Last evening while watching television with my husband my cell rang. It was just before 8 p.m. and I answered the call to hear the familiar "you've got a zillow call" and I waited to hear the connection and said hello again. What followed is a story with a happy ending.
For the sake of privacy for parties involved I used an address in my neighborhood, NOT the actual one, but when the caller put in an address of a home NOT for sale he got results that looked like this:
He didn't know me, I didn't know him and he was not looking to buy or sell a home. He was desperate for information about the relative that lived in the address he typed into the Zillow search. The person he was looking for was an elderly widow lady he is related to and he lives in a mid-western state. He had called the number he had for her and found her phone had been disconnected. So he reached out to me when he found my photo and phone number next to her address on Zillow.
I don't know what YOU think the chances are of me working in a zip code that at last census count had 40,000 people of me knowing the person he was looking for, but it just so happens that I did. In fact, one of my agents that has been retired for 8 or so years sold this lady her home before her husband died. In fact, just days before he died. He never got to spend a night in his new home. But this lady, who purchased this home 1998 still lived there. So mid day today I drove out to her home and delivered the message and phone number from her relative. I didn't get to see her, she had company when I stopped by. Her son who now lives with her took the message and promised me he'd have her call the relative later in the day. I called the relative and let him know I'd stopped by and left his name and number with the son and that her land line had been disconnected because she had a cell phone and felt no need for two lines.
This evening I got another call. It wasn't on the Zillow contact number. It was on my home land line. He was thanking me for the call he'd just received from his relative. So while I didn't "make a sale" from the call I got last night on Zillow... I made a friend. I told him that if he ever needed anything from me again to keep my number and call again.
I'm a very faithful person and I know that sometimes God puts people and things in our lives and paths for a greater purpose even if we don't know it at the time. And if I hadn't made those 6 sales from being on Zillow last year and if I didn't already have my first contract of 2012 from a Zillow lead, and only got that ONE call from last night I would still be a satisfied zillow premium agent. I think I got some good karma juju today.
So amongst all the people who are whining and withdrawing from syndication... go ahead. I'm happy about what I did today and I know at least two other people who are happy about it too. Zillow has value for us.
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Tammy Lankford, Broker/Owner
Broker License # 169695 Lane Realty License # H-11420
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Absolute AMEN Tammy! That was God at work and HE does some marvelous and miraculous things. Out of ALL the people he could have called, he called YOU! Now, I call that some serious Divine intervention! Awesome!!
What a great story and what a wonderful connection. God does, indeed, work in mysterious ways.
Tammy,
That's a great story! That's the kind of thing us Realtors do all the time. What goes around comes around. You planted good seed and you will harvest good fruit. The word will get around about you and the good person that you are...Wayne:)
Tammy - kudos to you. I get crazy calls quite often, people need to find someone, get a number for someone, and when they googled, I somehow come up on their radar.
I even try to keep some most asked numbers right at hand.
You just made me smile! I love helping people - and in this job there are so many opportunities to do so!
Tammy, I had a similar situation happen to me, though I use Zillow for leads, it happen in another way. I believe we are called to do just that sort of thing. For some reason the person who called knew you would deliver.
Hi Tammy,
What an awesome story! You never how our Internet presence can come into play for people beyond buying and selling real estate. Best of success to you this year!
Tammy: While I am not a fan of Zillow I liked your story and it just goes to show how much being in the public eye can be beneficial and helpful in many ways.
Tammy -- this is a great story,.. and it has a very happy ending. I am glad that your 2012 is off to a great start!
You never know what the next call will be or where the next sale comes from. I had a call from someone that had posted a question on Zillow yesterday. She lived in CA. Good thing I picked up that phone. I might be listing her $750,000 house and acres soon!
What were the chances that you would actually know the person he was looking for? What a great story, thanks for sharing it.
I got goosebumps reading your story Tammy! What a beautiful example of everything happens for a reason.
That's a very heartwarming story with a warm and fuzzy ending. Thank you for sharing.
Brenda- that's what I thought too.
Susan- He sure does.
Wayne- good deeds have their own reward
Jon- I have those "lists" too.
Judy- I love those opportunities too
Winston- I wonder what % of people would have
Jordon- the best to you too and thanks.
Jane- right place, right time I guess
Joan- I love the happy ending too
Lizette- how cool
Suzi- I think pretty slim, but I loved it.
Andrea- my firm belief
Tony- I love fuzzy.
Tammy you are a good person and that is a wonderful story.
One of the lines we use: we live here, we work here, we raise our families here. It's what I love about the real estate business,
Leslie- thanks and me too... on it's what I love about this business. I love to really connect with people.
Tammy, loved your story. It's a story of connection. Whether we connect people with houses or people with people. Your story brought a big smile to my face.
Tammy, I join with so many on how I love this story. It is amazing what we can do by simply being helpful and encouraging folks. This type of service is why you are so successful.
Cal
I get those, too. Being a suspicious person I am generally somewhat hesitant to believe that somebody is really just looking for somebody else. I wonder: What are you really up to? But I helped out a guy a few weeks back in a similar situation. An agent on Active Rain, I think. That's because I subscribe to the theory that what goes around comes around. I try to treat people the way I want to be treated. Kudos to you, Tammy. That was a nice thing to do.
Loreena- what a neet way to put it.
Cal- I love being helpful.
Elizabeth- wow, being suspicious about caller never even crossed my mind. And I am usually cautious. But I agree that we reap what we sow
Tammy - this is an awesome story, thanks for sharing it. I'm with Elizabeth. "what goes around, comes around!" Congrats!! :-)
Tammy is awesome! There aren't many people like her. I'm glad I can call her a "friend" of mine. I can call you that, right?
Tammy- I too believe that people are placed in our lives for a reason and that we cross paths for divine purposes. Because of that I also believe that this person would find you without Zillow as well because they would have found you on ActiveRain or your website, etc:) just saying... Katerina
Tammy: You did a great service for this family! Wahoo!
I loved your story, Tammy! Stories like this are what makes our jobs gratifying. Thank you for sharing!
What a sweet story! I love it! You helped someone & they reconnected. LOVE!
Tammy - It's all about the little things we do for people that make the biggest difference in who we are. What a wonderful story.
I love your story and while not a big fan of Zillow, I did take the advice of three Realtors who are ActiveRainers that I am in constant contact with. They live in the two counties north of me and say that Zillow is more than worth what they spend. They are constantly getting sales via Zillow. So I have now gotten on board and have the zip code where I live. While I have not made any money from it yet, I feel it will happen. If Zillow turns out to be only HALF as good as my AR blogs have been in bringing in clients, it will be well worth it.
As for the connections and friends we make, that is a totally different story. Not only clients but colleagues have made my life so much richer........I love what I do!
Just goes to show you what a small world it is out there. How cool!
Brad- thank you.
Eric- you better. :)
Katerina- well it is the only place I know where you'd type in the address of a home sold last in 1998 and connect me to it. I didn't have a web site until the fall of 98, after that house sold.
Anne- made me happy to help.
Gina- I so agree about gratification.
Kristin- thanks.
Laura- I totally agree.
Barbara Jo- I was a skeptic too.
Paula- you made me sing... it's a small world after all. :)
Everything does happen for a reason, great story to share.
Hi Tammy, Too many would have made minimal effort ( or less ! ) ! You're a good kid !!!
Tammy, YOU get what you give, YOU deserve everything that comes your way,
All my best
OMG Tammy, that is such a cool story. wow, how super cool that you connected these two.
Bud & Beth- I think so
Bill- you made my day. Couple weeks ago Kroger wanted to give me the senior discount.
Glenn- :) thanks
Debbie- I loved doing it.
Tammy, I am happy to hear that your good deed did not go unnoticed. I hope your kindness touches all that read your story. Blessings to you.
Everyday I ask God to put me where He wants me to be. You just never know.....
Super awesome post and great outcome. Makes it all worth it sometimes, doesn't it?
Tammy - Great story. This may be one of the few cases where a good deed is rewarded... rather than seemingly punished in real estate.
And not only that, Tammy, you did the right thing by taking HIS phone number. Even if you had her number, I'd be leery about giving out other people's phone numbers . . . have people made me suspect. Yup. But, what it was someone they didn't want to hear from? Yeah just never know. I'm glad it all worked out.
Karma shall be very kind to you, Tammy.
Great story Tammy. Thank you for sharing it!
I think the worth and value of syndication is a local issue and solution. Every market is different
Great story, Tammy... It's not always about making sales. A lot of what we do is about serving people and you obviously take that to heart.
Well, that was nice to read. God Bless.
Congrats on the feature! What a great story. You definitely went above and beyond. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend.
It really is a small world. And how lucky this person was to find you, the absolute best person possible.
It's always good to hear a great story. Great job on helping them out Tammy.
Tammy, you definitely did your good deed for the day and more! What a touching story and shows how the world is growing smaller all the time with internet connectivity.
Sharon
Hi Tammy,
Great story!
Sounds a little bit like a Zillow promotion, but I enjoyed the story of the lady and her friend.
Phil
Hi Tammy, what a great story! I am so glad you eased the mind of the relative. This is a definite 'pay it forward' moment. Kudos to you!
Tammy, what a wonderful story. It's not always about Quid-pro-Quo per event. Life has a way balancing things out, the more to give of yourself, the more will be returned - not necessarily from the person receiving your gift.
Thanks Millie
Jeanne- that's a great thing to ask for.
Dylan- somehow I always find it worth it.
AJ- sometimes it's not this way, but most of the time I find life rewarding.
Carla- oh for sure I wouldn't have given away informaiton like that.
Jason- My life is very rewarding. I'd love my family to get the great karma.
Spencer- I've seen so much negative lately, And I truly felt this wouldn't have happened any other way.
Greg- I'm not sure what you're talking about. Doesn't much feel like my post
Shannon- I do
Thank you Gregory
Laurie- I have a super weekend planned.
Jane- I feel lucky to have helped
Luis- a very rewarding part of working with the public is helping out
Sharon- very true. Perhaps it's not 6 degrees of seperation anymore
Phil- perhaps it does, but when I'm not being paid to say it, and it's coming from the heart... and it's true.
Sandy- made my week.
Ron- my hope is they will pay it forward and give that kindness to others. My
I'm with you. It's really good Karma.
This is a great story and I don't understand the whining about syndication either. Whether you pay for premium status or not, the listing agent usually has the option to go in and "brand" the listing anyway. It just takes a little extra work, what's the big? You are such a warm and loving lady. You know you really helped out with this family.
This just means you're a really good person who did a really nice thing and it's another deposit in the good karma bank.
You should tell that story to your Zillow rep, I'm sure it would make their day at the sales office. And yes, I think you've just earned a few good bits of karma.
_Claude
Great story! It always makes me feel good when I hear something like this. And.... you're right, what are the chances that he would have called you out of all the other choices in a town that size.... And they say there is no such thing as divine intervention..... I think there is!!
Hi Tammy, after reading your posts for so long, I think I know that even if you didn't know this lady, you would have known her the following day :-) You are a good soul. I seldom agree with Zillow valuations for our area, but I love this story!