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It’s probably just making small talk, but there are certain questions people seem to always ask real estate agents at holiday gatherings, cocktail parties, weddings, and even funerals. So, with Thanksgiving just days away, here are a few of the questions that seem to be commonly asked… and why you shouldn’t ask them.
#1 “You still doin’ real estate?”
I know it doesn’t sound like a horrible question. It probably isn’t a question people think twice about asking… just making conversation. But it’s essentially saying you never expected the person to make it in the business. Like you’d be somewhat surprised if they say yes. It also inadvertently suggests that you don’t view it as a true career. It’s a hard business. It takes a lot to make a go of it. People do come and go quite quickly and often. So it helps when agents feel the love and support of people close to them. And even though this question seems so innocent, it’s also one that cuts kinda deep without anyone even knowing. I doubt many agents even think twice about this question. But I also bet it affects them more than they are aware. But it certainly isn’t as bad a question as…
#2 “Why don’t you try and get a real job?”
Being a real estate agent may not be a job in the sense many people are used to. It certainly isn’t one that you just show up to from 9 to 5 and collect a paycheck at the end of the week. People who are used to a “normal” job probably can’t fathom why anyone would be a real estate agent instead of working for a company that gives them a steady paycheck, vacation days, and sick time. But being a real estate agent is a career. Again, it is a tough career to succeed in. Agents are often doing everything they can to stay positive and focused. And if they’re focused, they probably won’t have an answer for the next question…
#3 “What’s your back-up plan?”
At this point, you get it. Just. Don’t. Ask.
#4 “Do you have any listings that are good deals?”
Probably another question people are just asking to make conversation. But it implies you’d be interested in buying a house, if the agent happened to have a listing that was a good deal. If the agent has a listing, they can’t (or at least shouldn’t) be telling you it’s a good deal, or help you buy it at a price that’s a good deal. They should be representing their client’s best interest and getting the highest price they can for them. But this question may just be a matter of not understanding what it means when one asks, “Do you have any listings…” Just know that the agent can, and certainly will, help you find a great deal that they are not the listing agent on. They can and will show you listings of other agents, just probably not their own. (Probably better that way…)
#5 “How’s the market?”
This is too broad of a question. The market is never entirely good, bad, or somewhere in between. It’s always good for some people, bad for others. How the market is depends entirely upon you and your needs and circumstances. Not a bad question really. But it certainly isn’t one that an agent can or should just answer flippantly. So if you ask it, maybe you should be prepared to get into your specific scenario so they can accurately answer it. Too many people get flippant answers from agents and base their perspective on the real estate market, and overall economy, on off-handed answers to questions like this.
#6 “How much is my house worth?”
This one goes hand in hand with the one above. Most agents will have a fairly decent range in mind for what your home is worth if they know the area and know your house. But I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat with someone to go over an analysis of their home’s value, and then they tell me they were told by several agents that their home is worth “$XXX,XXX”. When I dig a little bit, it often turns out it was just in casual conversations at a get-together. No analysis was done. A number was just shot out of an agent’s mouth. It’s funny how often people don’t trust or believe real estate agents. Yet when given a casual answer to what seems like a casual question, a homeowner often holds onto that “value” as if it was absolute truth. In turn, homeowners often have a false sense of what their true equity is in their home, which in turn directly affects their perception of their wealth and net worth.
The Takeaway
There’s nothing inherently wrong with these questions, but just know that if you want an accurate answer you should ask the agent to truly roll up their sleeves and give you a good analysis and explanation. And that just can’t be done as they pass you the gravy. Check back tomorrow for a list of really good topics and questions you should ask a real estate agent. You’ll be amazed at how much better of a conversation you can get going with those.
Three major annual festivals dominate this weekend’s events with one in each Treasure Coast county.
The St. Helen’s Harvest Festival in Vero Beach has been around for more than 50 years. The Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival is still going after 30 years. The Treasure Coast Wine & Ale Trail Festival is brand new.
Plus, there’s no shortage of other fun things to do in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, including a bacon and barbecue festival and a beachside bonfire bash.
Eat pineapples, learn history.
The 31st annual Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival is 6-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in downtown Jensen Beach. The art and craft show is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Downtown restaurants will offer pineapple-themed entrees. Art galleries and gift shops will have pineapple-inspired displays. There also will be pineapple-centered activities, including pineapple eating contests, cooking contests and a pineapple chop demonstration.
Here are some of the pineapple-themed dishes:
Mulligan’s Beach House Bar & Grill: Caribbean Pineapple Mahi and Pineapple French Toast
Jan’s Place Restaurant: Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Ham and Pineapple Omelet, Hawaiian Burger, Pineapple Coconut Muffins and Pineapple Coconut French Toast
Pineapple Jack’s Bistro: Pineapple by-the-sea and Pineapple Crabby Cakes
Mary’s Gourmet Restaurant: Pineapple Coconut Cake
Lures Riverfront Restaurant: Ace Pineapple Cider; Lures signature Rum Runners; Fresh Fish Tacos with shredded lettuce, jack cheese and homemade pineapple salsa; and Chicken Sandwich with Teriyaki and grilled pineapple rings
Crawdaddy’s: Pontchartrain Pineapple Skirt Steak and Papa Legba’s Pineapple Punch
The Goose Pub: Pineapple Upside Down Shots
Bunkhouse Coffee Bar: Pineapple Smoothies
The festival also will feature carnival rides, live music from local bands, information about the history of Jensen Beach and the return of the beautiful baby contest and the pineapple prince and princess competition.
Admission is free. A concert seat can be reserved for $10. A $20 unlimited ride wristband is available 6-10 p.m. Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday or noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Parking is limited, but a large public parking lot is directly north of festival site on Indian River Drive and Pineapple Avenue. For more information, call 772-334-3444 or go to www.pineapplefestival.info.
The Treasure Coast Wine & Ale Trail Festival is 1-5 p.m. Saturday at Summer Crush Vineyard & Winery at 4200 Johnston Road near Fort Pierce.
Ticket holders get 25 tokens, and each is worth a 2-ounce sample from the 11 members of the trail: Summer Crush, Sailfish Brewing Company, Pareidolia Brewing Company, Orchid Island Brewery, Side Door Brewing Company, Walking Tree Brewery, Islamorada Brewing Company, Hop Life Brewing Company, American Icon Brewing Company, Pierced Ciderworks and Mash Monkeys Brewing Company.
The festival also features live music, food trucks and yard games, as well as several area artists displaying and selling their handcrafted items.
The Bacon and BBQ Festival is 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Veterans Memorial Park and the River Walk Center at 600 N. Indian River Drive in Fort Pierce.
The festival showcases many bacon recipes and different types of barbecue, each with the option of adding some bacon. The event also has a children’s fun zone, vendors and exhibits and live entertainment, in addition to bacon cocktails and bacon desserts.
Admission is free, but the food isn’t. Bring non-perishable food donations for the Treasure Coast Food Bank. For more information, call 561-792-9260 or go to www.baconandbbq.com.
The Indian River State College chapter of Delta Epsilon Chi’s 38th annual DECA Holiday Bazaar is 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the IRSC Main Campus at 3209 Virginia Ave., in Fort Pierce.
The bazaar features live music, food trucks and more than 100 vendors with craft and gift items, including holiday decorations, toys and fabric. The event is planned, coordinated and organized by IRSC business students.
Admission and parking are free. Proceeds benefit the President’s Challenge Scholarship Fund, which provides full two-year scholarships to financially disadvantaged students who maintain good grades and complete high school. For more information, call 866-792-4772 or go to www.irsc.edu.
Celebrate National Take A Hike Day from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Savannas Preserve State Park at 2541 S.E. Walton Road in Port St. Lucie.
Hike the pine flatwoods with Ranger Paul for two hours on mostly flat, mostly dry trails through the park. Meet at the education center. No pets allowed. Space is limited. To register, call 772-398-2779.
Family Seining in the Seagrasses is 9-10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Smithsonian Marine Station and Ecosystems Exhibit at 420 Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce.
Discover some of the animals that live in the seagrass beds of the Indian River Lagoon through a brief presentation inside the aquarium, followed by a seine-netting lesson where participants enter the water and collect animals in the same manner as Smithsonian scientists and aquarists.
The cost, which includes aquarium admission, is $6 for adults and $5 for children who aren’t museum members and $5 for adults and $4 for children who are members. Advanced payment is required. The event is for ages 6 and older. All participants must wear clothes that can get wet and water shoes with heel straps. To register, call 772-465-3271. For more information, go to www.sms.si.edu.
Catherine Thyrn (left), 3, walks with her uncle Anthony Schlitt, of Vero Beach, Thursday, November 16, 2017, while attending the first night of the 53rd annual St. Helen’s Harvest Festival at Historic Dodgertown. “We’re coming out here, rain or shine, to support the cause,” Schlitt said. The event continues Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. SAM WOLFE/SPECIAL TO TCPALM
53rd annual St. Helen’s Harvest Festival at Historic Dodgertown
The 54th annual St. Helen’s Harvest Festival is 5-9:30 p.m. Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Historic Dodgertown on 26th Street, east of 43rd Avenue, in Vero Beach.
Enjoy games, a variety of festival food, hand-crafted gifts and carnival rides for all ages at the midway. Admission and parking are free. Ride tickets $1.25 each. For more information, call 772-567-5457 or go to the Harvest Festival’s Facebook page.
The 21st annual Festival of Trees is 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Riverside Theatre at 3250 Riverside Park Drive in Vero Beach.
The event includes the festival forest, Santa’s village, a synthetic ice skating rink for kids, a grand festival hall, Christmas shopping at holiday vendor booths, food and drinks. Family night is 4-8 p.m. Saturday and includes live entertainment, free pizza and other giveaways for kids.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 2-12 and free for kids younger than 2 years old. Skating is for kids ages 10 and younger. The skate rental fee is $3. Socks are required. Proceeds benefit the theater’s scholarship and performing arts education programs for kids. For more information, call 772-231-5860 or go to www.riversidetheatre.com.
The Beachside Bonfire Fest is 6-9 p.m. Saturday at Waldo’s at the Driftwood Resort, Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa, Mulligan’s Beach House Bar & Grill and Vero Beach Hotel & Spa.
Enjoy four different themed bonfires at each of the Ocean Drive locations, as well as food, drinks and live music. Attendees are encouraged to use a shuttle from Riverside Park to the locations.
Visit each location to complete a stamped raffle card. Completed cards will be entered into a raffle to win a basket from each location. Proceeds from a raffle benefit the Vero Beach Lifeguard Association. For more information, go to www.verobeach100.com.
The Vero Vino Wine & Food Festival featured a wide selection of wines. Carrie Johnson/For Luminaries
Vero Vino Wine & Food Festival drinks in successful first year
The second annual Vero Vino Food & Wine Festival is 4-6 p.m. Saturday at The Heritage Center and Indian River Citrus Museum at 2140 14th Ave., in Vero Beach.
The festival features catered food paired with nearly 20 domestic and international wines, as well as creative desserts and beer. Plus, there’s live jazz music and a silent auction.
Admission is $60 per person and includes a centennial t-shirt. Proceeds benefit Little Birthday Angels and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County. For more information, go to www.verovinofestival.com.
The 35th annual Vero Beach Fall Boat Show is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Riverside Park at 3200 Riverside Park Drive.
Boat dealers and suppliers from the area will display their products and have staff available to answer questions. Products include standup paddleboards, kayaks, deck boats, pontoon boats, shallow water skiffs, personal watercraft, offshore fishing machines, cruisers, marine accessories and services and nautical goodies. Plus, there will be food, refreshments and fishing seminars.
Admission and parking are free. For more information, call 772-562-7922 or go to www.verobeachboatshow.com.
The seventh annual Shore LB. Bodysurf Contest begins 10 a.m. Saturday at South Beach Park at 1704 Ocean Drive in Vero Beach. Registration begins at 9 a.m.
A barbecue lunch will be available. Proceeds benefit the Vero Beach Lifeguard Association. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/shorelb.
Save the seagrasses
The sixth annual Capt Hiram’s River Challenge Triathlon starts 7:30 a.m. Sunday at Capt Hiram’s Resort at 1580 U.S. 1 in Sebastian.
Watch as triathletes swim a quarter-mile, bicycle 12 miles and run 3 miles. The challenge is followed by a post-race party with live music, brunch, cocktails and an awards ceremony.
The purpose of the annual sprint triathlon is to raise awareness about the perils that face the Indian River Lagoon and to showcase Sebastian. The event has raised about $15,000 since it started. Proceeds benefit the Environmental Learning Center, Ocean Research & Conservation Association and Coastal Conservation Association Florida. For more information, call 772-581-6179 or go to www.hirams.com/triathlon.
Gamble in another decade
The Speakeasy Casino Night is 7-11 p.m. Saturday at Walking Tree Brewery at 3209 Dodger Road in Vero Beach.
The night includes blackjack, roulette three-card poker, craps, raffles, prizes, live music, a food truck and a costume contest with a Roaring ‘20s theme.
Proceeds benefit the “Words from War” Iraq/Afghanistan monument and the Veterans Council of Indian River County. For more information, call 772-217-3502 or go to www.facebook.com/walkingtreebrewery.
The Buggy Bunch’s Family Fun Day is 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. at American Icon Brewery at 1133 19th Place in Vero Beach.
The day includes a bounce house, a dunk tank, face painting, a corn hole tournament, clowns, a balloon artist, a special appearance by Spiderman, prizes and a raffle.
Anyone who donates $10 to the Buggy Bunch gets $10 off their check. The limit is $20 off per check. For more information, call 772-266-5507 or go to www.facebook.com/americaniconbrewery.
Heathcote’s Garden of Lights at Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Fort Pierce
Sunset/Full Moon Kayak Tour at Stan Blum Boat Ramp in Fort Pierce
DRUMline Live Holiday Spectacular at Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce
Line to See Jesus at Lawnwood Stadium in Fort Pierce
Shop Small in Downtown Fort Pierce
Turkey Trot at Tradition Town Hall in Port St. Lucie
Tykes & Teens Festival of Trees & Lights at Flagler Place in Stuart
Art in the Park Fine Art and Craft Show at Memorial Park in Stuart
Santa at the Barn at JAG Bar Corral in Indiantown
‘90s Night at coffee bar Blue Door in Stuart
Really Really Free Market at Ground Floor Farm in Stuart
Shop Small Saturday at Heritage Center in Vero Beach
Round Island and Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge Kayak and Paddleboard Eco Tours
Doggie Photos with Santa at A Dog’s Life Doggie Daycare and Training Center in Vero Beach
Christmas at The Marketplace Bulk Food & More in Sebastian
Butterfly Release at Earl’s Hideaway Lounge in Sebastian
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm’s entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Read her weekly column, Laurie’s Stories, on TCPalm.com. Follow her on Twitter at @TCPalmLaurie or Facebook at faceboook.com/TCPalmLaurie.
A new Harris Insights housing consumer study, which was underwritten by the California Association of Realtors, The CE Shop and REAL Trends, shows a full 90% of consumers use real estate agents to buy and sell their homes. This is a survey high, and is up 5 percentage points from the last study in 2014 and up 9 percentage points from the first study conducted in 2001. The study asked the opinions of 1,000 people who had either bought or sold a home in the last six months.
