I got a call late Monday to be interviewed with a major cable news outlet. Several people are kicking my butt (son included) because I declined the interview.
Why would I do such a thing?
First of all the inital conversation with the outlet did NOT start out well.
- "We want you to take us to foreclosed homes that will have been on the market for a long time." Problem is, REO's do NOT stay on the market long. We are facing a turn into a seller's market in that micro market. I could have dug out some 6+ month old stagnant REO listings but it would have been a challenge.
- "We need to talk about the economic conditions and how Las Vegas is in recession." We are NOT in recession other than our resale real estate market perhaps. That's one teeny tiny fraction of our entire economic outlook. Look at how our rental market has BUSTED out! It is actually scary for those who are not considered prime renters. When you see what is going on in the rental market, you can actually understand there is a large and very pent up demand for housing here.
Here is the deal. All eyes are on Nevada tomorrow because of the caucus. I do NOT need my words twisted to promote a sensational story to generate MORE new clients looking for 50 cents on the dollar deals. Read the bolded sentence again. I do have enough clients that do not understand that they are NOT going to get something cheap when there are already multiple offers on that property, repeat: I don't need more!
Many could say: "Well Renee, you could have set the record straight." No I couldn't, it was apparent during my conversations on what THEY wanted. It wasn't the truth, my friends. It was what fit their agenda. My time was better spent doing real income generating activities for the day which included an offer on a listing and writing a contract for a buyer and executing searches for several more buyers this week.
When I saw the story, no doubt they found the right agent. She was weeping because she was losing her home. I really did weep inside for her because she was hurting. I was also weeping for her because she was used and fit their agenda perfectly. How many people did they have to sift through to find THEIR story. Not necessarily the truth. Sad. I did not want to be a pawn to the elections or the candidates. Nuff Said!
Renee-good for you! Thanks for sharing your experiences and glad you saw "between the lines" and wouldn't just go along with their agenda!
Great post, I wish consumers all over the country could read it and realize what the media is doing. Good for you!
Good job saying NO! That isn't easy a lot of the time. I'm glad you were smart enough to think that one all the way through - especially after you saw the story and result.
Sad... I wonder what that agent is thinking now.....
Good for you Renee - I am glad you didn't buy into the flashing lights and the free publicity. You thought it through and saw the end result and more importantly their agenda. Who needs it.
Hope all is well with ya
I KNEW I liked you! Nearly every time I'm interviewed, it is distorted to be presented in a negative fashion. I am SO proud of you for not giving in to their agenda! Great job girl!
Congrats on resisting the doom and gloom guys. It is obvious that who ever mentioned " put a positive spin on it " has never been through the interview process.
News organizations before they begin have an agenda set with the story line. It will also support other accompanying articles and stories as well.
No positive spin will make it into the story. You will provide enough substantive material ( innocently enough) for the interviewer to stay on track with their story. If they do use any of your positive feedback it will be buried so deep in the story that most people will never see it.
Congrats for reading between the lines. Honestly I do not think that news organizations want to see the housing market do well. It just does not make very interesting copy.
THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!
I get calls from news outlets regularly who have an agenda and need an agent to quote. I refuse to help them.
First, they already have their story outlined. They're not looking for facts, just someone to help flesh out their story which they wrote based on an "assignment". That assignment may not relate to actual conditions in your market but they must follow their assignment.
They are constantly looking in my area for abandonned homes, homes that were foreclosed and not sold, homes where they can get an owner in trouble to go public (ugh), etc.
Congratulations on not getting sucked in to the flame of fame.
Renee, What I love about you is your honesty and integrity. I trust what you have to say because I know you're not going to "play me." I can tell your clients do too.
This quote from the latest Newseek Magazine article by Robert J. Samuelson called "Lollipop Encomics 101" says this.."The truth is that there's a touch of hysteria to much current economic commentarty that is as yet, unjustified by what's actually happened to the economy. Yes, the housing slump is vicious, but at its peak, housing was only 5.5% of the economy...."
Hi Renee - good for you for saying NO. When I get calls from reporters, most of them already know what they want their story to say and they refuse to want or listen to facts that dispute what they want to portray in their 'story'. They just move on until they find someone who will play right into their 'story'. Too bad they found this agent to use as they did.....
Ann
Hi Renee ~ you are so right. I have never ever been quoted correctly, EVER! I have also been involved in situations made into news stories and they are never close either. Don't believe what you read folks...that is the message here.
Thanks Renee, one would never expect to read a post like this in AR and I am glad you wrote it.
Renee - Ya gotta luv the media. NOT. Nothing like making up your mind and then finding support for your off-beat idea so you can print headlines to sensationalize. You made the right decision...and you KNOW you would not have been quoted correctly. Guess I don;t agree with Lance - good idea in principal but unless they let you edit the article it would have been their slant, not your truth.
Jeff
I think that is a good idea. Hopefully you will get a shot again when the state isn't under the microscope.
J.
Renee.... good for you. I haven't read the comments, but the media usually has an agenda and not usually the truth. ... and that's sad. They expect many that they ask, to jump at the opportunity because they will be mentioned and lose site at the truth.... good job.
I am glad you declined. I recently read an article about an agent who took a reporter to foreclosed homes in Nevada, and told the worst stories about what they find there. This agent wanted to be publicized, and it was very clear by her story of having a gun pulled on her. Here in southwest Florida, most of our foreclosures are turn-key units, maybe a little paint and carpet, but that is all. Thanks for telling the news agency NO!
Tim Ryan, Naples FL Real Estate - http://www.naplesguru.com, #1 Naples FL Buyers Agent, #1 Naples Foreclosures info@naplesguru.com