Fort Meade - USNA - Andrews AFB: Can You Solve This 5th Grade Math Challenge?

Hi Margaret...I don't want to give you my answer. 

So now you know what it is.

You made your point very well.  Wouldn't be surprised if quite a few of us picture this graphic when explaining something to a client.

I have to admit - I didn't get it.  I was multipling and all kinds of things other than the obvious!  Great graphic! 

Nice example which exemplifies how we often over complicate things for the client.  Keep it simple and straight forward.

As usual I was over-thinking it ......... why do we make things so much more complicated than necessary?  Great post ... point well made!

Ah, it seems the instructions were misleading, at best!  It said "srite operations signs' when that was not what was missing.  (I hate to lose).

This was as bad as "are you smarter than a fifth grader?" and I am usually not, especially with history.

But do contracts seem misleading to our clients?  They are confusing fer sure!

Kathleen - When I saw the answer to this, after failing to solve the problem, I saw this and other real estate lessons in it right away.

Tammy - Thank you! I thought it would be more interesting that just looking at the numbers as part of the text...

Joan - I think sometimes we all make things so much more complicated for our clients than they need to be, in the interest of making sure they know all their options.

Jan - Welcome to the club.  Me too!

Carol - I found the instructions misleading, too.  That's another lesson in this - do our explanations sometimes cme across as misleading?  I wouldn't be surprised.

We know what we do so well... but do the clients?  I've caught myself many times recovering ground with clients because I caught that deer in the headlights look.  Great lesson, Margaret.

I must be tired - because I just thought the graphic had isssues and saw it right off.... but you are so right -

Very good reminder!  I'm sure lots of times it must seem as if we're speaking 'greek' to them! 

I see your point - I am somewhat new to the business and I have sometimes felt that I needed a translator or a dictionary for some of the "terms" that get thrown around the office.  By not asking if your clients truly understand you are doing them a huge disservice - thank you for your reminder!

Margaret,
Must admit, I did not.  Point well taken and it is something I try very hard to be conscience of.  I have seen clients' eyes glaze over.  Not a good sign.  

Cynthia - Good morning!  The article which accompanied this went on for several paragraphs about how many people tried for long periods to solve this, so I was probably already psyched that it was hard.  So wrong!

Amy - Again, welcome to ActiveRain!  Yes, I think the same lesson applies to mentors and managers who are helping new agents.

Liz - Since real estate is a second language for us, we do sometimes underestimate the confusion factor for clients.

Thesa - It had issues, but that was the point, right?

Jesse  I've noticed a few times that first-time buyers sometimes look like they're waiting for a root canal, when I first greet them in the office.  It's important to at least relax them before starting down this road of numbers and acronyms.

Margaret - great point.  Sometimes you just feel like it's something you SHOULD know, and must be an idiot not to know it.  So just smile and nod, smile and nod.  And hope you haven't gotten yourself over your head!

Margaret-point taken!  Sometimes we take for granted that everyone knows what we are talking about.  I remember how confusing it was for my civilian friends when I spoke "military" and this is just another reminder to make sure we are communicating in a way that our clients can understand.

MARGARET - I did figure it out, but I actually enjoy math, so that might be why.  I do my best to explain the terms that we throw around.  The easiest way that I've found to do so is to ask if they know what something is before assuming it (like Short Sales for instance).  However, I'm always shocked when I come across an agent that hasn't heard certain terms (short sales again).  It makes you wonder how they get by in this business.

I worried about this very same thing yesterday while writing up an explanation sheet of the seller's net  for a straight sale and a lease purchase. They said they understood well. I don't think so. 

Sellers & buyers may "get it" one day and then forget it weeks later.

Like in school, we have to remember that repetition is key as well.  

Karen - You're right.  It may be simple, but at the same time - it's not.

Adam - Of course, you got it!  There's a reason you're the teacher's pet - smart, good looking, charming, smart...

Cindy - On the flip side, that's one reason military families are comfortable with you!

Penny - I've done it myself - Smile and nod...

Margaret- Interesting take on how important it is for us to make sure our clients fully understand what they are buying and paying for. It might seem simple to us as we deal with it daily. However, many people are overwhelmed and will not ask a question out of fear of looking less than bright. I will try to remember your post next time I begin to go off on a topic that I know well but others might not.

Best,

 

Scott 

And for those of us who though Math class was almost as bad as physical ed.....no....we did not get it. But it does bring up a good point. Always explain what you are talking about. Never presume someone knows everything. Case in point...here in Georgia, we just went through another major contract revision, so it takes time to review it with both Buyers and Sellers so they understand the new language!

Lots of rain today....bad for the festivals...but great for the grass seed on my lawn!

MARGARET:  LOL!!!  Just good at math, not sure about any of the other things in your response.

It brings it back to the Kiss principle.  Keep It Simple Stupid,  Why do we always try to over complicate things.

Margaret:  My dad will love this one!  I know I will remember this one the next time I'm explaining real estate to a client.

Scott - So true - the "simplest" issue might really intimidate our client who doesn't understand it

Thomm - Whenever there's a contract change, it's really important for us to take the time to make sure we "get" it.  Our local association usually sends out an email with a point-by-point explanation for every change, and it's really helpful.

Adam - I'm still chuckling at your reply!  Hey, take the credit - justified or not.

The Bartley Group - Are you by any chance referring to how I could take the simplest thing and turn it into a 1000-word how-to blog?

Donna - If your dad is a puzzle-solver, he just might make it even more complicated than the rest of us do at first glance!

 

Hey everybody - The wireless network went down at my house in a thunder storm this weekend, so I have to make a special trip into the office for Internet access until we get it serviced.  I'll be even slower than usual reciprocating, but I will catch up asap.  Love you guys! 

If you miss me so much you can't handle it, ha-ha, just visit my FocusOnCrofton blog because I write most of those posts a week in advance and schedule them to post automatically on M-W-F.  They're already set to go for the rest of the week.

I was so close, I knew it had something to do with the spacing, but, I was still wrong with how I figured it out. (DANG IT - I'm not smarter than a 5^th grader)

Todd - Who among us is (smarter than a 5th grader)?  Maybe one or two...

are you serious this math challenge is so simple because im a 6th grader

 

this is so easy i know im a 2nd grader but in my class i do 4th grade math in my class

 

 

Magaret:  Thanks for the brain teaser.  I love these things. 

Margaret, I would have got it, could have got it, should have got it, but didn't get it. My grade at the top of my page would have been a . LOL. Poor 5th graders these days.

Katey and Carolina - Very funny!

Chris - Gotta do something "light" on ActiveRain every now and then.

Duane - Me too!