What's Worse: Voting Polls or Open Houses?

Nothing to do with Voting or Real EstateI went to the polls today, just like thousands of other Connecticut residents. As I approached my voting location, the Hartford Seminary, there were a couple of people that descended on me. One wanted to hand me a pamphlet and talk to me about voting the Democratic ticket. Another wanted me to change my Democratic votes in some cases to the same candidate, but running on the Working Families party line.

I understand the importance of voting and do so. But I can’t help but cringe whenever I go to my polling place, knowing that I’m going to have to deal with aggressive people trying to “sell” me right before I walk into the polls. Thanks, but I don’t need your help. I know who I’m going to vote for and your smiling face, glossy propaganda and button with your candidate’s name on it won’t persuade me.

Then I realized that this is what some people face when they go to open houses. They come in with a deer-in-the-headlights look. The agent is standing there with a smiling face. Glossy propaganda. And their broker’s badge with their name on it. There are sometimes aggressive selling tactics.

Kyle and I typically take a laid back approach when it comes to open houses and don’t try to smother people or aggressively sell. The houses most often speak for themselves. Sometimes we’ll point out important features that people may miss (like central air conditioning during the winter), but otherwise leave people alone and let them tour at their leisure. The home will either get your vote or it won’t.

Do you feel pressured at open houses? How about approaching the voting polls?

4 thoughts on “What's Worse: Voting Polls or Open Houses?

  1. I walked fast trying to avoid the aggressive people and while ignoring them, heard one woman mocking me. (1) Do these last minute pleas really work? My mind is set before I head to vote. (2) OMG how rude!

    I have only been to one open house (years ago, being a nosy neighbor about a house selling across the street) and it was a much less painful experience than voting.

  2. I voted also at Hartford Seminary, and had a similiar reaction to the “greeters” as I went in with my mom — who doesn’t move fast. So I knew I couldn’t breeze by them and would have to deal with it. I just smiled and took the stuff and tried to keep going. There was a trash can about 10 feet away which was of course, full of the fliers they had been handing out – and I added mine to that pile. I would prefer they not be allowed on the property right at the entry path — so you literally can’t avoid them unless you cut straight across the lawn. Also – what’s the point at that late date – I don’t have any data on this but intuitively, I would think almost everyone if not everyone pretty much knows who they are going to vote for when they are literally entering the voting site…. But maybe that’s not the case???

    I haven’t had too many issues at Open Houses myself; I did have a negative reaction last year at one in West Hartford when we were in fact loooking to buy – the agent didn’t actually let people come in the front door, but instead made them come into the house through the garage breezeway – it wasn’t labeled so everyone was walking to the front door- pulling – and whoops – locked. So you start off feeling foolish. Then you walk around and see a tiny little sign pointing to what looks like garage entry- and that’s what it was. And then on top of it, this realtor wanted everyone to take off their shoes and walk around in socks. Or worse, bare feet for people who didn’t have socks on at the time. Hello – get over it and accept the fact that some cleaning my be needed after an open house. If you have flooring that can’t handle shoes, its not a house I want. Padding around someone’s house in socks feels gross to me – let alone bare feet. Ick. I said something to the realtor like – Oh forget it – and we left. And I’m sure the realtor probably didn’t care at all…. she probably concluded I was crabby or crazy or both. But the truth is – another couple left afte we did. The house did sell two months later – but not to us….

    I like when there is some information printed out and easily accessible – and a simple “hello – I’d be happy to answer any questions you have” seems fine for an Open House in my opinion. Cookies are a cute gesture but not necessaery- I don’t eat “homemade” stuff at open houses since I don’t know where it came from or how long it may have been there. Apples might be good – or fruit if you need to put something out…. or wrapped candies.

    But yes – no more aggressive people at the polls unless they are across the street or some other place.

  3. I would think the last minute election pitches are effective. I can imagine people heading to the polls without having completely made up their mind as to who to vote for. They feel compelled to vote, but either haven’t had time to study the candidates or don’t particularly like either option. I’ve been in that position before myself and have made the final decision when it was time to fill out my ballot. That said, I would still prefer not to have to run the gauntlet to get into the election site.

  4. I understand that the agent is there to sell the house, and so sales tactics are expected to some degree. I am bothered, however, when the agent finds out (or thinks) you don’t have a buyers agent under contract, and they quickly switch their selling tactics from trying to sell the house to trying to sell themselves. As they do this, I have been in the uncomfortable position of the agent praising the house two minutes before, but now they are discrediting this house as not “the One for me” and telling me about all the other houses that they could show me instead. I know that it is how business works, but it seems disingenious at times. It is a fine line that many agents have played appropriately, but some could stand to be more mindful of it in my opinion.

Comments are closed.