Are 'Buyers Liars' or Do We Need To Be Better Listeners?

I've always detested that little saying about buyers being liars but, you'll understand the point of my title if you read further...

I'm always thrilled to be the recipient of a phone call from a disgruntled customer in need of an agent immediately!  However, there's a part of me who feels a little sorry for the 'other' agent.  Silly, I know but, we've all either been new or done something that we have looked back on and thought, "How on earth did I blow that?!"  I just can't help those ambivalent feelings though--thrilled to have a new buyer but, a bit sad for the other agent.

I recently received one of those phone calls.  Of course, I found that the buyer hadn't ever signed a buyers agency agreement because he was a bit unsure as to whether or not the agent would be 'right' for him.  We discussed his needs and sure enough, he was truly prepared to locate a home and write an Offer immediately just as he said he would.  

We initially, by phone, discussed this customer's needs.  He had very specific lifestyle needs and very specific home needs.  The easy part for me was locating the neighborhood based upon his lifestyle needs.  Without sharing specifics, he had never even been ASKED anything about his lifestyle needs OR his preferences in a neighborhood.  He had only been told to 'Tell me how many bedrooms and baths and what price range' by his former agent. 

Well, there are a lot of 4-bedroom, 3-bath homes in a variety of neighborhoods in the Charlotte Metro area.  There are TONS of them in the price range which he was searching.  After seeing more than 25 homes, he lost faith in his agent and began phoning around to see if he could quickly interview agents by phone and then meet with a couple to see if they 'got it' (his needs, of course). 

I just happened to be the Realtor® that won the prize - a fantastic client who viewed ONE home and wrote an Offer!  How often does THAT happen?!  It was the sweetest deal I've had in a very long time--no hiccups whatsoever!

Which leads me to the point of this post...

If we Realtors® would really listen and stop just trying to 'land the deal,' we'd actually prove that buyers really AREN'T 'liars' - they simply need to be heard.  So, listen-up!  It'll not only make for happy clients but, will make your life SO much easier as well!

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Our Value is Only as Good as Our Integrity

In·teg·ri·ty.  What does integrity mean to you?  What does it mean to your business?  Moreover, what does your integrity mean to your clients? 

The definition of integrity is really quite simple--firm adherence to a code of especially moral values.  Integrity is synonymous with words such as incorruptibility, soundness, completeness, and honesty.  As real estate professionals, our 'value' is only as good as our integrity.  Think about that for a moment.

Commitment to integrity is something that is predominantly 'ingrained' in us as children; however, as adults, we must establish a commitment to this practice both in life and in our business, especially if we have employees or partners with whom we work.  Shouldn't we share the same commitment to integrity as a team or a firm (our businesses)?


Are you a person of integrity? Are you incorruptible, sound, complete and honest?  Do you do the right thing even if it does not mean 'money in your pocket?'  Do you do the right thing even if it means additional steps in an already, lengthy transaction?  (i.e. disclosures)


Possessing high integrity is perhaps the most difficult quality in life to 'achieve' but, once you have achieved it, integrity is THE most satisfying one.  Integrity is connected to a very deep subconscious decision to utilize constraint when it comes to acting upon something that is morally conflicting for us.  Whether we know it or not, subconsciously we may be 'considering' whether we should or shouldn't act morally in a particular situation.  If we have strong convictions to 'do the right thing,' our internal conflicts will occur less often and with less conscious involvement in the decision.


In our business, we have SO many opportunities that could lead to the compromise of our integrity.  Just look at the state of the economy, predominantly caused by those who chose to compromise their integrity in exchange for a hefty paycheck or even a new home mortgage.  Many of the issues that cause agents to permanently lose their license are those related to poor decisions, which directly relate to their integrity.



Are you willing to compromise your license, your livlihood for a few extra bucks?  We should protect and cherish our businesses, keeping in mind just how hard we worked to get to this point--but, only after we consider our morals.  Our integrity is something that we've worked to protect our our entire lives. 


in·teg·ri·ty (L. integritas) n.  Adhering to a strict ethical code

• The state of being wholesome; unimpaired
• The quality or condition of being complete; pure
  

Our team's motto:  Integrity Without Compromise.  Plain and simply.  Is that part of your customer service; part of your life?

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Under-Promise, Over-Deliver: Tried and True Customer Service Mantra

Because we are, after all, in the service industry, I think we are all keenly aware of the customer service provided us  when using any vendor or visiting a restaurant, auto dealership, retail shops, etc.  We learn alot of how-to's and even alot of how-not-to's from the customer service which we are provided in our own experiences.  We are constantly striving to improve upon our customer service--if you're not doing so, you should  be.

What can we do to improve upon customer service?  Here are a few basics:

1.  Education is foremost in importance for anyone offering their services to consumers in any business.  With our ever-changing business, a well educated real estate professions can certainly make or break a transaction.  From mortgage brokers to real estate brokers, to inspectors, stagers and attorneys—all should have a commitment to excellence and the only way to achieve this excellence is by offering unsurpassed customer service including being well-educated in our ever-changing market’s inner ‘workings.’

2.  Answer your phone when you can; if you are with a client IGNORE the phone and promptly return all missed calls when you are finished with your 'business' with your face-to-face client.  Real estate professionals relied on returning to their offices to their answering machines before cell phones came along and they survived just fine!  Remember how you  felt when chatting with someone--anyone, not just in a business conversation--and that person answered their phone.  It is, plain andhnd simply, rude--'bad manners' as my parents would say. 

3.  Answer your emails promptly!  Some say that you should check your email messages as often as you check your voice mail messages.  I actually check mine more--starting early in the morning before everyone else gets to work and late at night when everyone has left--no one is going to phone me at these hours,  so I am free to check emails at the very least twice per day!

4.  Do your due diligence for your clients.  Always take the extra step to ascertain that there is nothing that is hidden about the property that your client needs to know.  A little digging can save your clients tens of thousands of dollars sometimes.  Communicate all efforts with your clients.

5.  Which brings me to:  Keep your clients informed.  Let your clients know each and every step you are taking, both together and you--on their behalf.  They LOVE to be informed of what is going on regarding their big purchase.

6.  Common courtesies are sometimes considered 'old school,' as many professionals forget that those courtesies are, indeed, what distinguishes you AS a professional.  Don't forget the 'please' and 'thank yous' in your communication with your clients.  Remember the old saying, 'Smile and the whole world smiles with you?'  Well, it works--people LIKE to be associated with positive people and smiling is the number one sign at first meeting that you are a positive person!

7.  Eye contact and a firm handshake are other first-impression positives!  As there are some who prefer NOT to shake hands, the vast majority of us feel that it is a courtesy and look to see that those shaking our hands are making eye contact.  Both show the client that you are open, honest and genuine.


This is an abbreviated list and I'm certain that you have things that YOU feel are worthy of the list too!  What sparked this article was a recent email from my favorite online shoe store, Zappos.  I realized that I didn't have shoes to wear for a particular evening so, I hastily ordered the shoes I needed on Zappos and paid extra for 2-day shipping.  Within hours, I received an email stating that I would have my shoes quicker than the 2-days.  The shoes arrived in my home within 24-hours of ordering them! 

 I've also ordered shoes from them that were not the right size or color that I needed and I've phoned them to re-order and they sent me a FREE return shipping label to send my original order back AND shipped out the new pair without charging my account!   Now, I'm sure if they hadn't received my return order within a reasonable amount of time, I would have been charged for the second pair but, my, what customer service! Zappos is certainly the bar-setter for the service industry in my opinion.

Are you under-promising and over-delivering?  It's the best thing that you can do for your business!

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

For all of you introverts out there, I want to say that there's HOPE for you in this real estate sales world. For one, I consider myself an INTROVERT and I would say that I'm definitely finding success in my corner of the world.

Gary Woltal - my awesome, biggest fan on Active Rain wrote a post about Lead Generation every where you go. In his post, he mentioned about wearing a name badge into a grocery store. I know many of us do it. I, for one - if I could find my name badge, I'd be sure to take it off before I go into public places.

I know I'm different. My family finds it very, very weird. I do sometimes wish I was more of a people person - the one who people would surround at a party. I imagine Sheldon Neal would be a great person that everyone wants to hover around.

Many years ago, when I first started in the business (2003) up to the time I met Jennifer Allan - I really doomed myself as never to become successful in this real estate world. I've always pictured that I needed to the "people person" in my mind. I knew I didn't have the personality that people who hover around me at parties. At parties, you will find me in the kitchen helping out with dishes or serving food. That's just me. I do try to stay under the radar and away from spotlight.

But then came BLOGGING. Blogging gave me the opportunity to share my thoughts and lots of them. I feel it gives me the opportunity to reach out to my potential clients who may prefer "my" type of personality as a salesperson.

If you met me at a party, and knew me from Active Rain, you would think I was two people. Don't get me wrong, I'm still me but somehow I ***think my posts reflect the BOLDER side of me. I am still a very personable person. Not necessarily "shy" because that's not what Introvertism describes. People and lots of them tend to wear me out. I need my ALONE time.

In a one-on-one setting, I am awesome. I can grab your attention and I could talk to people onany level.

This post is out there to encourage introverts in the sales world. You can still be successful and don't let the extrovert personalities get to you, thinking you must conform. Many years ago, Jennifer Allan wrote an article about the Reluctant Salesperson. We are naturally shy but that doesn't mean we don't know our stuff. Her article gave me hope and that's how she and I connected - on a personality level.

I believe you too can do that with your clients. We serve a multitude of personalities. Not everyone wants a flamboyant personality. We as introvers can succeed too in our very quiet and small world. When you ask about Real Estate in our area, we can ROCK your world.

If you are an introvert, it doesn't doom you to failure. I, for one knows that I'm an introvert in this very sales-y profession of talk, talk, sell, sell and I'm doing just fine. I may not be earth shattering but I have my very own introvert ways of reaching out to my clients.

One thing that most real estate professionals "bought" is the belief system that this economy is "down". Therefore, it is "okay" that my business is not as good as the years past. I have heard quite a bit of sob stories recently and in many instances, there are some justifications to it.

Unless you need to sell 200-300 homes a year to keep you afloat with your expenses, most real estate professionals would or could continue to do well in this marketplace. Yes, despite the economy.

Why?

People buy on emotion. People do not necessarily buy based on financial numbers. Yes, there are some complex situations in every situation but all in all, understand the big picture.

Do you think that Sellers are not interested in "upgrading" to a better home to capitalize on this "down" market?

Do you not think that buyers want to utilize the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit?

Do you think that tenants love to make their mortgage payments for their landlords?

Stop focusing on the "HOW". It will come naturally to you when you dig deeper as to WHY PEOPLE BUY.

That should be your focus.

Better yet, create an atmosphere why PEOPLPE should buy what they want through YOU.

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All contents are original. Consider subscribing to my blog for more real estate commentaries.

Subscribe via Email if you are not an Active Rain member here.

Systematic market approach to selling your home - an intentionally unique proposal that most real estate agents do not use. Find out why it is our differentiator and how past clients are on their way to the closing table with this proposition to home selling.

Contact:
Loreena Yeo
Realtor®/ Broker of 3:16 team REALTY
(214) 783-2210
loreena@loreenayeo.com

Super-serving Frisco, Plano, Dallas, McKinney, Allen, Little Elm, Prosper, Celina, Richardson, Dallas M-Streets, Dallas White Rock Lake area communities and other surrounding areas.

Copyright © 2009 by Loreena Yeo (3:16 team REALTY).
Croatian themed village Adriatica McKinney TX Homes for Sale

Over the years, Realtor.com (in my opinion) has certainly lost its position as a home search tool for consumers - at least within my clients' options. So, naturally I find it very difficult to want to continue a premium Realtor.com membership.

Back in March, I received a phone call from Realtor.com who wanted me to renew my premium membership. I told them No. I am not interested and will remain uninterested. I told him how my other options for Internet marketing has yield me so much more business that I don't think I **need to invest more presence on Realtor.com. This guy KEPT ME ON THE PHONE and insisted how Realtor.com was the most dominant real estate site. He shared with me some dinosaur Internet statistics and kept saying how wrong I was. Oh whatever!!! I dont have time to correct his beliefs. Plus he doesn't have salesmanship qualities anyways. He doesn't know that the CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

I politely tell him should my opinion change, I will call him back. I had taken his phone number down.

Several days ago, I received a phone call from the same salesperson. 

He said in a very conscending attitude, (he thinks he's better than me attitude), "Loreena..... So, have your attitude changed towards Realtor.com yet?"

I replied, "No. I'm still staying where I am at."

What I really wanted to tell him, "Dude. Change that attitude of yours. I can hear it in your voice. You don't want to be there. You don't believe in what you sell. Quit forcing yourself selling things you don't believe in."

That's never a way to talk to a customer especially when you want to make a sale. If you knew the answer, then why bother wasting your time and mine? Plus my phone minutes too!

SEPARATE RANT:

Whenever you are on the phone, sound cheerful. Sound like you really want to do this. Clients and people can hear it in your tone even when they dont see you.

Would you have some down time when you don't feel like talking to people and sounding cheerful? Sure you have. Then don't pick up that phone. Let it go into voicemail.

DONT DO THINGS YOU DONT BELIEVE IN. YOU ARE ONLY LYING TO YOURSELF!

As an employer, pay a little more to hire more educated, well-articulate salespeople. Don't just put bodies on telephones. Also, hire salespeople who can speak clearly. That might be a first good tip to turn the company around.

Several days ago, I attended a round-table workshop at a location I shall not disclose, offered by an association I shall not name, discussed by a panel I would not name. Not much good information to share, I know. But the content of this post shall remain juicy.

The reason I do not want to disclose too much information about these people are because they are truly highly respectable real estate professionals in the industry. I personally view them as such. None of them have less than 25 years of experiences each. There were 6 of them. This panel have been in the business a long time and now know that they are changing the ways they think, act and react towards the new implementations of technology in their business.

The only problem I often have with Realtors are their constant "looking" for business at every opportunity. I know some may not agree with me. But have we tried to forget the dangling check and look at these people behind social media connection as people?

They discussed social media and social networking sites such as Linked In, Facebook, and Twitter. Though they ALL agree that today's Realtors need to get into these social networking sites, personally, they may have misunderstood some important factors of such sites.

The New Generation really prefers to communicate this way. I'm not saying just the young adults. There are some who has a few grey hair who's also into the Facebook and Twitter bugs. By far, some prefer to communicate than to email or receive a phone call anymore. Some people find it intrusive to call and specifically ask for referrals. There is a fine line drawn between getting that personal phone call, hearing the voice on the other line, but at the same time, we might need to begin understanding each of our clients and their preferred way of "keeping up".

If you are thin-skinned like me, who could never utter the words, "Do you have a referral for me?", you are still not doomed for failure in this business. Facebook and Twitter have worked for me in unprecedented ways beyond my imagination. At meetings and parties with friends and family, I normally "act like me - usually the quiet, back person" and some newer friends may not know what I do. But since we have connected through Facebook and Twitter, people have come up to me to share stories of how they like this house they have been watching on the internet, and perhaps may want to get me involved in the transaction. They've seen me constantly posting my real estate commentaries and reports via Facebook and Twitter. And at the same time, they've seen my passion and my philosophies in life. I'm actually surprised how much people know me when I put myself out there.

So, for those who thinks Facebook and Twitter could suck your time, could never be able to generate business, could never make you a productive person, I think let's keep them thinking that way. That just means more for us who believes that you CAN build relationships on social networking sites.

My take about these social media sites: They are not the reason you receive a business opportunity. They should not be your sole reason on there. But it is a very new and unobtrusive way of building quality relationships. After all that, that's where the business opportunities would come from. Dont jump in to get business, but look at it as a new way of connecting with people besides just a phone call or an email.

Blogging is another way. While agents do not have time to put blogs up, for those who has and can show their personalities through their writings will shine. While we want privacy in this generation, we still yearn for connections. Blogging, Twitter and Facebook become avenues for people who do just that.

Loreena Yeo on Active Rain
Loreena Yeo on Facebook
Loreena Yeo on Linked In
Loreena Yeo on Twitter
 

Related Articles:

• How to Tastefully Connect With Them Without Feeling Like You Are Bombarding Them
• Web 2.0 Changing This People Business

Now hush, hush about this. Keep it low and keep it quiet. That means more for us! 

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All contents are original. Consider subscribing to my blog for more real estate commentaries.

Subscribe via Email if you are not an Active Rain member here.

Systematic market approach to selling your home - an intentionally unique proposal that most real estate agents do not use. Find out why it is our differentiator and how past clients are on their way to the closing table with this proposition to home selling.

Contact:
Loreena Yeo
Realtor®/ Broker of 3:16 team REALTY
(214) 783-2210
loreena@loreenayeo.com

Super-serving Frisco, Plano, Dallas, McKinney, Allen, Little Elm, Prosper, Celina, Richardson, Dallas M-Streets, Dallas White Rock Lake area communities and other surrounding areas.

Copyright © 2009 by Loreena Yeo (3:16 team REALTY).
Can We Keep Social Media Quiet For Those Who Do Not Believe In Them?

I received this story as an encouragement recently. It made such a profound impact on my views on life and how I should treat it. So profound that I feel that I wouldn't call you FRIEND if I didn't share this with you:

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An elderly carpenter was planning to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. The contractor was sorry to see one of his top and most loyal workers go and asked him if he would build just one more house as a personal favor.

The carpenter agreed, but this time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points, we do not give the job our best effort. Then, with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are living in the situation we are in. We would have looked back and know we would have done things differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your "house". Each day, you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.

Rex Barker reminded us that "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

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Now, are you going to treat each day and each task a little differently now? I know I am.

The beauty of your success begins with one small direction towards it. In our busy lives, we are constantly fire fighters in our real estate transactions. We dont give our success or long-term plans enough appreciation to do at least one thing towards getting there.

I feel inspired to tell a few stories of Hope this beautiful Friday morning. I sincerely think you will feel blessed too and hopefully inspire you to take some action.

Story 1

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I had a garage sale. My sister brought some of her new, never opened boxes of Bluetooth headsets and other electronic devices to sell. She had them in bulk since she had intentions of starting an online electronic business. She was offered a better career and couldnt devote her time to start this business, so she sold them in our garage sale. Our garage sale attracted alot of attention.

One of them was this Hispanic couple. When they realized that my sister were selling them so cheaply, they decided to buy in bulk. That was last Saturday.

Just a while ago (Friday morning, almost a week later), they left my house again. They knocked on my door to see if my sister still had more of those electronic items. They travelled about 45 minutes to my house. Good thing my sister still had some. Sold all to them and I sent them off their merry way.

During my conversations with them, I found out that they were reselling them to their community, friends, family and neighbors. The wife re-sell used items while the husband works outside the home.

Story 2

Last week, 2 teenage boys on separate occasions knocked on my door to see if I needed my yard mowed (promise you that it wasn't looking that shabby). I smiled and said No. Inside my heart, I applauded them for coming by to find "work" instead of sitting at home playing computer games this Summer.

Story 3

This is my very own story - although it happened over 10 years ago. I graduated college in 1998 and a week later, worked in the Engineering Office where I later turned in my resignation notice to become a full-time realtor(R). When I was first hired, I was paid by the hour, hence I would normally work a 40-hour work week. Since my husband had only started work 5 months earlier, and was on his way to give his all to the company, I was often felt staring at the 4 walls of my apartment after work.

Not long after the boredom started, I found a tutoring position. I tutored this 8th grade boy, coached him for SAT and made sure he did and understood his homework. I earned an extra $600 per month. 2 years later, we paid off both our new cars (a his and a hers). Every penny of the $600 was used as extra principle payments on the vehicles. Nope, I didn't buy that shoe or dress I love. I was intentional enough to know, if I sacrificed my time, I wasn't going to blow my money away.

My husband and I waited on tables at a Malaysian restaurant in Frisco Texas every Saturday for 2 months several years ago. I worked Friday night shifts too. When ALL our friends were at the lake, shopping and spending money on weekends, we found ourselves with $3,000 waiting tables.

So how are these stories of Hope?

I'm sharing these stories with you to tell you that HOPE comes from within. Hope comes from God that gives me, and the others (I shared about today) the ability to go out to fend for ourselves.

Very humbly I would say, we don't need another Bailout Plan from the government. Or another economic stimulus package. Not because I don't appreciate it but because I truly feel that Hope can only come from you and me - who are willing to take personal responsibility of our own lives and actions.

Sure, we have probably made mistakes along the way. Who has never done that? But we stand up, dust our messes off and move on.

If we keep doing this over and over again, we will forget that this great nation thrived on Capitalism. For many centuries, this great nation depended on people who are willing to take charge, instead of taking a sense of entitlement. It is only this generation that feels that the world owes them something. This generation also knows pleasure before hard work. This generation has definitely learnt instant gratification.

So, why is it so wrong that we let those who cant succeed fail? Why do we have to keep bailing out stupidity? As an American, don't you want to do business only with the true champions? When failures die, we give the opportunity for new ones to emerge. If we keep pouring money into failing projects, aren't we taking opportunities away from new, possible and better investments? Ops... I'm sorry, I forgot. We are talking about the government. Incidentally, they too are the ones that can print money! It's just paper.... We'll just keep on printing and supplying.

The beauty of the stories is such:

That Hispanic couple didn't care of the government is bailing out stupidity. But they know they count on themselves for feeding their 6-month old son that I saw in the truck in morning. The 2 teenage boys are now giving me hope that the next generation will know the value of hard work. My husband and I have lived like no one else amongst our friends to have a life we have today. We believe that our "younger" days had set up apart from the normal. We don't ever want to be normal.

I hope that my stories have inspired you to really do something today. My gift to you are the Stories of Hope and Inspiration that you depend on yourself, not your family, not your spouse and certainly, not your government. Your Hope comes from the ability to take you from Point A to Point B. Draft it and keep working at it.

Now, work your business. Take it from Point A to Point B.

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All contents are original. Consider subscribing to my blog for more real estate commentaries.

Subscribe via Email if you are not an Active Rain member here.

Systematic market approach to selling your home - an intentionally unique proposal that most real estate agents do not use. Find out why it is our differentiator and how past clients are on their way to the closing table with this proposition to home selling.

Contact:
Loreena Yeo
Realtor®/ Broker of 3:16 team REALTY
(214) 783-2210
loreena@loreenayeo.com

Super-serving Frisco, Plano, Dallas, McKinney, Allen, Little Elm, Prosper, Celina, Richardson, Dallas M-Streets, Dallas White Rock Lake area communities and other surrounding areas.

Copyright © 2009 by Loreena Yeo (3:16 team REALTY).
Stories Of Hope That Can Only Come From Within.

• Would you want to hire a Realtor to stick a sign on your yard, then disappear for what seems to be eternity. But as soon as the offer comes in, the Realtor calls and start saying "love-y and dove-y" things?

Most of the time, I don't believe Realtors mean to "disappear". When the house stays on the market, the pressure is on, no matter how much the Sellers say they plan to be in the house for the next 6 months because of the housing market conditions. Since you had promise to deliver, from the time the sign is in the yard, the clock starts ticking. Often times, the sellers just want to know when is the contract coming in. Realtors cant answer this question, so they totally ignore it by playing the disappearing act. Dont call, dont email just to avoid the communication because there is nothing good to say.

Here's some tips: Call weeks, email often and review the market activities with the sellers. Show them that you are putting time and effort in helping get their house sold. Sellers already know what the market is like and they don't expect you to perform miracles. But they do expect you to own up to some basic communication.

• Every real estate buyer wants to buy a "good" deal. No one wants to pay more than they should. Put yourself in your buyers' shoes. Would you want to try to see how far your dollar could stretch in this housing market? Would you want to test the sellers' motivation of selling?

In today's day and age, I have seen banks and sellers sell homes in prices I never dreamed of. The sold prices make me fall off my chair when I make my market reports. Yet, it is happening in this Frisco TX marketplace. Of course, even if you are dealing with a low offer, you should deal with it tenderly. Do your homework and learn about the other party you are dealing with.

Not all properties should be offered a low price. But if you dont ask, you'd never know. Educated guesses are important here, substantiated with sold statistics. When you put in a challenging offer, be certain to protect the image of your clients and yourself. Do it with some intelligence.

• Would you like your Realtor to check in with you to see how your move into your new home went?
• Would you need to call your Realtor/ loan officer 100 times that day because your HUD statement was incorrect for your closing tomorrow?
• Would you like for your escrow officer to inform you that your loan has funded and the house you sold is official a done deal?

Excellent customer service is not rocket science. It is putting yourself in your clients' shoes to treat others the way you want to be treated. Sure, some people expect less out of their service providers, but if you ever err, you err on the "good and positive" side. Hence, it is not difficult to give top-notch service based on "Do unto them as you want them do unto you" principle.

At times, I view customer service is almost like a dating/ courtship process. You are courteous, you go out of your way to please someone for all the right reasons. There's nothing wrong thinking about customer service like that. Go the extra mile. Be extra sensitive about those around you.

Have other service providers delivered extraordinary customer service to you lately? Maybe that's where you could pick up a lesson or two.

If you want a fresh start, here's how to do it:

Pick up your phone each time it rings. Don't let it go into voicemail, especially during most people's office hours (not yours). If you can't deal with it at that time, politely say you will call back by a certain time or day. Then make sure you do just that! Repeat it all over again the next time the phone rings.

Simple enough?

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I proudly serve and sell real estate in the northern suburb cities of the Dallas metroplex. If you are thinking about purchasing or selling your home in neighborhoods of Frisco, Plano, Dallas, McKinney, Allen, Little Elm, Prosper, Celina, Richardson, Dallas M-Streets, Dallas White Rock Lake area and other surrounding areas and more importantly, want to work with a local area expert, contact me at your earliest convenience.

I employ a systematic market approach in selling your home - an intentionally unique proposal that most real estate agents do not use. Find out how past clients are on their way to the closing table with this different proposition to home selling.

Contact:
Loreena Yeo
Realtor®/ Broker of 3:16 team REALTY
(214) 783-2210
loreena@loreenayeo.com

Copyright © 2009 by Loreena Yeo (3:16 team REALTY).