“So, How’s the Market?”
People don’t say “How are you?” to Realtors; they say, “How’s the market?”
So, it was fun — kind of — to watch TV’s best-known Realtor, Phil Dunphy of
sitcom “Modern Family,” field that question in his doctor’s office on a recent episode:
Doctor [making small talk while examining Phil]: ‘So, how’s the market?’
Phil: ‘Interest rates are incredibly low, so it’s a great time to buy. But, if you’re selling now, you really have to . . .”
Doctor: “Bend over.”
Phil: “Not exactly, but you really do have to price well, market aggressively . . .”
Doctor: “No, I meant, I need you to bend over.”
Phil (sheepishly): ‘Oh.’
Hit . . . and a Miss
If the foregoing exchange is, umm . . . painfully close (sorry) to many Sellers’ predicament today, the other real estate anecdote later in the episode is wide of the mark (spoiler alert: the plot isn’t exactly a Hitchcock-calibre mystery, but if you don’t want to know — stop reading here).
After detecting something suspicious, the doctor tells Phil that he’s going to run some tests, and will only call him if there’s a problem.
Sure enough, the doctor leaves a message — on a Saturday! — for Phil to call him.
Thinking that it must be dire news to hear from his doctor on a weekend, and temporarily unable to reach the doctor (who’s traveling), Phil immediately fears the worst.
Mistakenly, it turns out: the doctor just wanted to discuss having Phil list his house.
What doesn’t ring true about the foregoing?
At least in my experience, existing clients will often call me on weekends, especially if we’re coordinating showings (Buyers), or there’s something brewing on their listing (Sellers).
However, first-time clients will almost always wait till Monday a.m. to call.
P.S.: One of the most popular posts ever on this blog was “Perils of Real Estate Marketing” — also courtesy of “Modern Family.”
See also, “Phil Dunphy, (TV) Realtor.”
