Take a look at this seating chart for Comcast Center, the basketball arena at University of Maryland. You'll notice a lot of pretty colors, each representing a more or less desirable section for seating, a wide range of prices, and different expectations.
It's a little like the real estate arena, don't you think? Consumers can reserve a seat in the "purple"section at a lower price, knowing before they step foot into Comcast that they saved a lot of money over those people who are sitting court-side to watch the very same basketball game. The question is this: "Where's YOUR agent... front row or nosebleed section? It's important to know so your expectations are realistic.
If you want to the best possible experience in today's real estate market, I have a seat reserved for you in the V.I.P. section. If you "just" want to see the game, and you don't mind sitting in a discount or limited view seat, you can probably find scalpers in the parking lot who are more than willing to sell you a ticket. But don't expect to have the same view of the game or to savor the experience quite as much. Your choice of seats at this game will make a difference!
'Hope you enjoyed my tongue-in-cheek analogy. Please contact me for more information about what you can expect as one of my clients.
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Community and real estate information for military and civilian personnel at Fort George G. Meade, Andrews AFB, and the U.S. Naval Academy - by Margaret Woda, military spouse & experienced REALTOR.
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Margaret, I love the analogy. Me, I like the yellow front and center seats too.
Love the analogy Margaret...how creative and fun!
Cute, Margaret! How do you think this stuff up?
Great one...in a time when people want "something for nothing" I am always looking for innovative ways to tell them they want the best....and want to pay to have the best!
Missy, me too, but not everyone wants to sit there. Now consumers, like basketball fans, have options.
Lisa, fun and short - those were my goals. Not to mention, I think it's an analogy some people might get more easily than the simple "You get what you pay for."
Patricia, this one was easy!
Jeff, most people should be able to relate to this. If they're not sports fans, just substitute the concept of theater tickets. Jeff, I wanted to reciprocate by commenting on one of your blogs, but I see you haven't posted yet. Welcome to ActiveRain - I look forward to your first post and hope I don't miss it.
Margaret,
Nice analogy! Just like anything else in life...you usually get what you pay for. And you don't get what you don't pay for!
Margaret, great analogy -- especially for all those sports fans out there. I'm not a huge sports fan anymore, but I think that most people can relate to this post.
Ya see...this is my problem with blogging....I don't have these creative genes to think up things like this....
Great way to look at things......be you a sports fan, attend a concert or whatnot....I'm all for the yellow seats also.
Margaret - Excellent analogy! There are those who only care about the cost and they have the option. Those who want front row have their option.
Paula, 'don't know why I never thought of this before. Most people can relate.
Thom, I just stumbled onto this... My blogs usually come across more like a lecture from a teacher. Thanks for the compliment.
Brian, I hope so - It's not something I've used before, and I'll let you know if it turns out to be a helpful explanation at my listing appointment on Friday.
David and Kristin - So true!
Margaret,
Now that is creative thinking and a great illustration which certainly drives your point home. You get a 5 from me on this one.
Rough! Now I have to have a private box, too? Not in my mktg budget...
Margaret,
You inspired me to make my first blog post ever....
Thanks! I look forward to seeing many more from you!
Hi, Cynthia - Thank you for the 5, and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Jeff G. - Well, no you don't have to. You can always be a discount or limited service broker - there's a market for those, too. :)
Jeff M. - CONGRATULATIONS! I just read it, and it may be the best "first" I've ever seen.
Margaret- HIGH 5 ! 5 stars! You did yourself proud. I love the analogy. It is SO True! I have a post coming on what happened recently regarding this issue! Katerina
Margaret, what an excellent analogy. I'd much rather be on the floor right where I can get the concession guy to bring my popcorn and drink quickly and efficiently. If I'm up in the "nosebleed" section it takes the concession guy a whole lot longer, he gets tripped along the way and my popcorn is half full and my ice is melted by the time he gets there, that's if he sees me signaling at him. Hmmm...that front and center agent would work their tail off, answer you at a moments notice and never ever give you a "half full" service.
Katerina - I can't wait to see it. 'Glad you liked this.
Julie - Thank you, I was pretty proud of myself when I thought of this one. lol.
Margaret: Great Story. Very well presented. Five Stars for You, too. This is one of the ideas that would cause me to slap the side of my own head with the heel of my hand. Like... I shoulda thoughta that ! Actually, there's nothing I would enjoy more than a seat in the yellow section watching the University of Maryland Women's Basketball play their hearts out. Gooooo Terps !
SO TRUE! Great analogy. Really- who wants to be in the nosebleed section? You might as well watch it on TV.
Margaret - Really cool post. This really hits home. Too many people today think they can hire just anbody at a discount rate and they will get the job done. We both know that outcome doesn't happen as much as the consumer would think.
This is an interesting way to put it. There are different levels within every profession--it's just up to us to make sure our customers are getting the best.
Danielle - You know what... I'm okay with the green section. I like the view of the floor from a little higher.
Bill - Thanks, I do think most people can relate to this.
Ginger - You may be right. Nothing worse than sitting in the last row or two!
Karen - I'm beginning to sense a story here, because this isn't your first reference to the Lady Terps. ???
Gee Margaret: What kind of story are you sensing? Tell me more. Now you've got my curiosity up.
Karen - Maybe a former Lady Terp, or mom of one, or women's basketball fan in general or ???
Margaret: Ok... even though it's 2:05am... here's the story. In my second year of teaching, I taught one eighth grade homeroom, and an eighty-three year old nun taught the other. We both had full teaching schedules, but then there was phys-ed. The BOYS of course had a teacher who was hired specifically to teach the boys phys-ed.
The girls, on the other hand... well... they were the girls. So, the principal, I think her name was Sister Mary Holywater, came and met with the two of us, the arthritic nun, and myself, and said to me. "Karen, I need you to teach the girls phys-ed class. With Sister Margarita here, with her arthritis, I can see it all now. She tries to lead them in jumping jacks in class... and because of her arthritis, she can get half-way through the first jumping jack, and ends up stuck with her hands up in the air, because her arm muscles tightened up, and she couldn't get her arms back down."
So, there we would have it... Sister Margarita with her arthritic hands up in the air, and the forty-five girls in her class... of course, following their teacher... have to spend the remaining forty-four minutes of the class with THEIR arms up in the air... frozen in time halfway thru that doggone first jumping jack.
Now, I must admit, I did "embroider" that story just a tad... but the spirit of it is true. I just got tired of watching all the money... what little of it there was... being spent on the boys, and the girls got the leftovers... which in this case... the "leftovers" was ME.
When Title Nine came along, and it was mandated that equal amounts of money be spent on the boys AND the girls, I was thrilled. Ever since then, I have just enjoyed so much "watching" women's sports. My degree was not in phys ed. It was in Psychology, with minors in both Philosophy and French. So, for nine years, I taught in the Catholic schools, and loved every minute of it.
I just really get so much enjoyment watching the women play the game with all their hearts. All out ! And then, when the game is over, both teams line up facing each other, and walk past each of the other team members... each giving the other a high-five, way to go, a "good game" tap, or sometimes huggs.
And the guys... too many of them, to me at least, are suffering from testosterone poisoning. A terrible thing. They all want to be "number one." The adrenaline pumps, and they are at war. The women, they play their hearts out, but when the game is over... it's hugg time. And, I just love watching Brenda Frese work the game, work the refs, motivate her young women. It's just the thing to make me feel energized... to make me feel young again... to take me back to my eighth grade teaching days.
Now you have it... there's the story ! Take care... time for me to go home. Karen Anne
Great analogy... I loved it and you made some really great points. I hope everyone gets to read this so they can see where they are and where they want to go in this business.
Nicole
Karen - Okay, now I get it!
Nicole - Thank you, I hope so to.
Margaret! I would not have found this if you hadn't left a comment on my post. This was an EXCELLENT post.... should have been featured..... good tie ins for everyone to relate to. I've gotten a chance to read some of your other posts too.... YOU are GOOD! I'm seriously impressed..... makes my little stuff look like "Mickey Mouse" lingo!
I gave this a 5 of course. Do you know where i can borrow a few more eyeballs and a couple of brains? So much reading to catch up on!!!
Diane- Thank you! Funny how this reciprocation thing works. It's how I've found most of my ActiveRain friends! Nice to meet you. As to featuring... I think they may have put me on a back shelf for a while since I had two posts featured within 24 hours a few weeks back. lol.