Special offer
Richie Alan Naggar, agent & author  (people first...then business Ran Right Realty )

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Rainer
19,237
Mary Grace (Ballew) MacDougall
Keller Williams Columbia - Columbia, SC
Home Buying and Selling in the Columbia Area

Free has been overused and always seems to have a catch to it. It always seems like something is still required of you whether it is your time, contact information, demographic info, or a kidney.

Jan 22, 2019 07:44 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

of course there is something FREE.... can you guess what it is from The Todaro Team?  it's the reason our phone rings after we offer our "Free Market Analysis".... 

I understand some real estate agents think it's tacky...guess what? I like tacky...it's worked for me for 41 years and I'm going to continue for another 41 !!!  I hope every real estate agent in my area thinks it's tacky.... every-single-one!

Jan 22, 2019 07:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

🎶Freedom's just another word for
nothing left to lose🎶

Jan 22, 2019 07:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,197,152
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

Is anything free?  This is the land of the free, home of the brave so I guess we do have something to hang our hats on,  

Jan 22, 2019 07:36 AM
Ambassador
5,230,113
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I remember my mother used to say, "Nothing is free in this world!"

As for 'free' - Yes, you are right - I have read that consumer studies show that 'free' is considered 'cheesy' and actually turns people off. It's a 'desperate measure to lure people so they can sell them something.' 

Jan 22, 2019 09:19 AM
Rainmaker
554,600
Francine Viola
Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Olympia WA - Olympia, WA
REALTOR®, In Tune with your Real Estate Needs

Absolutely.  At a garage sale, I had a box of things that were free and I was questioned if it was really free!  I don't think too many people trust that word anymore.

Jan 22, 2019 08:20 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Can't say I've pondered on this as our friend Michael Jacobs would say. When I use the word free in marketing I try to link it with a "no obligation" comment.

Jan 22, 2019 08:19 AM
Rainmaker
469,510
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

I think "Free" is still a valid button for a large segment of society despite being shop worn. I don't the "Free" has changed as much as my attitude towards "Free" has changed.

Jan 22, 2019 11:00 AM
Rainmaker
1,374,373
Joyce Marsh
Joyce Marsh Real Estate LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Joyce Marsh Homes

Nothing is free. There is always a price in my opinion. 

Jan 22, 2019 08:45 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Nothing is really free.  Someone pays the price for whatever is being offered. It is paid in time, money for marketing, time and money for knowledge and training ... the list goes on and on.  

Jan 22, 2019 08:10 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,164
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Free is a matter of prespective. 

I do not charge for friendship.

Jan 22, 2019 07:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Due to the overuse of marketing funnels, I must agree with you. Too many scammers promising, but instead baiting and not delivering.

Jan 22, 2019 07:28 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Free, hmmmm.......

I would be a rare human being, the most remarkable of creation, who could offer anything without expectation.

That means FREE is doing or giving without even the social expectation of a 'thank you.'

Free has not been diminished, it was never understood! Therefore had no parameters for which Free could be measured. So, today, the FREE we see is a perversion. And everyone is suspicious of others perversion.

That is why FREE is hard to sell outside of ones TRIBE.

Jan 22, 2019 08:46 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Good observation, and I suspect that an email with it may be directed towards the spam folder as well.

Jan 22, 2019 08:21 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,409
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

FREE is the buzz word, but the fine print contains the true cost!

Jan 22, 2019 08:07 AM
Rainmaker
508,318
Joseph Domino 480-390-6011
HomeSmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Real Estate Made Easy

Very few of the so called FREE items are really free. I think the correct word should be INCLUDED. If you have to spend $100 on a product to get the free bonus, is it really free?

Jan 22, 2019 07:15 AM
Rainmaker
2,220,654
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

FREE a phrase that has been over used and has no value or importance anymore. 

Jan 22, 2019 03:48 PM
Ambassador
2,178,603
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Any time they want my credit card number, it's NOT free.  I have a junk email account if that's what they want for me to get my FREE stuff. 

Jan 22, 2019 10:59 AM
Rainmaker
564,494
Maria Sapio
Keller Williams of Central PA - Carlisle, PA
Real Estate Agent- Carlisle, PA. Mariasapio.com

As my lawyer friend says, "when it says FREE, be sure to carefully read the extra small fine print"

Jan 22, 2019 10:14 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

It has not been used as much lately but those who want you to buy something for your real estate business will often give no cost webinars that are very helpful. Thos tyopes of activities I approve of where you get a taste of what they have and even if you don't buy, you learn something. If they ask for your credit card as something free, then no.

Jan 22, 2019 09:56 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

There is no free lunch.  "Free Hugs" are never free.  There is always a catch.

Jan 22, 2019 09:12 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Very little is actually free when you read the fine print.

Jan 22, 2019 08:56 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Candice A. Donofrio is singing my song.  Seriously. Richie, it is the biggest con that exists...Google is free to use our information to sell ads and track us as is other social media...There is always something to pay for free.  A

Jan 22, 2019 08:42 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Perception is an enigma. 

Jan 22, 2019 08:38 AM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I give free advice all the time Richie Alan Naggar . I give "freely" at church and to many other causes. I think we have become leary of businesses making free offers because there is most often strings attached.

Jan 22, 2019 08:31 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

There is no such thing as free as there is always some kind of expectation behind the free

Jan 22, 2019 07:16 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

NOTHING is free.  And some will turn away from "free" since a prestigious value is lacking in something available to the masses.  When it comes to market discussions, I've used "no hassle" & do like the suggestion of adding "honest" too.  When it comes to college tours, I enjoy the opportunity to educate the students that their printing &/or laundry is in no way, shape or form, FREE.  :)

Jan 23, 2019 05:00 AM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Whenever I am on the receiving end of a "free" offer, my cynical self asks, rhetorically, "What's the catch?".

Jan 22, 2019 07:28 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

No there's always that catch. I will not use the phrase in any of my marketing like for the infamous FREE cma. 

Jan 22, 2019 02:23 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Recently someone in a hospital handed me a tissue and said "it's free", I rolled my eyes and said, "no, it's included in the price"

Jan 22, 2019 01:55 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Yes.

Jan 22, 2019 10:44 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Sometimes you do wonder what is attached to the word FREE.

Jan 27, 2019 07:58 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,705
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

everything cost something but I give FREE Sports schedules.

 

Jan 24, 2019 11:43 AM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Everything appears to be free Richie. Offers abound when you buy one item, the second is free.  "Just pay an additional fee." Oh, and if its original cost is more than $19,99 you're paying too much.

Jan 23, 2019 07:52 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

An underutilized new agent listed his neighbor's home for free (paying insurance only) thinking he did not have to go far and can always show quickly.  The next 6 months he worked like a dog showing to 500s of visitors. Everything was fine except the price is $400K over the market.  Now he walked 2 blocks getting a real job designing iWatch at Apple. 

Jan 23, 2019 06:16 AM
Rainer
5,658
Jaspreet Toor
Student - Saint George, UT
A student becoming the best real estate agent

The textbooks and exam preparations of my real estate agent school. Heck, activerain is a valuable free resource!

Jan 22, 2019 08:07 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Now days there seems always to be a hook

Jan 22, 2019 03:59 PM