Every day, every hour, someone posts a blog on AR or a question on a forum asking "how to" do something. How to... approach a FSBO? How to... better market a listing? How to... target first time buyers? How to... persuade a seller to reduce his price? Etc. etc. etc.
Good questions, all. Deserving of answers.
However, I believe that in most cases, the answers are within ourselves. Not that I mind being asked (I love sharing my - ahem - brilliance), but a big part of my SWS philosophy is to learn to Trust Your Gut. To know that you CAN (and should) listen to your own instincts and intuitions!
So, that said...
If you were a FSBO, how would you like to be approached by a real estate agent? What would catch your attention? What would turn you on (or more importantly, off)? What would inspire you to want to work with one particular agent over another?
If you were a FTHB, how would you go looking for an agent? Where would you be likely to stumble upon one? What sort of marketing would catch your eye?
If you're wondering how to sell your difficult listing.... Ask yourself... If I were a buyer, or a buyer's agent, what would inspire ME to give this listing a chance? Conversely, why might I be avoiding this particular listing? Of all the listings available to show my buyer, what could the listing agent do to convince me I should show THIS one (because remember, as a buyer agent, I only get paid when my buyer buys, so I only wanna show the BEST)?
If you were an upside-down seller, what might your agent do to convince you of the need for a price reduction? How would you like him or her to approach you? What sort of information might be helpful and what attitude would be effective?
When faced with a dilemma that involves another warm body, put yourself in the other fella's shoes. And act accordingly....
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The Daily Seduction
Tips & Inspirations to Generate Business from the Very Important People Who Know You
Perspectives. Powerful stuff Jennifer, powerful stuff! This is so useful, especially when done honestly (and not in a way that is just trying to justify prior behavior as "right"... because if it was right, you likely would not be posing the questions)!
Thank you! This is something that I have been thinking about lately - as you know this is my 1st year of RE so even though I have a few closings under my belt I am still in the business building mode. Although I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Broker, she is always trying to get me to do things that not only I dont want to do, but that I doubt would be successful with how I am approaching Real Estate. She is a very successful Broker and business person, but things were different when she started out 30 yrs ago.
Nice post focusing on the perspective of the client...all well said words here.
Kenzie - I went thru the exact same thing! I was always asking my first three brokers for advice, then totally discarding it because it conflicted with my own judgment. I finally realized that I could trust myself to make the right decision as long as I was asking the right questions.
Common sense can go a lot further in our business than we seem to give it credit for.
Jenn - now you have done it..................you have exposed the golden rule as it pertains to sales and service............treating others as you wish to be treated.....just you wait.........mike ferry will file an injunction.............that guy doing 100 days of greatness will hire a hit man...........david knox will have you put under house arrest..............the list goes on and on...............it is really very basic........success will come if you treat others with the respect and care you want from others...........
this is the secret....this is the magic bullet
and you are giving it away a few days before christmas..........
god love ya
John, LOL...you got it! In one single post, Jennifer has just destroyed the entire real estate cottage industry of training and coaching with some excellent, common sense advice.
The beauty of being yourself is when you DO attract clients, you are more likely to build rapport quickly and the transaction should go that much more smoothly. It's a wonderful thing.
it is pretty simple. Treat people the way you would want to be treated! this may not work for everyone, but Life is TOO short to work with people you dont like anyway!
Merry Christmas!
Rob
Great advice. I have often thought about this in the past but never to this extent. Mmmmm, now I am really thinking.
So many people forget to put themselves in others shoes and that is very important to do, even outside of real estate. Simple way to answer our own questions yet so many of us forget to do it!
Jennifer good advice and great questions to ask yourself, but it does not hurt to pick the brains of others either, and combined the two.
I always try to treat people the way I want to be treated. Good advise for everyone!!!
I've always said,
"You can't appreciate another mans blisters until you walk in his crocs."
"You can't know another persons pain until you are married to their spouse."
"You can't know another persons appetites until you have cooked in their kitchen."
"You can't know another persons goals if you are not on their team."
"You can't know another persons anger until you take away their remote control."
"You will never know what trips their trigger until you get them loaded."
"You don't have to be a parasite to get into their bones."
I am sure you get the drift. Good post kiddo.
This is so true but I think when people have been in business for a long time their view is tainted by all the training and 'coaching' they have received. It sometimes makes it hard to go back and look at it as non real estate professional.
You're absolutely right. Yet it never ceases to amaze me, just how many people seem incapable of viewing things from the perspective of the other party involved in a transaction. Either that or they just don't care. And that's the hardest kind of person to work with.
Jennifer, you are right. Everything starts from with-in. The numerous posts I think are helpful as they might be the spark to create action to get agens from "thinking about it" to taking action.
This is the #1 reason I left my former office -- I felt like a failure for not calling on strangers on a daily basis. I could agonize for days and days before making a phone call to an expired listing. I absolutely HATE getting phone calls at home, unless it's from family, friends or clients. And "pretending to be an expired's friend" doesn't cut it for me. So I pop something in the mail, with a smile on my face, and visualize them calling me!
"The Golden Rule...it's that simple!"
Nice new photo. I am still using the one from my last arrest.
Great advice, Jennifer! It's like the advice I learned in kindergarten, always treat others the way you would want to be treated!
Good reminders of putting oneself in the other's shoes. As well as a a reminder of the Golden Rule which is one of the tenets of the Realtors' Code of Ethics, too.
Hmmm, be nice.
Genius! ;)
I thought it was the Platinum Rule that works today????
"Treat others as they wish to be treated"
Isn't it about them...not me?
Jennifer...YOU are brilliant!
Keep those mindful posts coming...boy do we need them!
This is food stuff. I have always applied the rule to treat others as you would want to be treated. I work to not judge before I know all the facts.