WELCOME

Hello from New York City, where the temps are cold but my heart is warm. I am having the time of my life at Inman Connect! If y’all are not coming up to introduce yourselves and to hug me, I am going to be so upset. By the time this newsletter hits your inbox, I’ll have already held my session on short form video, so I hope everyone walked out of there with an action plan and some pep in their step!

Today I want to cover something that strikes fear deep in the heart of every agent… a client armed with unsolicited advice. Whether it’s a terrible TikTok or a dad with a moisture meter he has no clue how to work, I’m covering how to navigate this particular speedbump. So let’s get right to it!

STORYTIME WITH GLENNDA

Let me share something I’ve learned after years in real estate: everybody has a Boomer dad with an opinion. Or, everybody has a friend who “just sold a house.” Now, thanks to the internet, everybody also has TikTok. And every one of these entities has thoughts and suggestions on how my buyer should proceed.

Listen, I’m not mad about it: I love anything that piques curiosity. I love clients who want to understand the process, so I will happily explain the why behind every single recommendation I make. Educated clients make better decisions, hard fact. But there’s always moment, often right around inspections or negotiations, when that client leans in and says, “Well, I saw this guy on TikTok say…” or “My friend thinks we should…” Or when said dad shows up to the inspection with his own stepladder and a tiny flashlight. You know, in case the professional inspector who’s been doing this thirty years might have forgotten these items.

Oh, my stars. We have all been there.

I bet y’all just felt an adrenaline spike thinking about how a well-meaning loved one is about to mess up six months of careful negotiations because he watched an episode of This Old House and now fancies himself an expert.

Here’s the plain truth: real estate advice without context is just noise. It’s a whole lot of hot air. TikTok doesn’t know the street my buyers are looking at, okay? And unless their dad is Josh Flagg, that man doesn’t know today’s buyer psychology. The client’s coworker doesn’t know what actually worked in their deal versus what sounds good in the retelling, especially because it was fifteen years ago. In real estate, that’s an entire lifetime. The only people who are standing inside this house, in this exact market, with highly specific goals and actual money on the line are the buyer and me.

I always tell my clients they’re absolutely allowed to bring in outside opinions. In fact, I expect it and encourage it. Sometimes father really does know best. When faced with such a big, expensive, and emotionally-laden decision, it’s human nature to crowdsource some reassurance. But what my buyer and I are going to do together is run that advice through a professional filter.

Let me be crystal-clear here: what goes viral online is rarely what works consistently. What worked once—especially fifteen damn years ago—does not automatically guarantee success again. Markets are hyper-local and the timing changes strategy. Guess what? Buyers behave differently depending on inventory, interest rates, and emotion, yet none of that fits neatly into a thirty-second video. So that one TikTok with a billion views is hardly one-size-fits-all.

When a client brings me a suggestion they’ve heard elsewhere, I don’t shut it down. I know, it’s awfully tempting to get defensive. Truth is, our best defense against outside advice is to get curious. Ask your client what outcome they’re hoping that advice will get them. Nine times out of ten, the goal makes perfect sense, whether they want less stress or they’re looking for more protection. Plus, it’s human nature to want to feel smart and not get taken advantage of. All of that is valid. It’s usually just the method that needs adjusting. And that’s our job. We’re not here to override instincts so much as translate them into a strategy that actually works in the real world. Our role isn’t to win an argument or prove that we’re right. (I mean, we likely are right, but…)

The way I see it, our best and highest purpose is to protect our buyers from expensive mistakes that sound logical online but don’t hold up once they actually walk through the door. The internet (and really, the whole world) is full of confident advice from people who hold no stakes in the outcome. But we are and we do. It’s our names on the yard sign. We’re the ones who are reading the room in real time. When our clients want to act on bad advice, I like to quote Taylor Swift: “I think I’ve seen this film before, and I didn’t like the ending.”

So here’s what I say to clients: “Please, ask anything.” Hell, they can question everything. They can send me the TikTok, the screenshot, the group text from their family chat. If Aunt Margaret has thoughts, I’m all ears. My pledge is that I’ll look at every bit of advice calmly and without my ego getting in the way. Then I’ll give them an honest, unvarnished opinion on whether it applies to their house, their timing, and their goals.

The best results in real estate rarely come from following the loudest voice in the room, or the clip with the most views.

@theworldwidewealth

At this rate, 7 raspberries will cost $2 million in 2069 😵‍💫 #boomers

GLENNDAISM

Today’s Words of Wisdom

GLENNDA BAKER & ASSOCIATES

Green with Envy

Welcome to West Highlands living at its greenest—and I mean that in every sense of the word. This corner-lot Craftsman at 1784 Hollingsworth Boulevard NW, Atlanta, GA, sits right in the sweet spot of the neighborhood, where style meets convenience. Everything y’all love about city living is just minutes away!

Inside, the open layout flows effortlessly, but it’s the kitchen that really makes you green with envy: sage green shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, and a clean, modern vibe that feels fresh without trying too hard. Step outside and you’re moments from West Midtown, the Upper Westside, breweries, Topgolf, pickleball, The Works, major highways, and even the airport. I’m talking easy in, easy out, no drama. With community green spaces, a pool, dog park, and that coveted lock-and-leave lifestyle, this home proves that going green isn’t just about color; it’s about living smarter, easier, and closer to everything.