At least put down the script
I mean, how many times does she have to say this?
Dear Mr. Real Estate Agent,
When I tell you that I live alone, please do not keep insisting that you’ve been stopping by NUMEROUS times and chatting with my husband and that HE wants to work with you to purchase a new house.
Clearly you’re not listening to me. So why on earth would I feel confident having you help me purchase a home?
Not that this, um, condition is confined to the realty-based community; I suspect every woman old enough to wear black pumps has had to put up with similar crap from somebody hawking something at one time or another.
fillyjonk »
12 January 2009 · 1:21 pm
Your suspicion is correct. Back in the bad old days before the Do Not Call list, I used to frequently get people asking to speak to Mr. (fillyjonk).
I figured I was perfectly justified in hanging up on them, if they went to that little effort to learn about their potential customer.
McGehee »
12 January 2009 · 1:44 pm
I dunno, Filly — I’d be even more unhappy to discover that some complete stranger knew things about me that were true.
But then, I finesse the whole question by not answering the phone at all. If someone calling me is too damn good to leave a message, I’m sure as hell too damn good to take their call.
Kay Dennison »
12 January 2009 · 5:15 pm
I love the callers who want to talk to Mr. Dennison. I tell them that position is currently vacant but if they’ll send me a financial statement and a current photo, I’ll definitely consider them. And I add that the last Mr. Dennison currently resides at Sunset Hills. They hang up and don’t call back.
fillyjonk »
13 January 2009 · 6:47 am
I like that idea. “Oh, are you considering applying?” Heh.
Dan B »
13 January 2009 · 8:08 pm
Here it is so simple to see if there is a Mr. or Mrs. for a property owner, just look at the Assessor records online. There would be no excuse for that screw-up. Other jurisdictions are different, so your mileage may vary.