Comments on: Top 10 List: What Sellers & Buyers Expect From a Real Estate Agent

By: Buyers Advocate Melbourne

Buyers Advocate Melbourne — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:59:00 +0000

this is a great guide for us agents, we’ll know what clients expect from us and definitely deliver to satisfy them

By: Barry Preusz

Barry Preusz — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:19:57 +0000

The day you stop learning, is the day you START losing business. We live in a dynamic world that is ever changing, requiring us to adapt and change with it. As we focus upon what it is we do, we must keep the best interest of the client we are serving ahead of our own interests.

By: Cyprus property

Cyprus property — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 20:14:26 +0000

I have gain some informative information in your blogs . I do agree that most buyers and sellers would like to have some Price Guidance. They wanted honesty and you must also gain those trust and confidence they will give you. I think it is also a ways to market your products. If people do like you as there agent they will surely give referrals as well.

By: Steven Green

Steven Green — Wed, 09 May 2007 08:52:30 +0000

What an incredible and inspiring piece of work. I have alot of family and friends that are in the property industry and I’ve emailed this post to all of them. It’s amazing to find a piece of work like this and unusual so I thank you.

By: ElizabethWeintraub

ElizabethWeintraub — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:04:27 +0000

Of course I word it in such a way that the client feels obligated to give me the go-ahead; that’s what makes me a salesperson. 🙂 My clients don’t object because I’m rarely on the phone for long — just a quick, “Hey, I’m with a client right now, may I call you back or is this an urgent matter that requires my immediate attention right now?” generally suffices. It makes both clients feel good about it. If I do need to talk for an extended period of time, I give the first client something to keep them occupied while I chat. What can I say? I’m a multi-tasker, and some of us are hardwired that way.
The only time I don’t answer my phone is at night or if I’m on the other line. I will not put a caller on hold because I hate being put on hold myself. I might hang up on them, though, LOL, when I hear a call coming in. But the truth is I conduct most of my business by e-mail.
As for what makes people desperate to talk to me, you would not believe the emotional upheavals that people put themselves through. Well, maybe you would but haven’t thought about it. What’s a crisis to another person doesn’t always constitute a crisis to me, but I’m there to listen to them about it. It can be anything from, “OMG, my nanny just quit” to “Title says a 20-year-old lien just showed up in the public records.”

By: Norm Fisher

Norm Fisher — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 14:50:23 +0000

Thank you for your reply Elizabeth.
Your writing leaves no doubt in my mind that you are a true professional and that you’re motivated entirely by a desire to provide the best possible service to your clients. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this with you.
With due respect, I would suggest that the way you’re framing your question as to whether the clients “minds” you taking calls is almost certain to elicit a “no.” Humans, by nature want to be agreeable and polite. A “yes, I do mind” answer can only feel confrontational and kind of rude, even though it may be the most honest and appropriate reply.
You might consider trying this at a future meeting to see how it feels. “Mr. and Mrs. Seller, I’m just going to turn this off so I can give you my undivided attention. I’d like to focus entirely on your situation so we can get our business done and I can leave you to enjoy the rest of the evening with your family.” I’d be very surprised if you ever had an objection to this approach either. When addressing “accessibility” during your presentation, tell them that if they ever get your voicemail it means that you are briefly engaged in some important piece of business with a client and that you will certainly respond to their voicemail within an hour, at most.
I believe that given the option, most clients would just as soon be doing something else with their time, as compared to meeting with us. They do it because it needs to be done, but as much as they may like us and respect us, they’d rather get things done sooner, see us to the door and get on with their lives. Anything that interrupts the business at hand and delays the conclusion of the meeting is bound to be resented at some level. A quick Google search of cell phone etiquette makes it clear that this is an issue for many people and I can’t believe that some percentage of clients would not be put off by a cell phone interrupting the time that they believed was scheduled for them.
I guess my other question is, “What the heck goes on in your market that leaves people feeling ‘desperate’ to talk to you?” 🙂

By: ElizabethWeintraub

ElizabethWeintraub — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:19:29 +0000

I ask clients when I meet with them if it’s OK if I answer calls or if they would prefer that I let calls go to voice mail. I remind them that they could be that caller down the road who desperately needs to talk with me, and that most people say “go ahead,” but they are the boss, and ultimately I will do what they want. I remind them once again that they run the show.
I’ve never had anybody say “turn off the phone.”
When I receive e-mails, surely, somewhere within 15 minutes, I can find a place to check and respond, even if it’s to just acknowledge and say I’ll call later.

By: Norm Fisher

Norm Fisher — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 00:52:22 +0000

What a great post and I have to agree with almost everything that Elizabeth has said. Almost.
I would love to hear how she and others deal with the “Immediate access/response” thing. I agree that it’s important to be accessible but I also believe that a client deserves my undivided attention when I’m with them. There are other people in my life that deserve the same. Some agents take calls and answer emails while meeting with a client. I refuse to do it. If I’m meeting with a client, you’re getting my voicemail. I have a polite message that says “I am at work today but I do have meetings scheduled that may prevent me from taking your call.” I find people generally respond well to that. What do you think?

By: Toby

Toby — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:07:54 +0000

Great post and very deserving of being in the CORE!
An amazing concept, what does my client expect from me?
And it seems too often that we over-complicate things.
It is down to the final couple of agents for a listing – and I got a showing for a simple reason – I answered my phone on a Sunday. She was so impressed to talk with a “live person” and she asked if I usually did that. When I told her we don’t have voice mail in the office because we want you to talk with a live person – she almost passed out.

By: Brian Brady

Brian Brady — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:00:54 +0000

I like how you identify that while the consumer wants certain things/qualities, a Realtor can find help in those areas. Good Realtors are what i refer to as “yentas”. They know enough people and information to get the marriage made