properties are prized. This practice is driven by many factors, including the necessity to meet evolving green building trends, earthquake safety standards, and a cultural preference for modernity. Would you tear down a home after just three decades?

Related article: Emerging Real Estate Industry Trends

15. Burj Khalifa’s elevator travels through 140 floors.

The Burj Khalifa isn’t just the tallest building in the world — it also has an elevator system that reaches incredible heights! One of its elevators travels through 140 floors, making it the third-fastest elevator globally. But that’s not all — the Burj Khalifa also holds records for having the most floors and the highest occupied floor of any building. Now, that’s what you call taking things to the next level!

16. Castles are for sale in the UK.

While homebuyers in the US are often drawn to the latest smart homes, those in the UK may find a different type of luxury appealing. If your client has millions to invest, tell them it’s possible to buy historic castles in Scotland and Ireland! These castles, often set in sprawling estates, offer luxurious living and a chance to own a piece of history. Forget smart locks — how about a moat?

FAQs

What are some interesting facts about being a real estate agent?

What are some fun facts about houses?

Why is it called real estate?

The final walkthrough

If you love some of these real estate fun facts, share them online (you can use our best real estate social media templates). They’ll be a sure hit for your audience. Do you have more interesting facts about real estate up your sleeve? We’d love to hear them. Let us know in the comments!

The post Real Estate Trivia: 16 Fun Facts You Must Know in 2025 appeared first on The Close.

1. The biggest man cave — Gilbert, Arizona

An estate with a race track (Source: Zillow)

This house has a place for Go-Karts inside the massive garage (Source: Zillow).

Wow, I’ll probably never leave my house again if this is where I live. This man cave boasts a Go-Kart race track, shooting range, golf simulator, basketball gym, pool, and more. If you get this kind of listing, the perfect target market would be sports and recreation enthusiasts. Think NBA players, sports professionals, tech moguls, or even royals. Would you consider this Arizona property if you had an extra $20 million lying around?

2. The show must go on — New Berlin, Wisconsin

A totally normal single-family property … from the outside (Source: Realtor.com)

Use the built-in theater to host a virtual tour. (Source: Realtor.com)

An entertainment room with a stage, tables, and chairs for audiences (Source: Realtor.com)

At first glance, this place doesn’t look that weird. But you’ll never really know until you enter the house. Owned by a theater enthusiast, this home would appeal to producers and creatives in the entertainment industry. Inside, you’ll be greeted by rooms with quirky decor, a theater, a bar, and dens. It could be ideal for theater buffs and people who love entertaining, but you could also use virtual home staging to overlay these weird features and attract more buyers.

3. Straight out of a sci-fi film — Portland, Oregon

A gray post-modern house with a pool, glass windows, and stunning views of nature (Source: Realtor.com)

Is this the Marvel Avengers’ new base? (Source: Realtor.com)

A game room overlooking Portland’s skyline. I’m in. (Source: Realtor.com)

A modern wine cellar and tasting room (Source: Realtor.com)

With an almost $7 million listing price, this ultramodern Portland house looks straight out of a sci-fi film. It has stainless steel front doors, glass walls, stone floors, and imported Italian stone slabs. If you get a similar listing, this house’s selling point would be the 270-degree views of the city and river from its glass windows. Bring your wine glass for this tasting room as you celebrate the nice commission this will bring.

4. Live under a rock … literally — Palm Springs, California

Built in 1929, this home is now for rent at $8,300 per month. Above Araby Cove in Palm Springs, the property features handmade fireplace tools, handcrafted doors and windows, and a secret room behind a bookcase. Another unique thing about this home is that the original owner, Perle Martin Wheeler, has her name carved into a nook in the wall.

5. 99 bottles of beer on the wall — Tucson, Arizona

Who drank all the beer while building this house? (Source: Realtor.com)

What a view while preparing dinner (Source: Realtor.com)

Check out this artsy dining room. (Source: Realtor.com)

Whoa, there are a lot of extraordinary houses in Arizona. As of writing, this property in Tucson is already off the market. It has three bedrooms, three deep-rock fireplaces, a guest cottage, and an outdoor kitchen. According to the listing description, the bottles serve as insulation for this home, but I imagine they also allow sunlight to filter in.

6. Chris Mark Castle — Woodstock, Connecticut

Time to look for clients who would love to live like Disney princesses. (Source: Zillow)

It must be nice to wake up in a castle. (Source: Zillow)

OK, here’s a “normal” house in Connecticut. It actually looks very typical … if you’re royalty. The Chris Mark Castle boasts 18,777 square feet of living space, nine bedrooms, 10 baths, and 12 fireplaces (yup, 12). Luxury and high-end listings often take longer to sell since the pool of buyers is much smaller.

7. Wanted: Trick-or-treaters — Brumley, Missouri

A real-life haunted house. The stuff of homebuyers’ dreams; nightmares, that is. (Source: Zillow)

A house complete with its dead people. (Source: Zillow)

Built around 1890, the Haunted Castle House in Missouri has since been an icon at the Lake of Ozarks. There is a cemetery in the backyard. People visit the house for paranormal investigations, guided tours, and special events. If you get a haunted house listing, market it to historic preservationists, paranormal enthusiasts, filmmakers, and tourism professionals. Also, check with your state’s disclosure laws on what you must share with prospective buyers.

8. The Mardi Gras House — Mobile, Alabama

According to the listing, it’s referred to as the Mardi Gras House because of its vibrant hues and proximity to all things Mardi Gras. It features a grand foyer, five bedrooms, a wraparound porch, and two balconies. If you ever get this listing, mentioning that it was previously called the Petrinovich House Inn and built as a boarding house in the historic Church Street East neighborhood would be helpful, especially if someone wants to run it as an Airbnb.

9. Ready for takeoff — Justin, Texas

A parking lot for all of your clients’ planes. (Source: Realtor.com)

Who needs cars when the neighborhood has its own runway (Source: Realtor.com)

A massive garage with parked bikes and a space that can fit an aircraft (Source: Realtor.com)

OK, we don’t see houses with hangars and runways every day. So, I guess this isn’t normal. Do you have potential buyers who own airplanes? Or clients who are aviation enthusiasts? This single-family property in Texas features three bedrooms, quartz countertops, storm shelters, a fire pit, and a game room. Pilots or executives who own a plane are the perfect market for this type of property. The runway is privately owned for a public use airport.

10. Strike while the iron is hot — Alpine, New Jersey

Help your clients strike their way to homebuying victory with these dueling bowling alleys. This posh manor looks more fabulous than weird. Located in Alpine, NJ (which explains the $16.7 million sold price), the property features over 22,700 square feet of living space, a brick exterior, 25 rooms, a tennis court, a home theater, and two state-of-the-art bowling alleys.

11. The Origami House — Whistler, British Columbia

If you ever want to live in a house with panoramic views of nature and a likeness to origami folding, this one’s for you. Currently valued at $12 million, this home was designed by the architects of the Audain Art Museum in Whistler, Canada. I don’t know about you, but I get dizzy looking at it from this angle. The views and interior design make it worth it.

12. A hobbit house — Elverson, Pennsylvania

Tolkien fans, this looks like a house from The Lord of the Rings. (Source: Realtor.com)

Does Frodo live here? (Source: Compass)

This unique “hobbit” home sits on a four-acre lot in Elverson, Pennsylvania. It’s the lot that was for sale, but the buyer still gets to keep the house built into the grass. The home features a grass roof to save on heating and cooling costs, arched walls, and oversized windows.

13. Looks pretty normal from the outside — Palm Springs, California

Wait until you see the inside! (Source: Realtor.com)

You’ll never guess what the owner’s favorite color is. (Source: Realtor.com)

That’s a lot of … orange (Source: Realtor.com)

At first, this off-market property looks like any other house in Palm Springs. But wow, you never know what’s inside a home until you step in. Those shades of pink and orange are a little weird if you ask me. This house can be a movie set. What else is unique about this home is that it was the residence of a local legend, Jack Stephan, known as the Plumber to the Stars.

14. There’s a tree inside the property! — Ashland, Oregon

A work of art that costs $5.9 million (Source: Zillow)

It must’ve taken so much time to build this masterpiece. (Source: Zillow)

There’s a lot to love about this jaw-dropping home in Oregon. Every nook and cranny is a work of art. It has an outdoor entertainment space, pool, signature staircase, and rooms with magnificent views of the mountains. You’ll see tree branches and intricate wood carvings in some furniture, walls, and doors. This exotic and beautiful home is listed for $4.5 million and has been on Zillow for over three years.

15. A spaceship home — Somonauk, Illinois

This home will have your buyers saying, “Beam me up, Scotty.” (Source: Realtor.com)

This home sure looks like it can land anywhere. (Source: Realtor.com)

This off-market property, a one-of-a-kind dome-shaped house in Somonauk, Illinois, was on sale for $475,000. Not only does it look like it’s about to fly away, but it is settled on a 12-foot foundation that can rotate electronically or manually. If your buyers don’t like their view, they can change it. Other than its exterior, everything looks completely normal inside.

16. The Robert Bruno steel house — Ransom Canyon, Texas

This house is shaped like a pig, or a space-age creature. (Source: Zillow)

Now that’s a fashionable house. (Source: Vogue)

How do you feel about a unique twisty and bendy staircase? (Source: Zillow)

The famous Robert Bruno Steel House in Ransom Canyon, Texas, is still on the market for $1.5 million. The house features a gourmet kitchen, three bedrooms, a walk-out balcony, and walls made from recycled steel. It’s wonky, wild, and wonderful inside and used as a Vogue Magazine photoshoot backdrop.

Tips for Marketing Weird Houses

Promoting the most unusual homes can be fun. Here are some strategies to effectively market the weirdest houses.

• Stage the house creatively: Enhance the overall vibe of the property by using furniture and decor that match each space. You can also use virtual home staging software to overlay outdated or funky furniture and decor.
• Highlight the property’s unique features: When posting listings of weird houses on listing sites, emphasize the properties’ interesting features, out-of-the-ordinary architecture, and unconventional design and layout. Write a realistic description of what it’s like to live on the property.
• Host an open house: Organize open houses to showcase the property. Invite influencers and vloggers specializing in real estate or architecture to promote these houses in unusual places.
• Network; target niche audiences: Identify people interested in funny and strange houses. This could be artists, collectors, or even celebrities looking for a unique abode.
• Social media marketing: Use social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok to showcase houses in weird places. Create engaging reels, post photos, and add relevant real estate hashtags to reach a wider audience.

If you’re looking for more exposure for your weird house listings, Zillow can help. Its massive audience and detailed listing features make it an excellent platform to showcase interesting houses to the right buyers.

FAQs: Weird Real Estate Listings

Where are the most unique houses in the US?

What credit score is needed to buy a house?

What does "stigmatized" mean in real estate?

Your take

When it comes to a property’s design and architecture, everything is subjective. Remember — there’s always a story behind each home’s eccentric layout and quirky rooms. 

Have you stumbled upon any weird real estate listings recently? Share your discovery in the comments.

The post 16 Weird Real Estate Listings You Won’t Believe appeared first on The Close.

I showcase ten polished realtor outfits that help make a lasting impression, regardless of occasion or weather. From real estate agent attire that exudes elegance for luxury listings to more casual yet professional options, if you have property tours on a horse farm, these outfits are designed to keep you looking sharp while ensuring comfort throughout your busy day.

How to Choose the Right Realtor Outfit

Let’s be real—not every day in real estate looks the same, so why should your wardrobe? Choosing the right real estate attire depends on a few key factors, and it’s all about balance. You want to look polished but feel comfortable and confident, especially when you’re on your feet for hours or showing homes in all kinds of weather.

Here are a few things to consider when picking your real estate wear for the day:

• Know your audience: Are you working with first-time homebuyers who might feel more comfortable in a laid-back setting, or are you meeting high-end clients where elegance is key? Tailor your look to the vibe of your client. Think business casual for a younger crowd and a more classic look for luxury listings.
• Consider the setting: An open house in a trendy downtown loft? A chic, modern outfit will fit right in. Showing properties in a suburban neighborhood? A more relaxed, approachable look might be best. Your outfit should match the environment you’re working in.
• Factor in the weather: Nobody wants to show homes in a heavy suit on a scorching summer day. Light fabrics and layering are your best friends for adapting to unpredictable temperatures. Think stylish layers like blazers or coats that keep you looking sharp in colder months.
• Stay true to your style: While professionalism is vital, don’t be afraid to bring a bit of your personal style into the mix. Whether it’s a pop of color, a statement accessory, or a signature look, it’s a great way to make your outfits memorable and help clients connect with who you really are.

Outfit #1: The Classic Business Suit

• Best for: Luxury listings, formal client meetings, presentations, or even realtor headshots
• Cost: $50 to $150

A well-tailored business suit is a timeless choice that screams professionalism and confidence. Whether showing multi-million-dollar properties or meeting high-end clients, a classic suit says you mean business. Pair it with a crisp white shirt and leather shoes or pumps for that extra polished look. You’ll never go wrong with a strong first impression in a suit.

Outfit #2: Business Casual

• Best for: Open houses, informal meetings, or day-to-day tasks
• Cost: $50 to $100

When hosting an open house, you want to strike the perfect balance between approachable and professional real estate attire. Think tailored trousers or a pencil skirt paired with a smart blouse or blazer. It’s comfortable enough to get you through a busy day but sharp enough to leave a lasting impression on potential buyers.

Outfit #3: Effortlessly Stylish

• Best for: Showing homes, outdoor property tours, or casual client outings
• Cost: $50 to $100

Stylish casual outfits are the ultimate go-to for days when you’re on the move—think fitted chinos or dark jeans with a button-down shirt or a neat top. Comfortable, yet polished enough to let clients know you’re serious about your business. Add a pair of sleek flats or loafers to your realtor outfit, and you’re ready to conquer those property tours in style.

Outfit #4: Monochrome Power Dressing

• Best for: Listing appointments, virtual meetings, or high-stakes negotiations
• Cost: $25 to $75

A monochrome look, whether it’s all-black, navy, or a neutral tone, gives off an air of sophistication and authority. It’s simple, sleek, and professional—perfect for those moments when you need to command the room or the Zoom call. Add a statement accessory like a bold necklace or watch to give the outfit some flair without taking away from its elegance.

Men can capture this look with a well-tailored monochrome dress shirt and pants in classic shades like black, navy, or gray. Pairing a matching shirt and tie in the same color family creates a sleek, unified appearance that exudes confidence and sophistication. A monochrome outfit keeps things simple yet stylish, allowing you to focus on the business at hand. Add a blazer, polished shoes, and a minimalist watch to complete the look, showing clients you’re professional and ready for any challenge.

Outfit #5: The Tailored Dress or Suit

• Best for: Client meetings, closing appointments, or hosting events
• Cost: $50 to $150

A well-tailored dress is a staple for female realtors. It’s versatile enough to work in a formal or casual setting and provides an elegant yet professional appearance. Choose a knee-length dress in a solid color for maximum impact. Pair it with simple heels or flats, and you’re all set for those client meetings or celebratory closing events.

For the men, a tailored blazer with dress pants is the male equivalent of the tailored dress. Pick out a well-fitted blazer in a neutral or classic color like navy or charcoal, paired with crisp dress pants and polished shoes. This realtor outfit strikes the perfect balance between professional and stylish. Females can also opt for the tailored suit as well!

Outfit #6: Seasonal Layering for Comfort

• Best for: Property showings in changing weather, all-day events, or outdoor meetings
• Cost: $25 to $75

When temperatures fluctuate, layering is essential! Wear a lightweight trench coat or a cardigan over your outfit. This allows for easy adaptability throughout the day and adds dimension to your look, showing clients you’re always prepared—no matter the weather.

Outfit #7: The Statement Blazer

• Best for: Virtual meetings, listing presentations, job interviews, or anytime you need a quick confidence boost
• Cost: $50 to $100

Not all realtor clothes have to be over the top. A statement blazer can elevate any basic outfit and take it to the next level of professionalism. Dress it up or dress it down to create the perfect look for virtual meetings, where your top half does all the talking, or for presentations when you need to look put-together. Look for a bold color or patterned blazer to make sure you stand out without going overboard.

Outfit #8: Weekend Casual

• Best for: Weekend property tours, casual client meet-ups, or relaxed showings
• Cost: $50 to $150

For those more laid-back days, embrace a more casual but still professional look. A pair of clean, dark jeans paired with a stylish top or sweater and comfortable shoes will get you through a day of showing homes while keeping things relaxed. Pair your outfit with a chic handbag and a trendy pair of sunglasses to add the perfect touch. Just remember, even casual can look sharp!

Outfit #9: Neutral Tones for a Minimalist Look

• Best for: Professional headshots, industry conferences, or client meet-and-greets
• Cost: $25 to $75

Wearing neutral tones creates a clean, sophisticated, modern look. Think beige, white, gray, or soft earth tones. This is especially great for headshots or industry events where you want to come across as professional and approachable without being distracting. Pair with sleek, understated accessories for that polished, minimalist vibe.

Men can achieve the neutral look with light or beige trousers paired with a crisp white or light shirt or a beige collared sweater. Add a complementary blazer for a polished, versatile outfit that works for meetings or showings. Finish with brown leather shoes and a matching belt for a clean, professional appearance.

Outfit #10: Personalized Accessories to Elevate Your Look

• Best for: Every day, anytime you want to add personality to your outfit
• Cost: $10 to $50

Never underestimate the power of great accessories! Whether it’s a statement watch, a stylish laptop bag, or unique jewelry, these little touches can elevate even the simplest outfit. Just make sure your accessories complement your look, not overpower it. Subtle details can show clients you pay attention to every little thing—just like you’ll do with their property needs.

Tips to Maintain Professionalism With All Outfit Choices

No matter how stylish your outfit is, maintaining professionalism is key. Your clients are looking to you as a trusted guide through one of their most significant financial decisions, so how you present yourself speaks volumes. While you should embrace your personal style, it’s important to strike the right balance between looking sharp and staying appropriate for the occasion or the type of client you are working with at the time.

Here are a few simple tips to ensure that professionalism is always a top priority—regardless of your chosen outfit.

By keeping these simple dos and don’ts in mind, you can ensure that as a successful real estate agent, you always look polished and ready to make a great first impression—no matter what the day throws your way.

FAQs

What clothes are best for a realtor?

What should female realtors wear?

What is the dress code for a real estate agent?

How to dress as a luxury real estate agent?

Bringing It All Together

Looking professional isn’t just about wearing nice clothes—it’s about presenting yourself as the confident, polished, and approachable real estate agent your clients can trust. Whether you’re dressing for a high-stakes meeting, a casual home tour, or a virtual call, choose outfits that make you feel comfortable and ready to tackle anything. Curate a wardrobe with these realtor outfits in mind, and you’ll always be prepared to make a great first impression, no matter what the day brings. 

We’d love to hear some of your go-to staples for your closet. Share them with us in the comments!

The post 10 Realtor Outfits to Make a Great First Impression appeared first on The Close.

Bonus: Download Instagram Templates

1. Introductions (& Reintroductions)

The first idea seems simple but is incredibly effective and necessary. Your introduction post should give your audience a basic idea of your brand, including your qualifications, the area you serve, the type of clients you work with, and your personality. This post is great to “pin” on your profile so that new followers and clients can see it when they find your profile.

2. Testimonials

You don’t always have to be subtle—one of the best real estate Instagram ideas is to share your clients’ praises directly. Every time you get a new testimonial from a client, add it to a template like this one from Agent Crate and share it on your feed. Showing the positive things your clients have to say about you will go a long way to building trust with potential leads.

Want the most efficient way to create valuable real estate content like this? You don’t have to spend your valuable time perfectly adjusting the spacing and fonts of every individual testimonial or quote you share. Agent Crate offers a full library of scroll-stopping videos and photos, prewritten blog posts, social media calendars, and tons more, for just $24 per month. 

3. B-roll with Trending Audio

One of the best Instagram hacks is to take advantage of trending audios. There are even 1- to 2-second audios you can pair with a random video clip of a property, you at your desk, or almost anything else. Pair this short video with on-screen text or a detailed caption, and you have a quick and easy Instagram post that will likely get a high engagement rate.

4. Listing Videos & Walkthroughs

Listings are one of the most common real estate social media posts, but that doesn’t make them any less important. Spruce up your listing videos by walking through the property, adding a voice-over, or even starting your video with a strong hook. For example, @jada_dallas_realtor starts this listing walkthrough by saying, “Welcome back to episode 5 of homes under $400,000 and below in the DFW market.” This piques the user’s interest and also shows that she’s a great resource for local buyers with a budget under $400k.

5. Listing Carousels

Another great way to promote your listings on Instagram is by sharing a carousel of your listing photos. Carousels have an engagement rate about 1.7 times higher than still photos. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to use a template like this one to incorporate your branding and build your reputation. 

These fully customizable Canva templates from Coffee & Contracts show off your listings with a clean and classy look. In addition to these templates, Coffee & Contracts offers a variety of materials to give you everything you need for a solid marketing strategy for just $54 per month.

6. Client Stories

One of the best ways to prove to potential clients that you can help them is by showing them how you’ve helped others. Every time your clients close on a property, consider sharing a brief story of how their transaction went. This is a great way to show your experience to leads and build their trust. Plus, add real estate hashtags like this realtor did to make sure your post is visible to a local audience.

7. How I Helped My Clients [Blank]

Another way to share your client stories and put your expertise on display is by using this Instagram copy format. For example, @angelacheatwood used a video less than 10 seconds long with the text “Exactly how I got my buyer $14,000 in closing costs + a 3.75% interest rate.” When users read this text, they’re instantly impressed and are more likely to read your caption, engage with your post, and become new followers.

8. Educational Carousels

If you’re looking for content that delivers value without having to be “camera-ready,” an educational carousel might be the perfect solution. Take almost any topic and create cohesive graphics to share educational tips that build trust with your audience.

If you need help creating the graphics, LCA Marketing Center is loaded with templates you can easily customize. You don’t have to think about every detail of the graphic—just plug in your copy, hit publish, and watch your engagement improve.

9. Seasonal Content

Time-sensitive content is a great way to attract clients who are ready to start a real estate transaction right away. Use any holiday or season to create extremely relevant content that includes a strong call to action. This example from @lauraloveshouses is both educational and seasonal, showing her leads how helpful she can be.

10. Personal Posts

If you want to attract the kind of people you would enjoy working with, you can’t be all business all the time. Some of the best real estate Instagram posts relate to your audience on a personal level and help them see that you genuinely love what you do and the impact it makes on your everyday life. Personal posts make your audience feel more connected to you as an individual.

11. Memes

Funny content tends to get higher engagement and shows your unique personality and sense of humor. If you don’t consider yourself a comedian, that’s okay, you don’t have to come up with the laughs yourself. Use video templates from tools like CapCut, and add simple text to make popular memes relatable to real estate and your audience.

12. Meme Yourself

Real estate agent meme post (Source @yackelineleidermanrealtor)

Funny real estate agent post (Source: @caitlinhare)

Picasso is often credited with saying, “Good artists copy; great artists steal.” When you see a fun meme or great post, don’t be afraid to repurpose it in your own posts. Create your own version using your facial expressions. Make sure to be courteous and give credit back to the original post if you’re using someone else’s idea, but this unique strategy will definitely make you stand out from the crowd.

13. Funny Trending Audio

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of trending audio going around Instagram at any time, and most of them perfectly set you up to make entertaining and relevant content. This example from Agent Crate uses well-known (and well-loved) audio, a basic video clip, and one sentence of on-screen text. With just a few ingredients, they have a funny, attention-grabbing, reputation-building Instagram post.

14. Real Estate Market Updates

Housing market updates are a great way to provide value to your audience and give you built-in content regularly. Plus, you can repurpose the data you collect for your Instagram post into a real estate newsletter and send it to your email list or mail a physical copy to your farm area.

Plus, eye-catching newsletters are easier to create than ever before with Canva. It has thousands of real estate newsletter templates in every format, and you can customize it with your brand colors and fonts with just a few clicks.

15. Polls or Engagement Posts

When your Instagram posts have a high engagement rate—meaning that the people who see your content like, comment, or share it—the platform will boost your content. If you need to pump up the engagement on your posts, try using a poll and asking for your audience’s opinions. Choose something related to real estate, like decorations or the style of the homes.

Pro Tip: Take this strategy further by “sliding into the DMs” of the people commenting on your post. Ask them a follow-up question and introduce yourself, but don’t make a hard sale just yet. This is a great way to build authentic relationships on social media.

16. Cool Home Features

As you’re actively touring and marketing properties, note any unique or stand-out features to use in your content. Of course, these features can and should be used to market your listings, but they can also be used after the home has been sold to market yourself.

This type of post can be very simple, with a short video showing the home feature and asking your audience what they think. Angela Cheatwood uses a question to hook her audience and show a walk-in pantry. Plus, she uses a short clip from her listing walkthrough, which means she’s saving time and still creating high-quality content.

17. Day in the Life

We know what you’re thinking—do people still care about day-in-the-life videos? YES! Even if your day-to-day real estate tasks don’t seem exciting to you, this post format is a great way to show your personality and build trust with potential leads. In fact, showing some of the mundane work you do to get the best results for your clients—while talking to the camera and showing your sense of humor or unique style—is an amazing way for potential leads to “meet” you and feel confident working with you.

18. Neighborhood Spotlight

If you’re out of general real estate content ideas, start getting more specific about your farm area. Find one neighborhood or town and write out a few details about this area. This type of content is very niche, which is great for attracting your target audience. Plus, it’s not always easy for residents to find specific details on small neighborhoods, so you can become a valued resource by providing this type of education.

19. Local Business Partners

Just like you can highlight a neighborhood, use your platform to highlight other small businesses. This is another great way to attract a hyperlocal audience, and it can be a great way to build partnerships with other business owners. Talk about the business’s location, what it does or serves, and a few things you love about it.

20. Local Real Estate Facts

An alternative to doing a classic real estate market report is to make Instagram real estate posts that weave one piece of data into your content. For example, @hunterhibbardokc uses a video clip from a listing and adds text on the screen with the average listing prices of the Oklahoma City metro. Use the same format with other facts, like local school ratings, walkability factors, or even how home values are growing.

21. Volunteer or Charity Work

Think about all the ways that you’re involved with your community and highlight it on your Instagram page. If you or your real estate team volunteers locally or works with any charities, post about it! Showing what’s important to you personally helps followers get to know you. Amber Dorsey of the Dorsey DFW Group perfectly combined her charity work and community involvement by asking her audience to nominate teachers for a raffle. Then, the team went live to choose the teacher’s names, maximizing their engagement.

22. Things to Do in Your Area

When people are considering a move, one of the main things they research is activities and things to do in the area. You may think your current residents already know this information, but you’d be surprised! These Instagram real estate posts build your credibility as a go-to resource for everything local. Plus, this is another opportunity to connect with local business owners who offer events.

23. Homeowning or Home Maintenance Tips

Marketing your real estate business on social media isn’t just for new clients; it’s also to keep in touch with your past clients and sphere of influence. Regularly provide real estate tips about home maintenance, like when to touch up paint or when to do minor repairs. This shows you are valuable even after a real estate transaction ends.

24. Renovation Ideas

Even though real estate agents generally aren’t directly involved with home improvement projects, renovations greatly impact real estate transactions. Talking about renovations in your Instagram real estate posts can open you up to potential buyers who want a fixer-upper or investors who want to work with an agent who understands how renovations work. Plus, there are an endless number of renovation ideas to give you an endless amount of content.

25. Financing Tips

Financing is a huge part of every real estate transaction, so your real estate Instagram posts should show followers that you know how to guide clients on this topic. Tell followers what steps they should follow to make sure they get approved and some tips for maintaining their finances once they’ve purchased. This type of content is especially important if you want to work with first-time homebuyers or homeowners who want to make the most of their equity.

26. Tell a Story

Casual storytelling post about Zillow (Source: @sweethomeauburnal)

First-time homebuyer struggles video (Source: @therealwayneturner)

When you want to provide value without making a formal educational post, take a storytelling approach. Like @sweethomeauburnal, you can simply take a video of yourself doing any task at home, then record a voiceover. These posts are a great combination of personal, educational, and sometimes entertaining posts, because they don’t have to be wholly focused on real estate. On the other hand, @therealwayneturner shares videos of himself talking about his experiences with first-time homebuyers.

27. Highlight Your Achievements

Real estate is hard work, and you should celebrate when you’re recognized in any way. Plus, sharing these achievements on Instagram goes a long way to building credibility. Keep in mind that your real estate achievements don’t always have to be official awards from your real estate company. For example, @iamdominiquemichelle created a post when she was listed in an article about the best real estate Instagram accounts. If you’ve been recognized in any way, share it with your followers!

28. Motivational or Inspirational Content

Social media isn’t always a positive place, so take every opportunity to encourage or inspire your audience. Creating these types of Instagram real estate posts is simple: just share a quote or something you’ve learned on a short video of a property or yourself. For the best results, think about your audience and what inspires them. For example, @ninoroyalle’s content will likely attract women, with a female-oriented quote on her video and hashtags like #womenquotes.

Why Should You Use Real Estate Instagram Templates?

Social media is a crucial marketing tool for realtors to build their brand, show their expertise, and generate quality leads to grow their business. However, the reality is that social media marketing is time-consuming and tedious, and even the best social media users can burn out quickly. By using templates, you’ll save time and energy while consistently churning out great-quality content.

Where to Find Real Estate Instagram Templates

There are plenty of resources online to help you improve and create social media content. Still, a few providers stand out with realtor-specific content and every real estate social network. Here are a few companies that provide real estate Instagram post templates that are professional, customizable, and easy to use:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you post on Instagram for real estate?

How do you caption a real estate post?

How often should realtors post on Instagram?

Bringing It All Together

Instagram is an incredible tool to grow your real estate business. There are so many types of realtor Instagram posts that can increase your engagement and generate new leads for you, from introductions to funny reels to educational content. Plus, you can simplify the creation process with templates available from Canva, Agent Crate, and Coffee and Contracts to create Instagram posts that catch your audience’s attention.

The post 28 Real Estate Instagram Posts That Attract Clients appeared first on The Close.

Real Estate Agent Memes 

Come on, we can’t take ourselves too seriously all the time. Let’s have some fun with the madness that ensues when working as a real estate agent. And hey, if you’re aiming to grow your Instagram following, how about brightening up your feed with some funny real estate agent memes? You might be wondering how posts that appeal to agents could help your business, but just picture the referrals that could come your way from agents who have the same sense of humor! 

1. You know who you are…

2. Back to basics

3. Hmmm, for some reason, I don’t believe you

4. Award-winning agents

5. I even helped him with his CMA!

6. Thinking vs doing

7. We’ve all been there…

8. I need this shower curtain, actually…

9. Repeat after me: SELLING SUNSET IS NOT REAL LIFE

10. What we all really want to say

11. The final straw was me talking about rent stabilization

12. Starting to think the market is slowing down…

13. Sneaky

14. Did my guidance counselor lie to me?

15. First rodeo

16. Beast mode activated

17. 100% commission brokers

Client Memes 

When compiling memes for realtors, we couldn’t leave out the ones who make our job worthwhile—our clients. After all, without clients, being a realtor is pretty much pointless, right? Plus, I’m sure we’ve all had moments when we thought about creating a side hustle by turning our client experiences into memes. But for now, just getting a good laugh at some of these will have to do. 

18. It’s complicated!

19. I really should just put it on silent

20. You’re the expert!

21. I wonder how many client pictures I’m lurking in the background of…

22. Important research!

23. I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that

24. Future me, shmuture me

25. Sometimes, the training pays off

26. Oh hey, how’s the sale going?

27. Silly goose

28. I can’t wait to hear what he has to say!

29. It’s a 20-minute drive… I’ll be there in 10

30. Did I ask you?

31. This is the wrong market for you…

32. Yeah, no problem! How does the 47th of Octvember work for you?

33. One of the best feelings a real estate agent can have

34. Just smile and nod, smile and nod…

Pro Tip: Looking for more clever memes that you can share with buyers and sellers? Coffee & Contracts offers fresh viral memes from the Broke Agent every month that you can customize and use to promote your brand, not theirs! They also have hundreds of realtor-created templates for Reels, Stories, posts, and more.

Real Estate Marketing Memes 

Have you ever noticed that your Instagram or Facebook feed is filled with the same old real estate marketing posts from all the agents you follow? It can start to feel repetitive, right? Shake things up by adding a touch of humor to your timeline with a relatable real estate marketing meme. Show off your fun side and watch how you attract new clients who appreciate a good sense of humor. 

35. Headshots are never good enough!

36. So much for that career writing listing descriptions…

37. Have you seen my new headshot?

38. Don’t you have Photoshop?

39. Hello?

40. This one will be different!

41. Location, location, location!

42. No one will know…

43. Just step away from Canva

44. You get what you pay for

45. Money, money, money!

46. New listing alert

47. Property pictures

48. Where are all the leads?!

49. Phone pics

50. Outdoor kitchen, anyone?

51. This isn’t Zillow?

Work-life Balance Memes 

No one should be all work and no play all of the time. But in real estate, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the demands of the job. If you’re feeling stressed and bogged down, take a break and check out these fun real estate memes that might just hit a little too close to home. 

52. Sometimes Sundays need to be Sun-days

53. We’ve all been there

54. What days off?

55. Summertime!

56. There’s no crying in real estate!

57. Just waiting for a response to my offer…

58. Just kidding!

59. Weekend warrior

60. I’ve never been more balanced in my life.

61. Just trying to relax

62. Finally! Time to relax and unwind…

63. That must be nice for you.

64. 365 days a year

65. If you know, you know…

66. I’m not stressed at all!

67. Sleep? What’s that?

68. This should be illegal

What to Do With Memes About Real Estate

The best thing about real estate agent memes is that they can be used in various ways. Whether you want to brighten someone’s mood, use them in your marketing, or break the ice with a potential client. Showing off your real estate skills doesn’t always have to come in the form of business information. Sometimes, connecting with potential clients is about forming a bond outside of business-related topics. 

• Social media: Create a post with a meme and share it on your timeline or story. A platform like Canva makes the process simple, as you can easily design and customize your post with various templates and tools.
• Mailing campaigns: Step outside the norm and jazz up your postcards with a funny real estate meme. Personalize the message on the back to match the meme and bring joy to your clients with a little dose of humor in their mailbox!
• Newsletters: When you send your clients a newsletter, consider incorporating some realtor memes that will stand out and keep clients reading.
• Text messages: If you are working with a client down on their luck, choose a funny meme and send it to them in a text message to provide reassurance that they will achieve their real estate goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are some funny real estate videos?

Where can I get real estate facts?

What helps motivate real estate agents?

How do I become a real estate content creator?

Bringing It All Together

Do your cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling too much? Because mine do after compiling these for you. If you have a real estate meme to add to our collection, let us know in the comments!

The post 68 Hilarious Real Estate Memes Realtors Can’t Stop Sharing appeared first on The Close.

Agent Jokes

Being a real estate agent is no joke, but finding humor in the daily grind is a way to cut down on stress and may just be one of the keys to success. Sure, we’ve all heard the house hunter jokes, but we also have to be able to poke fun at ourselves. Check out some of our favorite realtor jokes and real estate broker jokes that we hope you enjoy as much as we do.

1. The dual agent: How does a dual agent sleep? Well, first, he lies on one side, then he lies on the other.

2. Not that bright: The last buyer I worked with wasn’t that bright. When I handed him an exclusive buyer agreement that said “sign here” at the bottom, instead of signing his name, he just wrote “Capricorn.”

3.The wedding: I’m getting married to a top-producing Realtor tomorrow. He’s so dreamy. Check out the diamond engagement ring he sold me.

4. A natural miracle: A Realtor’s brain is a miracle of nature. It starts working the day they’re born and stops working as soon as they need to pitch a homeowner.

5. The two-story house: My clients put in an offer on a two-story house. One story before the offer, another story after the offer.

6. The truck driver client: My truck driver client was such a pain. Kept saying he wanted a house with long haul ways.

7. Don’t trust the listing agent: A listing agent I know promises a free abacus with every closed deal, but I wouldn’t count on it.

8. Being on time: The only problem with being on time for your showings is that no one else is there to appreciate it.

9. Formal licensing: Good news! The federal government has announced that they will begin using real estate licenses as official ID. The rationale is that not everyone has a driver’s license.

10. A realtor’s prayer: Dear Lord, all I ask is that you prove to me that money won’t make me happier by tripling my GCI this year.

11. Real estate success: After reading real estate books by Tom Ferry and Brian Buffini and going to seven coaching seminars this year, I think I’ve finally discovered the secret to making serious money in the real estate industry. I’m going to become a real estate coach!

12. Communication skills: My managing broker just told me I was fired for having poor communication skills. I didn’t know what to say to that.

13. Home run: A commercial broker was working with a client who wanted to buy a hockey rink, but had trouble estimating closing costs. She ended up losing the client because she could only give him a ballpark estimate.

Dad Joke Inspired

I absolutely love jokes about realtors—they help us not take ourselves too seriously. But when you throw in a classic real estate pun delivered in the beloved “dad-joke” style, it’s pure comedy gold! These are the jokes that never fail to make everyone crack a smile.

14. House attire: What does a house wear? Address.

15. The lightest building: What kind of building weighs the least? A lighthouse.

16. The lowest inventory: Did you hear about the last remaining unit in the apartment building? It was last but not leased.

17. Realtor magazine: A Realtor I know asked me if I read “Realtor Magazine.” I said I did read it—periodically.

18. A pretty catchy tune: What’s a Realtor’s favorite Christmas song? For Lease Navidad. 

19. Climate change: I got worried about climate change when Realtors in Iowa started advertising their listings as “potential waterfront property.”

20. Insects: How many insects do you need to make money from your rental unit? Tenants.

21. Doctor House, MD: Why did the house go to the doctor? It had a window pane.

22. The one about the roof: Did you hear the joke about the roof? I doubt you’d get it—it’s over your head.

23. Zombies: Which room in your house are zombies most afraid of? The living room.

24. Hipster real estate: What’s the worst thing about broken elevator puns? They’re not very uplifting.

25. The Cheap Apartment Buyer: My buyer didn’t have a lot of money to spend on an apartment, so I asked the listing agent what would be the condominimum offer the owner would accept.

26. I could take ‘em: “Eh, that Realtor doesn’t look so strong. I bet I can take him in a fight!” “Are you crazy? That guy says he flips houses in his spare time!”

27. The nautical need: Why did the new real estate agent get on a boat? He was a sailor’s agent.

Pick-up Lines

While pick-up lines are things you should never say to your clients, these real estate jokes are perfect for livening up your social media or entertaining your inner circle. They’re also a fantastic way to spice up your postcard mailers in a new and fun way.

28. Couldn’t help but notice: Hey, girl, are you a mortgage? Because you’ve got my interest!

29. NAR no-no: Hey, big guy, are you a NAR violation? Because you’ve got fine written all over you.

30. Lien on me: Hey cowboy, I’m not asking you for an easement, just a mere right of recreation and amusement.

31. My nickname: Around the office, the other Realtors call me coffee ’cause I grind so fine.

32. My heart belongs to you: You probably don’t know it, but you have a lien on my heart.

33. Signal is strong: Is your name Wi-Fi? Because I’m feeling a connection here.

34. Cold caller: Hey good lookin’, I cold call expireds all day, but if you give me your phone number, I’ll make a hot call tonight.

35. Did you feel that too: Is this listing in an earthquake zone, or did you just rock my world?

36. State regs: I’m sorry, but state regulations and the NAR code of ethics require me to disclose how beautiful your eyes are.

37. First-timer: Talking to you makes me feel like a first-time homebuyer—nervous but thrilled.

38. Where’ve you been: Hey hunk, your showing today must have been on the equator because you’re hot!

39. Garden is secluded: This listing has a beautiful garden where we can put our tulips together.

40. The outfit: Hey sailor, you like my blazer? It’s made out of girlfriend material.

41. Legalese: If you were words on my exclusive buyer agency agreement, you’d be the fine print.

42. Inspector is here: Baby, we can definitely skip the inspection because I can already tell you’re flawless!

43. Time for a redesign: Sadly, I had to fire my web designer today and get a Placester site. We just weren’t on the same landing page anymore.

44. Let’s skedaddle: What do you say you and me get out of here and go back to my place to check out my pocket listings?

45. Meet me on the porch: With curb appeal like that, you’re a prime property in my heart’s MLS.

46. Due diligence: Hey baby, what’s your sign, and are you already working with another agent?

47. So social: You must have a killer Facebook ad strategy because you made quite the impression on me.

Affiliate Relationships

We have the pleasure of collaborating with many amazing individuals in the real estate industry, and it’s a journey filled with its fair share of ups and downs. Take a moment to smile over our diverse and interesting experiences in this field.

48. Say it ain’t so: What’s the difference between a Realtor and a mortgage broker? The mortgage broker knows he’s boring.

49. The truth is out there: What do professional, affordable contractors have in common with UFOs? You always hear stories about them, but no one you know has actually seen one.

50. No interest in company: Why did the mortgage broker always eat lunch by himself? He was a loaner.

The IT Department

Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or a bit hesitant, the ever-evolving world of real estate tech is something we all have to get accustomed to. We don’t all have to be tech wizards, but approaching it with a bit of humor can definitely make it more manageable.

51. The perfect CRM: CRM salesperson: “This CRM will cut your workload in half.” Real estate agent: “That’s great, I’ll take two!”

52. The zestimate: An agent shows up at a seller’s appointment and repeats his favorite mantra, crossing his fingers and chanting, “They have not checked their Zestimate. They have not checked their Zestimate. They have not checked their Zestimate.” 

53. Subscription fee: You know what the difference is between you and my CRM? My CRM costs $70 a month, but you’re priceless.

What to Do With Jokes About Real Estate

The best thing about real estate agent jokes is that they can be used in various ways. Whether you want to brighten someone’s mood, use them in your marketing, or break the ice with a potential client. Showing off your real estate skills doesn’t always have to come in the form of business information. Sometimes, connecting with potential clients is about forming a bond outside of business-related topics. 

• Social media: Create a post with the joke and share it on your timeline or story. A platform like Canva makes the process simple, as you can easily design and customize your post with various templates and tools.
• Mailing campaigns: Step outside the norm and jazz up your postcards with a funny joke. Personalize the message on the back to match the joke and bring joy to your clients with a little dose of humor in their mailbox!
• Newsletters: When you send your clients a newsletter, consider incorporating some realtor puns that will stand out and keep clients reading.
• Text messages: If you are working with a client down on their luck, choose a funny joke and send it to them in a text message to provide reassurance that they will achieve their real estate goals.
• Handwritten notes: Change up your handwritten notes with some jokes. Maybe this will become your “thing” that clients know you for and look forward to your notes throughout the year.

FAQs

How can I use real estate quotes?

What are some funny real estate videos?

Where can I get real estate facts?

Bringing It All Together

As they say, laughter is the best medicine. So now that you’ve had your dose, or at least had a good eye-roll, you can get back to your business with a renewed attitude. Do you have any great real estate jokes, puns, or pick-up lines we missed? Let us know in the comments!

The post 53 Real Estate Jokes, Puns & Pick-up Lines appeared first on The Close.

Personality Marketing

Most of these funny real estate videos show what agents do when clients aren’t looking. Whether it’s appeasing clients, trying to show off on the Gram, or relating to the industry’s current state, we relate to whatever the agents are going through while laughing at ourselves. The great thing about these hilarious real estate videos is that they are the best way to build up your personality marketing or brand. These videos spotlight agents’ personalities and show off their knowledge of the market in a fun way. 

There’s a wide variety of personalities on display, so get creative and dream up your own spin on some topics for your funny real estate advertising efforts. Creating fun and engaging videos takes planning, so brainstorm ideas before you start working on your theatrical masterpiece. These funny real estate clips don’t lend themselves to fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants organization, but you can get some inspo from these masters. 

1. What Is Luxury?

Visualization is the key to success. You have to see it to be it. 

2. Back Street Exploitation

Funny TV show? Check. Effective AI-generated face overlay? Check. Backstreet Boys harmony? Check. What’s not to love? If you’re looking for a source of inspiration for your funny real estate video ideas, look no further than Shawn King’s social channels. 

3. Real Estate Agents Be Like…

IYKYK! The pain is so real. We can all relate to the stress of working as a real estate agent. 

4. Winning Negotiation Strategies

Tough negotiator. (Wait ’til the end!) 

5. Of Course, You’ll Sell Her House

Parodies of movies are easier to create than you think!

6. House Hunting 101

“Take your time, but just remember this place has a pool!” We all know those agents who never listen to their clients. 

7. Freddie Mercury, The Realtor

“That’s funny. I’ve really only gotten Chris Hemsworth and Jason Momoa.” Matt Lionetti is one funny real estate agent who creates tons of entertaining real estate content.

8. Funny Fabulous Realtor

Sometimes just dishing on your frustrations while driving to work can win the day. 

9. What Do You Do for a Living?

Sometimes the lines get blurred, amirite?

10. Clear to Close

The wunderkinds of Metzen Realty of “Escrow” fame have done it again! This one is destined to become one of the best funny real estate videos on the internet. 

11. Entrepreneur

“I’m a entrepreneur. I make the rules.” We’ve all been there, dealing with that nightmare real estate client. 

Clever Listing Videos

There are some really creative agents out there thinking outside the box when it comes to creating fun listing videos and funny realtor ads. Who knew real estate agents were so inventive? We could all use more hilarious real estate videos like these that also help sell listings, right?

12. This House Has It All

With so many amenities, there’s “no need to nap on a dirty bench.”

13. This Is Real Life

“I’ll be that host that mentions everything that you could have just seen in the photos. Cheers, darling!”

14. Floss Every Day

It’s the stare for me. What a creative way to showcase a listing’s features while showcasing your distinctive personality. I hope Gabe continues to make these types of funny real estate videos.

Next Level Recruiting

If you’re a broker, you know that recruiting new agents is the lifeblood of your real estate business. Take a lesson from these brokers and their hilarious and innovative approaches to funny real estate ads for recruiting. Don’t be afraid to set the tone for your business so you can attract the right people to fill out your roster.

15. I Will Do Anything

Kelly Johnston will do just about anything for his agents. Seeing a broker work so hard to entice agents to join his firm is refreshing. His funny real estate videos not only help recruit agents with the skills to succeed, but also have a strong sense of humor. 

16. Call Me Maybe

Here’s my number…

Targeting Buyers

Agents looking to find their next buyer clients should focus a lot on digital marketing. The bottom line is that buyers are already looking online for homes. After all, according to the National Association of Realtors, 97% of all homebuyers use the Internet in their home search. So, it’s important for you to be where all those eyeballs are. 

Create some strategic, clever ways to stop the scroll, and you’ll be pulling those buyers in with your unique form of marketing in no time. Take cues from some of these fun real estate videos.

17. This House Is Awesome

This kid really knows his real estate!

18. Realtor Dad Jokes

Seriously, who doesn’t love a good realtor dad joke? 

The Close Takeaway: There’s never been a more important time to master your social media game. If you need help with your social media content, consider working with a real estate marketing company like Coffee & Contracts to streamline your content creation. 

19. The Best Time to Buy Real Estate

Oh, the wasted days of youth…

Targeting Sellers

Buyers aren’t the only ones with eyeballs on the internet. You should definitely create some exciting social media videos for sellers, too. The objective is to show off your mad marketing skills so sellers can feel confident you can sell their house too. Don’t be afraid to get creative, have some fun, and get your whole brokerage involved so everyone benefits from the effort. 

20. Our Marketing Is Fly

“Don’t be hatin’ on me cuz your marketing’s old.”

21. Disappearing Agent

He’s incognito. Maybe he’s afraid to say something he shouldn’t say, but it’s still better to communicate with your sellers than become a master of disguise. On the other hand, highlighting this guy’s shortcomings makes for a funny real estate video to play up your unique selling point.

She makes real estate look easy—it’s all about the details. There’s nothing wrong with hiring professional videographers to help you create a funny real estate video masterpiece. You might even consider turning it into a TV commercial.

The Classics

These videos are not new and have actually been on our list for a while, but they keep getting more traction. That’s the staying power of sites like YouTube—the longer they stay up, the more views they get, and they keep generating real estate leads. 

Truthfully, these videos are so good that they still thrill as much as the day they were created. Making real estate videos funny with this kind of staying power takes a bit more effort, but if you can create an amazing video that continues to generate new leads years after you post it, would it be worth it?

22. Buyers—Ready, Set, Go!

We’re no longer in this kind of market, but this is still one of the funniest real estate videos out there and the one that gets stuck in my head on repeat. The Metzen Realty guys have a knack for creating catchy songs, but this is the one that started it all. And it’s still the best one, in my opinion, gaining more than 103,000 views in just three years.

23. Doggie Dreams

You gotta dream big, amirite? This video is exponential in production value, garnering 128,000 views in seven years. But that doesn’t mean you can’t repurpose the idea and recreate your own version for your listing. One of the top comments on this video says it all—“This video was fantastic!! Great job on showing the home’s features with a good sense of humor!” 

24. Is It Included?

This agent knows a lot, just not about this listing. This funny nine-year-old video has clocked 12,000 views for Tucker Real Estate. 

25. Mrs. DoubtBuyer

You gotta do whatever it takes to get the listing. Shawn King is one of our favorite creators at The Close. He proves, over and over again, that when you aren’t afraid to make fun of yourself, the sky’s the limit with creativity. Go check out his accounts on Instagram and TikTok to see tons more fun videos for some great inspo. 

26. Serious Buyers Only

It’s so true, it’s hard not to feel his pain when the math doesn’t math. This video is from a comedy show and not from an agent, but it’s so relatable. And it’s garnered 73,000 views since it was posted seven years ago.

27. You Need a Realtor 

It’s so creepy that it’s good! This video was posted 13 years ago, but it still gets views on YouTube. It has accumulated 53,000 views since then. That’s a lot of eyeballs. 

Bringing It All Together

Who doesn’t love a good, funny real estate video to brighten up their day? I love seeing creative agents make amazing content to help build their businesses. And with video, you’re truly only limited by your own imagination. So, take some inspo from these videos, but also find a way to be yourself. Be unique but authentic. Find ways to connect with your audience, and they’ll love you for it.

Seen any great real estate videos I missed? Have a comment about any of these videos on this list? Share with me in the comments!

The post 27 Funny Real Estate Videos You Need Right Now appeared first on The Close.

1. ‘You Have Horrible Taste’

Your seller has taxidermied every cat he has ever owned and placed them around the house. You’re encouraging him to remove the dead animals and stage the home more neutrally. However, your seller is standing firm. How about just one taxidermied cat, you suggest? Nope. It’s all 45 or no house. Your blood pressure is rising, 90 glass cat eyes are staring at you, and you want to shout, “You have horrible taste! No one will buy a house looking like this!” But you don’t. You’re a professional. 

Every agent has had sellers who think their decor choices epitomize style and design. They resist all calls to declutter and repaint the neon green and orange bathroom before a house viewing and maybe pull up the maroon shag carpet while they’re in there.

We can all agree that taste is very personal and that many looks are acceptable in the broad spectrum of design. However, as an agent, you know that staging a home will appeal to more buyers and command a higher dollar. But, as much as you’d like to, you can’t tell them that they have horrible taste. 

Say This Instead

You have a beautiful collection of stuffed cats. It is so meaningful and important to you. However, we might have potential buyers who are allergic or may miss their dear departed cats. They will spend the whole time looking at your cats, thinking about their cats, not your lovely property. Let me show you some simple things we can do to stage your home that might even bring a higher sales price! 

2. ‘Let’s Base the Listing Price on the Zestimate’

I’ll be the first to say that Zestimates are getting better, but they still create a lot of confusion and false hope for sellers. We have a whole article explaining what a Zestimate is and how (and why) it’s often wrong. Briefly: a Zestimate is not an appraisal—it’s a number created by a sophisticated algorithm.

If the home needs repairs, sellers might be pondering the question, “What not to tell your realtor when selling,” so ask additional questions about the home’s condition and explain why disclosing all material defects is mandatory. All that you learn—all of these little details—are part of your pricing strategy but not part of the Zestimate. 

But it’s especially challenging for agents listing a home when the seller is married to the Zestimate. Even if you think the Zestimate isn’t that far off, you want to ensure your clients understand your value and that your experience and local market knowledge make you the right person to sell their home. The last thing you want to say is, sure, let’s base the listing price on the Zestimate. 

Say This Instead

Explain how Zillow comes up with its numbers, but use your comparative market analysis to justify your price point. You’re the local expert and the one who can explain why a higher or lower price will get top dollar in your local market. You will win them over with correct data and a persuasive point of view. 

3. ‘Call Me Anytime, 24/7’

Frankly, you should be open and available to your clients. It’s a big part of what agents do. However, you don’t need to suggest that clients can call you any time of the night or day. Either it’s a false promise, and you’ve set up unrealistic expectations that will lead to frustrations—or it’s a genuine offer, and you haven’t slept in four years. Either way, it’s not great. 

You are a busy agent and a crucial part of one of the most important financial decisions in people’s lives. But you might also have a family, a pet, or other clients, or at least someone who has to eat. You can’t promise to be on call 24/7 and survive. 

Say This Instead

You can commit to top-tier customer service. You can promise to return all emails and texts within one business day. You can pledge to monitor messages and respond promptly and regularly. You can also introduce your clients to a fellow team member or assistant who can step in if you are unavailable. You can deliver the best customer service in your area in many ways without sleeping with your phone. 

4. ‘I Only Make Money if You Buy a House’

This is a hidden thing you should never say as a real estate agent. While you might love real estate, you still have to get paid, and it can be tricky how to explain it to clients. When you say you get paid if and when they buy a house, your buyers will feel all kinds of pressure. 

Sure, it’s true, but as the recent commission lawsuits demonstrate, there is a lot of confusion about how agents are paid and what they’re worth. Agents have a real opportunity to explain their value. As an agent, you serve many roles in helping someone find their dream home, and this is your chance to lay them all out.

Say This Instead 

If asked how you make money, be careful not to answer by assigning any responsibility to your clients. Rather, point to the many services you provide. Make sure they understand commission but do so in a way that ensures they never feel like they are responsible for you keeping your lights on at home. Even if they are.

5. ‘Your Dream Home Doesn’t Exist’

Generally, everyone compromises when buying property. But don’t just say outright to your clients—your dream home doesn’t exist. Don’t dash their hopes and dreams on the sharp rocks of your dozens of years of cynicism experience. 

Buyers are confused by the current market, afraid of interest rates, and generally set up to have out-sized expectations. These folks have been out there for years watching HGTV, with buyers rejecting homes with ugly not-granite countertops on House Hunters and remodeling $130,000 homes into farmhouse-style palaces. It’s not their fault. 

Say This Instead

I understand that these not-granite countertops make you want to gouge your eyes out with pruning shears, but countertops are replaceable and are easier and cheaper than you think. Let’s look at some cosmetic changes that can make this house (the one that checks every other box) your dream home. 

6. ‘You’re Delusional’

I’m guessing you may have said this in your head many times to different clients about different issues. After all, any time you work with people, there will be a time when there’s a difference of opinion. For example, agents might want to call a client delusional when they submit a low-ball offer.

They say, “I know it’s listed at $380,000,” they say, “but let’s go in at $290,000 and just see what happens.” You’ll be tempted to respond, “You’re delusional.”

Say This Instead

Instead of questioning their ability to reason, you’ve got to lean on your numbers and their emotions. Explain how the comps make the listing price pretty accurate. While there might be room for negotiation, a basement-level low offer will sour the relationship from the outset. The sellers might not even counter, cutting off further opportunities for negotiation. In a seller’s market, those lowballs aren’t going to get it done (highest and best should be the order of the day). Try to suss out if they really want the home, and if so, how badly. And is it worth making a realistic offer to get it? 

Bringing It All Together

Unfortunately (fortunately?), there are things you should not say as an agent when working with clients to sell or buy a house. Imagine a home viewing with all the stuffed cats. That’s the exact time you might want to tell a client that they have horrible taste (the “you’re delusional” also works). But you can’t. And you don’t. Because you know what to say instead. The result is an exercise in diplomacy and persuasion—and potentially, a decluttered, staged home ready to sell. That’s why you’re the best in the business, and at The Close, we’re here to help you along the way.

The post What Should You Not Say When Selling a House: An Agent’s Guide appeared first on The Close.

I want to note to our readers that often, what you might perceive as lying could just be a new client feeling uncomfortable. Cultural differences could also come across as guarded or closed off. Be mindful that just as you’re trying to read your clients to see if you can trust them, they’re doing the same to you. They need to know they can trust you. So before making assumptions, just ask your clients what they’re thinking or what’s going on. Just because someone could be lying to you doesn’t mean they are lying to you. 

1. Recognize the Signs in Their Body Language 

When you first meet your clients, you might not know them personally. Your goal is to build rapport during one of your first interactions and to put them at ease so you can understand and observe your client’s natural body language and communication style. That baseline is essential to knowing how someone acts when they’re being truthful. 

According to Chris Voss, former FBI hostage negotiator and author of “Never Split the Difference,” the majority of our communication—55%, in fact—comes from our face and body language. What you’re looking out for here is your client’s tone of voice and nonverbal cues. Think:

• Lack of eye contact
• Itching and fidgeting
• High-pitched voice
• Change in their complexion
• Sweaty palms or forehead
• Vocal fill (“uh,” “like,” and “um”)

While it may mean they’re lying, they could also be looking to conceal personal information. However, when your clients veer into avoiding direct questions about simple things, like areas of interest or how much they can afford, that’s a red flag.

• Example : Let’s say you have a client ready to see a home, and you ask if they’ve spoken with a lender. They shift their eyes downward, look away, and quietly say “yes,” but they’ve only handed you a quick prequalification they got online. That’s much different than a pre-approval from a lender. Perhaps they don’t know the difference, but this is a chance for you to jump in and educate. Always assume positive intent.

2. Trust but Verify Their Information

“Trust but verify” was something my first managing broker told me. The adage rings true in real estate for a reason. Take your client’s word, but you must do your own diligence as a real estate professional. This means if your sellers say they got the roof replaced last year, but you see that the shingles have a ton of wear, you might need to consider pulling the permit history report. After all, according to CRES, a nationally recognized Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance provider, one in five real estate lawsuits are due to an issue with permits.

• Example : Your buyers found their perfect home—turns out it’s back on the market from falling out of contract. Your buyers want to make an offer, and you ask, “What happened on the last deal?” The listing agent tells you that the last buyers “noticed something during the inspection.” Then you see that the seller’s property disclosure hasn’t been updated since the listing went live. It’s your responsibility to ask the listing agent to verify if there is an updated property disclosure—after all, the last buyers backed out for a reason. Once the sellers are aware of a significant service or system issue, they must disclose the issue (in most cases).

3. Not Responding to Your Communication

Interestingly, research tells us how our clients communicate doesn’t matter much in detecting lies. A Northwestern University communications researcher studied lies in text messaging. When participants were asked to look at their 30 most recent text messages, a fifth of respondents said there were no lies at all, and the majority said that 10% or fewer of their texts contained lies. In other words, studies found that most people are truthful—toward strangers and even via social media and texting. On the whole, people aren’t trying to lie. Sometimes, social media can skew toward misinformed information, but that’s more due to the uninformed public rather than intentional deception.

 In other words, you may not have a lying client just because they prefer texting. If your client only communicates via text, your red flag here should be a lack of a response. While you might get frustrated with your client’s preference for “just texting,” your client could have a good reason for it. The same study showed that the number of lies doesn’t increase depending on the form. Just ask your clients the method they prefer and adapt.

• Example : Nowadays, having clients who only communicate via email or text is common. Other times, clients only want to talk via phone. However, here’s a red flag: they don’t respond for a few days or outright refuse to talk via phone or email. For example, you tour a home, then your clients ghost you. Next time you connect, ensure you’re still on the same page. Time is crucial in real estate (and communication)!

4. Trust Your Intuition (& Your Gut!)

This one might come with time and experience, but if something feels off, it probably is. Use professional judgment here—try to figure out how to verify things to ensure you don’t waste your efforts chasing after dead ends. When looking at how to deal with a lying client, it helps to know the intentions behind the lies. 

While studies vary on why people lie, impression management is one of the most popular reasons. These types of folks really care about what others think of them, so they might make up lies to help their situation. They see these white lies as having good intentions. 

Bella DePaula, Ph.D., asks us to think about two kinds of lies: self-serving lies and kindhearted lies:

• Example : People may not lie to deceive you but to spare your feelings. Think of those showings where the feedback says, “I think my clients loved it … they might plan to make an offer,” but the offer doesn’t arrive. When you call the agent a few days later, it turns out that their buyers just put an offer in on another house. The agent says that they didn’t want to come across as rude.

If you want to learn more about personality types and the different types of lies that men and women tell, check out DePaula’s insightful article, “Who Lies?” in Psychology Today.

5. Document Your Interactions to Spot Lies 

So you’ve seen a few signs of lying from your clients. What should you do next? Simple: While lie detection isn’t easy, one way to protect yourself and your business is to document every interaction. This documentation is why having and using a real estate customer relationship manager (CRM) is so important. Sync up your documents and emails with your client files to make sure you’re on track and on the same page as your client. 

Your clients may often not try to lie to you as much as “save face” for themselves. It’s about education for your clients. They may be unaware of how their behavior is coming across—going back to why building rapport with your clients is vital before jumping into a showing and a contract. 

• Example : A woman is interested in purchasing a small, one-bedroom condo. She seems guarded and doesn’t give you much information to help her find a home. One day, she gets a call from one of her children. You didn’t know she had a family. Come to find out, she lets you know that she is looking to leave her husband and wants to leave him off the deed. She’s trusting you to keep the transaction quiet.

6. Try to Spot Inconsistent or Contradictory Stories

While perhaps your clients don’t understand the difference between a prequalification and a pre-approval, that’s easy to explain and help your client understand. The difference is hearing different stories whenever you ask a question. This contradiction could be a red flag. For example, if your new buyers say they’re moving cities due to a new job, but it turns out they start sending you homes to view in the next neighborhood over, you have to find out why they’re giving you (what seems like) an excuse. Maybe you don’t have a lying client—just one who can’t decide where to live!

Don’t be afraid to have those open conversations. If you’re seeing the stories change or feel like you’re getting excuses from your clients, it’s time to talk about expectations versus reality. Let them know that you must understand the entire situation to serve them best.

• Example : You get a lead from a brother and sister looking to sell—it’s an inheritance listing. Once you snag the listing appointment and arrive, the woman tells you her brother is traveling to another state for work but will do what she decides. You write up the paperwork, get her signature, and wait for the brother to sign. A week later, she informs you that the brother has listed the home with another agent. It would have been wise to grab his information and figure out his side of the transaction.

7. Watch Out for Vague Responses

Listen: the real estate industry moves fast. Interest rates and home availability change almost daily. We don’t have time for vague responses and veiled communication. If you’re getting the runaround, it’s time to ask why. 

Nobody likes being ignored or given the cold shoulder. If you’re experiencing this from your client, ask a few probing questions to get more information, like “How are things outside of the transaction lately?” or “How are you feeling about this change?”

• Example : A regular weekly check-in is essential for you and your client. If you’re feeling them pull away or not receiving prompt responses, they could have dozens of reasons for being guarded. For example, when you’ve had a listing on the market for a while, you might feel like your sellers are pulling away from you. They could just be busy—you’ll never know unless you ask. This vagueness is why you must check in regularly to ensure everybody’s on the same page.

8. Always Remember Your Professionalism & Ethics

While you want to trust your intuition, keep ethics in mind. Ensure you’re respectful of other cultures and traditions. Don’t assume anything based on your client’s appearance, dress, or speech patterns. It’s sometimes better to shrug off and move on rather than get hung up on what could have been a lie. If you think you’ve spotted a lie, just ask for clarification. 

And, of course, it’s important to keep your safety as a real estate agent in mind as well. Trust your clients, but don’t be too trusting (remember—trust but verify). Try to avoid sharing a vehicle with a stranger or texting after hours, and ensure someone knows your location if you’re going to meet a client for the first time. You can never be too careful—better safe than sorry.

• Example : Remember the legal implications of assumptions regarding your clients. Fair housing and anti-discrimination laws exist for a reason. You don’t want to be reported to your local regulatory board because you didn’t maintain professional conduct with a potential client.

Bringing It All Together

Remember that people tell lies for all sorts of reasons, and there’s a good chance you’ll occasionally encounter a few lies from your clients. In those cases, be understanding and try to educate your clients. After all, one of the most common untruths in real estate is to “save face”—even with a trusted party like their real estate agent! 

While this field can make you jaded, it’s important to remember that as a professional, you should never assume bad intent on the part of your clients. Even if you’ve caught them in a lie, keep it to yourself until you can prove otherwise. After all, we never truly know another person’s intentions. As the motivational speaker Denis Waitley says, “Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised.”

Are there techniques to spot a lie we didn’t cover? Share your experience in dealing with lies from clients: what strategies have worked for you?

The post 8 Tricks for How to Deal With a Lying Client appeared first on The Close.

1. No Free Lunch

It’s normal for sellers to be protective of their things. For example, they might ask potential buyers to wear booties to not track mud across their expensive rugs. But one seller wasn’t just protective of her rugs—she wanted to lock the fridge. This story is even more horrific because she wasn’t accusing the buyers of stealing her food—it was the agents! She canceled her listing contract in a huff and demanded a gift card to a local grocery store as payback for the “stolen” food. While we’re on the agent’s side here, who can forget that guy who drank right from the seller’s milk carton?

Lesson Learned: You can be the best agent in the world and still be fired for something you didn’t do or something out of your control. But if you were thinking of stealing food from the fridge, don’t. If you’re fired, it’s OK. Keep your head up and try these high-impact lead-generation ideas! 

2.  Fire Sale Real Estate Horror Stories

I bet this is a familiar story for most of you. An agent takes a cold call and agrees to list a couple’s condo. There might have been some red flags, but only in retrospect. The condo had been completely renovated after a massive fire, and while it was beautiful, it was by far the nicest property in the building. 

Every other comp was at least $50,000 lower than what the couple wanted for their condo. This agent explained the comps carefully and predicted that the most accurate market price would only be about $15,000 over the standard comp. The couple refused to listen. The listing sat on the market and finally expired. While the agent lost the sale, he can sleep well at night knowing that when the fire-damaged-then-remodeled condo did sell, it was right at the price he’d predicted.

Lesson Learned: Check out our step-by-step guides for creating a persuasive listing presentation and an accurate, data-driven comparative market analysis. But remember, even when you do it all perfectly, some people still won’t listen.

3. Fruit Falling Far From the Tree

Every so often, a client will show up with their children. Usually, the kids are well-behaved and glued to a device, but we all have real estate horror stories of kids jumping in the pool or scratching up a pool table. However, for this agent, the children got up to some mischief. As the agent, her clients, and the client’s twins arrived at a luxury property, the mom pointed out a beautiful lime tree. As they were leaving, the twins showed up at the car, having picked every single lime off that tree.

Lesson Learned: Sometimes, you must make limeade from all the limes your client’s kids stole. Just keep saying to yourself, show me the money!

4. Don’t Worry, Dear

One of our Close readers arrived at a listing and accidentally walked in on the seller taking a bath. The older lady barely glanced up and said, “Don’t worry dear, it’s only body parts,” and kept washing away. 

Lesson Learned: Sounds like the homeowner kept her sense of humor and her dignity in what could have been a traumatizing moment. Remember, don’t take everything too seriously, and always knock first.  

5. Call a Locksmith

Most of us have a broken lock or I-can’t-get-this-damn-lockbox-open story, or at least the thought of a lockbox makes us break into a cold sweat. For this poor agent, bad lockbox luck struck him twice—on the same day. He had two condos in the same community and offered to show a group of people both properties. Despite his best efforts and frantic calls to the owner, the first lockbox wouldn’t open with the code. 

After a lengthy period of frustration and embarrassment, he gave up and led the buyers to the second condo. The lock was broken. One can imagine the potential buyers eyeing each other, shuffling their feet. Nothing would open that door except a $325 locksmith with a drill. After what seemed like an eternity, the door was finally opened (by the locksmith). That agent never forgot that day and probably still gets nervous at showings until he hears that sweet click of a lock opening. 

Lesson Learned: Until robots or artificial intelligence (AI) solve this problem for us, a lockbox mishap will happen to everyone at some point. Keep your sense of humor, don’t give up, and call a locksmith if necessary.

6. Hiding in Plain Sight

We all hate it when the seller hangs around during an open house or a showing, shuffling right behind, eavesdropping, or interjecting an opinion. But for one agent, the seller took this a step further. She stayed in the house for showings but hid under the covers of her bed. It wasn’t subtle. It was very strange. When confronted by her listing agent, she always denied it. Talk about a real estate horror story! 

Lesson Learned: An agent who sells a house while the owner hides under the sheets during showings should get an extra martini, a TED talk, or a book deal. We have a lot to learn from this real estate master. 

7. Addicted to Love…& Being Under Contract

We’ve all had clients who can’t commit or waste our time. But this real estate story from Reddit stayed with me. An agent had a client go under contract multiple times, but she would back out right after the home inspection each time. While it’s not unheard of for a buyer to be turned off by a list of repairs, it was starting to be a problem. 

The agent stuck with it, hoping it would all turn into a commission check (plus it was a referral from a great client). It turns out that this client wasn’t shopping for a house at all—she was shopping for a husband. She had a huge crush on the home inspector and would go under contract on a house just to have an excuse to see him. The agent had to fire her when she started calling the inspector at night. The worst part is that the agent assured us that sexually harassing the inspector was the least of her sins. 

Lesson Learned: Looking to date and/or become a home inspector? We’ve got you covered with this step-by-step guide on how to do it. The home inspector part. Not the dating.

8. Nightmare on West Paces Ferry

Glennda Baker is the best at everything: real estate, influencing, motivating, and storytelling. She uses that Atlanta drawl to pull us in and forgive her for everything, including selling her client…the wrong house. I won’t do Glennda a disservice by telling her story when she does it so well, but she did sell her client the wrong house. She describes the nightmare feeling that she might get sent to real estate jail. Spoiler—there’s a happy ending. 

Lesson Learned: We’re all human, and all make mistakes (some more of a nightmare than others). But don’t lose your cool! Negotiate your way to a solution and live to sell houses another day.

9. The Mysterious Case of the Lying Tenants

For anyone who’s managed a property, you know that you can do everything right and still face an unexpected mystery. For this property owner, it was the case of fictitious lead poisoning. She had run the background check and called the previous landlord. The new tenants seemed great. The second month, though, no check appeared. When pressed, the family said that the problem wasn’t their missing rent—it was lead poisoning. 

The tenants claimed that their child had lead poisoning from being in that home for just a few weeks. Now, the woodwork was made of natural wood, so even if there was lead in an old layer of varnish, the property manager knew that kid would have had to eat through it faster than a woodchuck and lick the radiator constantly. The Board of Health agreed. A judge agreed. No lead poisoning—the property owner was in the clear. Turns out these tenants had pulled the same trick before, and their “previous landlord” in the background check was a lying relative. 

Lesson Learned: If you’re a property manager, go to two or three former landlords and verify, verify, verify everything. Also, use an online tenant screening service instead of doing it all yourself! 

A Real Estate Success Story to Scare Away the Horror

There are lots of real estate horror stories about difficult clients—time wasters, jerks, people who don’t understand how money works or that punctuality is important, the people whose kids pick all the limes—but as agents, we try to help them, no matter what. Like doctors with their Hippocratic oath, most agents feel a call to serve. When clients deal with some of the biggest financial decisions and most stressful moments of their lives, real estate agents are there. 

I know so many real estate stories of agents who stepped up when there’s been a death, an elderly person needed help cleaning out their house, or a young couple had to have a babysitter to look at a house. This is one of those real estate success stories:

Lesson Learned: This isn’t a horror story, but it is a real estate story we hear repeatedly—agents working hard to make their communities better and stronger. If you lose motivation after a real estate nightmare, we’ve got you covered. 

Bringing It All Together

Most of the time, our lives as real estate agents are pretty normal. We carry on daily, helping people buy and sell homes and achieve their real estate dreams. But then, one day, when we least expect it, we accidentally walk in on a senior citizen taking a bath. 

Have any real estate stories to tell? Any wild experiences? Send them out as cautionary tales in your marketing materials—and let us hear them in the comments! 

The post 9 Real Estate Horror Stories That Will Make Your Skin Crawl appeared first on The Close.