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Rainmaker
4,583,484
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

This hasn't been standard operating procedure for me.   It might be a red flag if my first thought is "check them online".    

Feb 24, 2020 05:36 AM
Rainmaker
1,202,247
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

No.

Feb 24, 2020 08:17 AM
Rainmaker
1,847,471
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Sellers sure to be sure that their records match up with what they've told me. Buyers - not really. There is a program that our board offers where you can do that but I don't use it.

Feb 24, 2020 05:32 AM
Rainmaker
5,115,152
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

No I don't... it never occurs to me to do so. Most of my business is repeat and referral so I generally know whom I'm dealing with.

Feb 24, 2020 05:11 AM
Ambassador
2,072,576
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

I don't.

Feb 24, 2020 05:05 AM
Rainmaker
1,057,254
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Yes! I work with many folks who own businesses, companies, corporations. I will need to know who they are and what they do so I know how to help them. Their companies need to be in good standing with their State. There was a guy, nice enough guy, little rough around the edges and seemed inordinately focused on soil quality and whether a property had USTs, previous uses involving toxic waste, etc. Found out quickly that he had been indicted 2x for same! LOL he didn't tell me but I understood why we needed 'virgin ground' for him . . . he never did tell me.

Feb 24, 2020 04:54 AM
Ambassador
6,422,203
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Seldom.

Feb 24, 2020 04:52 AM
Rainmaker
1,325,114
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

I do not.

Feb 24, 2020 06:40 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,030
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Not always, the only time I check them is if there's a red flag, I just go with my gut feeling.

Feb 24, 2020 06:02 AM
Ambassador
1,457,769
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I do, and have discovered some very interesting things about them which helps when first meeting them.  Most are referrals from other clients so it isn't that I'm worried; just curious!

Feb 24, 2020 05:51 AM
Rainmaker
693,775
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

It has never even occured to me to check my clients online.  It is ironic because I expect them to check my online presence.  Maybe I do not because most of my clients are either friends or friends to be.  ;o)

Feb 24, 2020 05:42 AM
Ambassador
2,458,263
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Usually, yes. I want to know who I'm meeting.

Feb 24, 2020 05:07 AM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Sometimes only. 

And sometimes search by phone number they called from.

Feb 24, 2020 09:28 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,593
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

ARMS,

Yes, I do when we are contacted with an email.  Some people call us directly, and we look them up after the call.  In commercial real estate, we knew the big players whether we had worked with them or not...A

Feb 24, 2020 07:36 AM
Rainmaker
7,869,077
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

When possible.

Feb 24, 2020 07:24 AM
Rainmaker
2,785,156
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

When prompted to do so....

Feb 24, 2020 06:42 AM
Ambassador
2,684,769
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Usually.

Feb 24, 2020 06:27 AM
Rainmaker
1,506,613
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Generally no.  If I'm going on a listing appointment, I research the house but generally not the owners.  Unless the owner's name sounds familiar, then I'll research just to be able to identify why I know the name.

Feb 24, 2020 09:31 AM
Rainer
175,886
Merv Edinger & Associates
Remax Nova - Halifax, NS

If it is someone that I have never met, then I often do. Of course, there are many people that share the same name so it is often not possible.

Feb 24, 2020 09:23 AM
Rainmaker
2,401,675
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I rarley did BUT that's also telling you that I did .

Feb 24, 2020 08:48 AM
Ambassador
5,062,625
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Yes, generally I do unless repeat business.

Feb 24, 2020 07:31 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

Always...

 

Eve

Feb 24, 2020 07:27 AM
Rainmaker
902,238
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Absolutely!

Feb 24, 2020 10:47 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,328
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

seller??  we drive by the  home.... check the street listings for profession and age.... check public record to find out details of how long they lived there and what they paid and owe.... 

Feb 24, 2020 10:28 AM
Ambassador
3,140,617
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Yes I have and will again. Most business comes from referrals now, thankfully.

Feb 24, 2020 09:11 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

I often  do but I never reveal the fact or the outcome.

There are those who are offended if they believe someone is knowingly exploiting their 'creditentials.'

"Do you always introduce your mother to home buyers?" could be a valid question.

If they offer a claim to fame as a business mover and shaker  (most often in my area of Florida owner of a compounding pharmacy empire) and I only found 6 years in maximum security state accommodations, I should proceed more cautiously without showing my hand.

 

Feb 24, 2020 07:03 AM
Rainer
381,387
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

Nope, my wife has known who I am meeting every single appointment.

Feb 24, 2020 02:55 PM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Typically no, however, there are times that the initial communication may leave questions for which I need detail they weren't ready to divulge. 

Feb 24, 2020 01:37 PM
Rainmaker
788,215
Abby Stiller
TOP SELLING REALTY - Cape Coral, FL
SW Florida (239) 284-8637

Sometimes

Feb 24, 2020 05:49 PM
Rainmaker
1,554,227
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

I'm so traditional when it comes to social decorum, I always forget that's a thing. Even when I was dating, women knew so much about me from their investigations but I prefer to get to people first, through our conversations. THEN I may take an interest in their online profiles. 

Feb 24, 2020 04:53 PM
Ambassador
5,256,911
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

You bet! But, only if they are online leads and/or calls from out of the blue - not repeat or referral clients. 

Feb 24, 2020 03:33 PM
Rainmaker
556,536
Greg Cremia
Shore Realty of the Outer Banks - Nags Head, NC

Why would anybody not take 15 minutes to find out who their potential clients are?

Feb 26, 2020 04:14 AM
Ambassador
3,350,289
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I do not kiss and tell 

 

Feb 25, 2020 09:21 AM
Ambassador
3,864,366
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Yes and I do it while on the initial call if possible. That way I can ask questions that I already know the answer to. 

Feb 24, 2020 09:07 PM
Rainmaker
766,569
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Sometimes I can be a stalkerockzie.

Feb 24, 2020 08:01 PM
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