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Believe to succeed
The superstitions, philosophies, and beliefs of selling real estate
by Ward Lowe The article in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times caught my eye. A handful of real estate agents in Texas, Catholic or not, place or bury a statue of St. Joseph in the front yard of a home to encourage a quick sale. Since he’s the patron saint of house hunting–not house selling–bury him upside down, facing either toward the street to look for buyers or toward the house to focus on the sale.
Does it work? Some insist it does. Whether you agree with the practice or not, superstitions, rituals, and routines exist and, to some people, are very important. This particular practice piqued our interest at Texas REALTOR®, and we posed the question, "Are you superstitious?" to TAR members.
This seemingly innocuous question elicited a diverse and passionate response. Some spoke of rituals and jinxes, others spurned such "ignorance," and many wrote about instead placing their trust in deeply held religious or other personal beliefs. The query quickly lost its original sense of quirky business practices and evolved into a hodgepodge of religious beliefs, personal philosophies, and exercise regimens. But regardless of whether they viewed superstition as amusing and harmless or offensive and detrimental to the profession of real estate, no one lacked an opinion.
Of the superstitions offered by respondents, by far the most popular was "don’t figure your commission before closing." One REALTOR®, perhaps ascribing a business-related reason to this practice, explained that once you know how much money there is to be made on a deal, you lose your objectivity as a real estate professional and get desperate. Clients and other brokers sense your change in attitude and pull back from a transaction.
One woman received a Cross pen from her husband when she became a REALTOR®. From day one, she has had clients use that pen for every contract and claims to have never had one terminated.
Another REALTOR® finds that superstitions can be used to put a twist in a transaction. He keeps a crystal ball in his office and motions to it whenever a customer asks what a property will be worth in the future. "Let’s see what it predicts," he offers; his customers who buy property never again inquire about the future.
A small percentage of the REALTORS® who responded questioned the discussion of superstitions. Two respondents implored me to drop the topic altogether. One maintained that while "there are members who hold such ignorant opinions...there is no place for a discussion of them in a professional setting." The other held a similar view, comparing luck and superstitions to "tarot cards and practicing witchcraft."
However, many REALTORS® instead offered alternative and traditional beliefs that enrich their personal and professional lives. From the power of positive thinking and promoting good karma to trusting in a "higher power" or religion, REALTORS® have faith in many things that carry them through their lives and provide guidance. One respondent even suggested that putting your faith in hard work and perseverance was the only way to succeed–a novel concept.
Photo © 2001 PhotoDisc.
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