Customer Service the Real Estate Revolution
Glenn Murray
Traditionally, real estate has been viewed as a sales industry. But perceptions are changing. Agents around the country are coming to believe that the key to real estate success is service not sales.
Competition and technology now give customers almost unlimited choices, so agents are having to work harder and spend more to win listings. Theyre discovering that business success comes from repeat business and word-of-mouth.
And customer service is the key.
Loyalty and good-will cant be bought not even with the sale of a house. Customers like to be treated with honesty, respect, and integrity. They want a realistic and accurate property appraisal. They want an agent who commits to action. They want to be able to speak to someone who can help them when they call. They want to feel welcome when they walk into the office. They dont want their intelligence insulted by advertising. They dont want to be fed a line even if it is what theyd like to hear.
Agents with business sense know that if they can provide this customer service if they can pioneer great customer service in real estate theyll have a real edge on their competitors. Far from being an impediment to success, they see todays marketplace as an opportunity to flourish.
Obviously, the sale is still critical, but its part of a greater whole almost like a critical KPI Key Performance Indicator. Its based on the simple premise serve and you will sell. The premise holds true because all the pre-requisites of a sale are intrinsic to good customer service: The price is realistic, the marketing is intelligent, the advertising appropriate, and commitments are made and kept. Vendors, buyers, landlords, and tenants alike receive the same high level of customer service.
5 Quick Tips for Finding a Service Oriented Agent
1 Ask to see references Its not that much different from a job interview. Think of the agent as the job seeker, and encourage them to prove their customer service qualifications. The right agent will be only too happy to provide as many references as youd care to see.
2 Analyse their business growth Assuming their references are in order, ask after their business growth. References provide you with qualitative evidence of customer focus. You should supplement this with something quantitative. If the agent is still growing rapidly in todays environment, then they must be doing something right.
3 Analyse their market share Like growth, market share can be an indicator of customer focus. Ask what their share of the target market is.
4 Observe their behaviour Do they return phone calls Do they commit to action Do they meet their commitments Are the punctual Do they keep you informed Do they remember important details you provide them
5 Gauge access to staff When you first called, did you get to speak to someone who could help you If not if they took your name and number and told you theyd get someone to call you back, this might be indicative of their customer service approach.
About The Author
Glenn Murray heads advertising copywriting studio Divine Write. He can be contacted on Sydney +612 4334 6222 or at glenn@divinewrite.com. Visit http://www.divinewrite.com for further details or more FREE articles.
RELATED ARTICLES
Green Lake, WI
City Guide Site
Building Your Online PortfolioSo you want to start earning online and have invested some of your hard earned cash in a couple of online programs but have you really thought about what you are investing in.
Is Day Trading Right For YouDo you have the tolerance for the risk involved with day trading Day trading is not a get rich quick business. It is not technically even investing. This competitive game of day trading is speculation at its core and the odds are against you in favor of failure. But for those who crave this type of environment it can be a very exciting and profitable venture. A study in 1999 found that 70% of day traders lost money and of those that made money the profits were made from just one trade.
Penny Wise and Pound FoolishThis saying came to mind when reading my Icop newsletter. JLwas discussing things that Chuck and I talk about all the time. A couple of weeks ago while listening to Jim Edwards audio newsletter he ranted about the psycho freebie seekers love that name. Jim rants almost as well as Dennis Miller.
New Bill to Keep Banks out of Real EstateThis week Congress introduced a bill titled, "Community Choice in Real Estate Act," to permanently ban banking conglomerates from entering real estate brokerage or property management. This is because some of the larger banking conglomerates have requested permission from the Federal Reserve Board to sell and manage real estate. Pretty much every major organization in the real estate industry is backing the bill against banks in real estate.
Hire Divorce Lawyer or Use Online Divorce FormsWhen do you need to hire a family law attorney and when is it okay to just use an online divorce form website to save a little moneyThis article will provide a few pointers to help you decide whether to do it yourself or retain a divorce lawyer.
Sub Domains - An Inexpensive Solution to Grow TrafficRead this brief article that reflects what we learned about subdomains and their important role in effective internet marketing.
Increase Your Buying Power With Capital Gains ReinvestmentWhen it comes to selling property capital gains reinvestment can be an important strategy for homeowners and commercial and business owners.The Internal Revenue Service requires capital gains tax to be paid on the sale of all capital assets, including properties.Once the sale occurs the tax expense can be enormous, but with a little ingenuity capital gains tax can be avoided and the tax burden relieved.The sale of a home or an investment property can facilitate incredible steps forward for anyone in the real estate market.Planning, education and consulting the experts are the keys to increased buying power!
Complete Home Rehab In 10 DaysThis report is about taking a house and restoring it to an aesthetically pleasing dwelling that has reclaimed its functional utility.In effect, it is the anti-aging medication for bricks and mortar.
How To Sell Your Website FastDear Website Owner,
Buying and Selling Distressed Houses for Maximum ProfitIf you want to become a real estate investor, find a "fixer-upper" owned by an anxious seller. Finding distressed houses at bargain prices, fixing them up, and then selling them on a consistent basis can make you a millionaire.
Why You Should Invest In Real EstateWhy real estate, or why property, some people ask when looking for an investment. Well, as far as I am concerned, real estate/property investment is, and always has been, the most powerful type of investment for building wealth. It has been said that over 90% of the worlds millionaires got there by owning property. The reason property is such a powerful way to build wealth is due to one key concept: leverage.
A Simple $20.00 Investment Can Protect You, Your Family and Your Nest Egg!NY - 07/23/04 - What if you discovered that twenty dollars could give you access to an array of valuable information that addresses the lifestyle, needs and financial interests of people 50 and over. Well, a twenty dollar annual membership in Senior Resources of America, headquartered in West Hills, California, does just that and more.
Tips on Getting Your Mortgage Loan ApprovedWhat is important to lenders
Google Bring Deskbar Search To Windows Desktop. Now Any Website Can Take Advantage Of This Search TechnologyGoogles premier of desktop search proves that the desktop is an extremely valuable marketing real estate. Google, which holds about 75% of the Internet search market, just introduced "Deskbar" a small desktop application that allows users to search Google directly from their desktops.Google currently rules the Internet, but positioning themselves on the desktop gives them the power to rule not only the Internet, but also the entire personal computer.
Wealth And Your Net WorthWealth and Your Net Worth by C.C. Collins http://networthpublishing.com
What is Bridging FinanceOnce you understand what the term, Bridging Finance means, its easy to understand how it got its name.The purpose of a bridging or bridge loan is to provide short term cash for a real estate transaction until permanent financing is secured.Bridge loans are commonly used to bridge the cash gap when completing commercial real estate transactions.
Power Packed Linking Strategies - Part ThreeThis is the third in a series of three articles showing you how to find a suitable linking strategy for your website and put it to work for you.
Simple Solution for Php Includes - IFramesI have recently created my first Php program. I wanted to share with others some of the problems that I encountered, and how I finally overcame these obstacles.
Moving On: Powerful Tips For Selling Your HomeMaybe youre moving to a larger home to accommodate a growing family, relocating for a new career opportunity, or purchasing a townhouse for retirement.Whatever the reason for the move, youll need to take the necessary steps to sell your home for the best possible price, within a reasonable amount of time.Where do you begin
Heal and Release the PastI had a completely different idea for my main article but certain events that happened today helped me to tune into my soul and listen for what I really want to write about.
Disclaimer: Any information found on this City Guide Site within these articles must be used by the reader at their own discretion, and a professional opinion should be sought before taking any of the advice. This City Guide Site is not responsible for the accuracy, content, or information found within these articles presented here. The original authors hold the copyrights for each of the articles, as specified in each individual case. All articles are either public domain or include permission of the authors for reprinting. If you find any article that you believe to be inappropriate, please contact us.
