Naples Florida Real Estate: Attention Developers - How Not To Hold A Broker's Open

I attended a Broker's Open over the weekend at a luxury development in Naples, Florida.  This event was geared up to be one super high class extravaganza.  I learned about the event through a colleague of mine.   Because there were 10 homes open that day we thought it was important to check them out even though there were other business generating activities we could be doing. 

So I agreed to meet my colleague at the development's clubhouse.  When I approached the gate I was greeted by a cheerful security guard who without proof of identification was happy to open the gate when I told him I was there for the Realtor's open house.  Cool for me, not so cool for the homeowners paying for security.

When I got to the clubhouse I was curious to know what big deal was going on.  There were 4 or 5 limousines parked outside and I wondered if they were hosting some VIP event at the same time.  I also noticed tables full of goody bags and wondered if maybe there was some high powered charity golf tournament going on. 

I went inside and noticed the dining room was set up beautifully.  There was a fabulous buffet with plenty of tables set and a long table of Tiffany's bags with empty fish bowls in front of each blue box.  Sadly many of the tables were empty and I counted only about 7 people in the room.  We had arrived about an hour after the start so maybe everybody else had rushed in right at the beginning. 

The food was magnificent.  Salmon, fresh fruit, some sort of really good egg dish, fresh made to order omelets....absolutely outstanding.  The wait staff was friendly and efficient and then...it was time to go on the big tour.

We walked out and were a little surprised to learn that the limousines were for us.  So were the goody bags by the way.  The bags were filled with community information so we could be at the very top of our game when discussing this obviously "right on the ball" community. 

Once inside the limousine, we were greeted by the lady who "does the paperwork".  She wasn't a "sales person" so she couldn't "tell us very much" but she was our hostess for our tour to the first house.....uhm ok....interesting.  The tour to the first house was short (at least when you're in a car).  So she didn't have to talk long anyway.  Once at the first place we were told there was a furnished, hosted model an unfurnished model and a furnished un-hosted model and when we were done looking at those, someone else would be back to pick us up to take us to the next street. 

We looked at the three houses, picked up our first raffle ticket of ten that we were allowed to drop in the bowls in front of the Tiffany bags when we got back to the clubhouse (WHOOPIE) and waited for the limo to come get us. 

we waited

and waited

and waited

and walked

and walked

and walked

we walked for awhile.  Me in my 3 inch heels and he in his long sleeved shirt with temperatures pushing 85 degrees.  WOW!

Finally we spotted one of the limousines driving down the street towards the clubhouse...the closest place back to civilization...we think.  Being funny I told my colleague to stick his thumb out.  The chauffeur was nice enough to pull over.  My friend opened the door and was greeted by a fat lady sitting on the seat who said, "could you go to the other door...I don't want to scoot over" uhm ok...so we walked to the back of the limo and opened the second door and low and behold, we were greeted by another fat lady who couldn't be bothered AGAIN.  She said, no go to the other door!  I said, no that's ok you guys go ahead. 

I know this sounds so little but I did NOT want to ride with a bunch of lazy, self serving people.  I would've rather walked, which we did....about a half mile back to the clubhouse.  By the way...those women didn't work for the community and the community shouldn't realize any back lash for their actions but where was the limousine driver?  Wasn't he hired by the community that day?  Shouldn't he have gotten his lazy butt out of his chair and opened the ding dang door for us?  Wasn't he a reflection on the community?  My stuffy theory is YES. 

Needless to say I was disappointed.  When we got back to the clubhouse out of courtesy I approached the "Director of Sales" to let her know that we had to walk back.  She argued by saying, no there's limos all over picking people up everywhere. A.  There were alot of limos driving around. B. There wasn't hardly anybody there. C.  There wasn't anybody driving down the end of the street we were on. It took three times to tell her what had happened.  When it finally sunk in..she walked past us and walked out the door.  No apology, no attempt to make sure we had a ride to the next house...nada.

Needless to say, we left.  No need to put my raffle ticket in the bowl, I don't want you to know I was there.  I don't want you to call me in the future.  I don't need to educate myself on a neighborhood that is run by a bunch of morons because I don't want to hear from my clients they were treated the same way or are ultimately disappointed with their real estate selections I helped them purchase.

Funny enough, I was just at a party in the same neighborhood last week.  The home was owned by colleagues of mine who have lived there for a short period of time and have learned they don't like the neighborhood.    INTERESTING!

Developers:  We don't need limousines and Tiffany gifts or even breakfast in my book.  We do need great service and the sense that your neighborhood is managed professionally and the feeling that our clients are going to be well taken care of should we encourage them to buy in your neighborhood. 

Now for those inquiring minds wanting to know what community it is that I'm referring to...someone said all publicity is good publicity right?