5 Topics You Should Never Discuss with Clients

According to the National Association of Realtors®, 91 percent of agents use social media. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and even Snapchat, trying to share information about what’s going on in the real estate world and interacting with others in hopes of landing our next client.

Between all that public social media posting and our face-to-face interactions with prospective clients, we definitely want to develop good rapport and demonstrate professionalism. To that end, here are 5 topics that you should never discuss with clients.

Here are the 5 topics to avoid

Here are 5 topics to avoid when speaking with clients:

1. Religion This should be a no-brainer for most people. Each religion has such strong beliefs about certain contentious issues—among them are right to life and dietary restrictions. And, if you go this route and start even a light discussion on the matter or religion, it may blow up in your face as the client moves on to work with another agent that shares the same religious beliefs.
2. Politics On this issue, we probably don’t need to say much. We’ve just gone through the wringer with one of the most “consequential” elections in recent years. You’ve likely seen in the comments of your Facebook friends how divided this country is on the matter of politics; staying away from politics is always a safe bet.
3. Personal finances (yours and theirs) It’s one thing to tell your client that you have a few great lenders that you have personally worked with that are professional and always close on time. But, it is quite another to discuss your own finances and or the finances of your client. As an buyer’s agent, all you need to know is whether the buyer will qualify and a few financial facts that you need to write the offer. You don’t need to see tax returns or bank statements. The less you know, the better it will be for your relationship with your client.
4. Sex life Hopefully, this one doesn’t come up very much. But if you go out with clients or referral partners in the late afternoon or early evening, someone could have one drink too many. Steer clear off Tinder talk or other offhanded remarks that the sober folks might remember in the morning when their friend or pal asks them to recommend an agent.
5. Medical Maladies “My sciatica… My tennis elbow… My torn ACL. Woe is me.” In real estate, it’s not about you. It’s about your clients and finding them the best home or selling their home for the best price. It has absolutely nothing to with how much your back hurts or how your knee feels. Save that stuff for your doctor.

What You Should Talk About with Clients

Obviously it’s really not for me to say whether you should publicly discuss these topics or not. Some people may intentionally want to join the fray in order to accomplish certain tasks or to attract attention.

Nevertheless, if you are looking for topics to discuss or photos to share on social media, here are a few suggestions: yummy recipes, home décor, great places to visit in your area, do-it-yourself home improvement ideas. And, of course, there’s always puppies and kittens.

Everyone loves puppies and kittens 🙂