Ideal clients are confident. They know what they want, and they know they know what they want. Because they are confident, they go for what they want, and they don't beat around the bush.
The non-confident client waffles and never really makes a decision. The look and look and can never quite pull the trigger.
Women are generally more confident clients than are men. I'll talk about Seinfeld syndrome more next time.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Ideal Client Trait #8: Comfort
Ideal clients are "comfortable in their own skin." They know what they want and they're not unduly neurotic or anxiety-driven. You know them as you begin to work with them. They sign on with you and go with you all the way.
The opposite of the comfortable client is the uncomfortable client. This client changes what they want each time. They demand that their agent do silly things and ask silly questions of the buyer. They look and look and look and never seem to find what they want. They say they respect your opinion and even go along with it, but when the time comes they don't listen to you and go off in another direction.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
The opposite of the comfortable client is the uncomfortable client. This client changes what they want each time. They demand that their agent do silly things and ask silly questions of the buyer. They look and look and look and never seem to find what they want. They say they respect your opinion and even go along with it, but when the time comes they don't listen to you and go off in another direction.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Ideal Client Trait #7: Appreciation
Ideal clients appreciate their agents for what they bring to the relationship. They say, "Thank you, Tim, for the help you're giving us. We know you're going to find something perfect for us and we're really pleased about how things are going."
When we bought our condo here in center city, Philadelphia, we used an agent whom the agent who sold our home in Madison, WI, referred us to. The Philadelphia agent was okay, and we got the job done, but I would never recommend her to anyone else.
If you have an agent you don't appreciate, throw them back.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
When we bought our condo here in center city, Philadelphia, we used an agent whom the agent who sold our home in Madison, WI, referred us to. The Philadelphia agent was okay, and we got the job done, but I would never recommend her to anyone else.
If you have an agent you don't appreciate, throw them back.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Ideal Client Trait #6: Relationship-driven
Ideal clients are relationship-driven. Just as ideal agents are relationship driven. Each is looking to develop a strong relationship based on shared goals and mutual respect.
Real estate agents do their best work when they know their clients are motivated and respectful of their agents' time and talents.
Many clients are only out for themselves and don't respect the skills or accomplishments of others. These clients do not gain the greatest benefit from their real estate agents or from anyone else, for that matter.
Look to develop a good, long-term relationship with them. You'll benefit from it.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
Real estate agents do their best work when they know their clients are motivated and respectful of their agents' time and talents.
Many clients are only out for themselves and don't respect the skills or accomplishments of others. These clients do not gain the greatest benefit from their real estate agents or from anyone else, for that matter.
Look to develop a good, long-term relationship with them. You'll benefit from it.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Ideal Client Trait #5: Realism
The ideal client is realistic.
If he or she is a buyer, they know how much house they can afford. If they can only afford a house under $150,000, they won't ask you to show them houses worth $300,000 and up.
If they're a seller, they won't ask more than the house will realistically sell for and put the agent in the uncomfortable position of having to play the bad guy.
The fact that I've labeled this as "ideal" suggests that there are a lot of unrealistic clients out there. These people waste the agent's time.
A seasoned agent will be able to screen out most of the unrealistic buyer clients, but a good many still slip through.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
If he or she is a buyer, they know how much house they can afford. If they can only afford a house under $150,000, they won't ask you to show them houses worth $300,000 and up.
If they're a seller, they won't ask more than the house will realistically sell for and put the agent in the uncomfortable position of having to play the bad guy.
The fact that I've labeled this as "ideal" suggests that there are a lot of unrealistic clients out there. These people waste the agent's time.
A seasoned agent will be able to screen out most of the unrealistic buyer clients, but a good many still slip through.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Ideal Client Trait #4: No Games
Agents do their best work for clients when clients play it straight. When they do their, "let's offer this and see what they say," it suggests that the client has something they're not telling the agent, and they are playing games. This leads the agent to suspect the clients are up to something, and they can't do their best work.
I had a client once who would always counter offer. If they other side met their requests, she'd always say, "Let's come back with...". This puts the agent in the uncomfortable position of having to go along with the client and do their bidding, which they are obligated to do, or fire the client.
I've never fired a client in mid-stream, though I did turn one away who had caused me no end of expense and headache. She said, "You know I'll be looking for more property you know," as if that was appealing to me. I told her, "Call me, we have to talk."
I never heard from her again. I have to thank her, though. She taught me a lot about how to be a good agent.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
I had a client once who would always counter offer. If they other side met their requests, she'd always say, "Let's come back with...". This puts the agent in the uncomfortable position of having to go along with the client and do their bidding, which they are obligated to do, or fire the client.
I've never fired a client in mid-stream, though I did turn one away who had caused me no end of expense and headache. She said, "You know I'll be looking for more property you know," as if that was appealing to me. I told her, "Call me, we have to talk."
I never heard from her again. I have to thank her, though. She taught me a lot about how to be a good agent.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Ideal Client Trait #3: Openness
Agents do their best work for clients when they are straight with them. If you are not perfectly open with them, they can't work at their best.
One summer I had a buyer who said he wanted to find something right away and would be ready to move as soon as he found the right place. We looked all summer about 2 times a week during his noon hours.
Finally we found "the" place. He said he was pretty sure this was what he wanted but he wanted to take overnight to think about it.
He called me the next morning. I thought he was going to say, "Let's go ahead and put in an offer," but instead he said, "You know, I like that house a lot and I hope I can buy it some day, but I have a major financial problem I have to take care of before I can think about buying a house, so I'll have to get back to you."
Had he been straight with me, I could have advised him to wait before we wasted all that time or perhaps have steered him to a financial advisor who could perhaps have helped him.
In hindsight, I could maybe have quizzed him more before starting to look, but he sounded pretty convincing when he said he was ready to pounce. It's not clear that he would have answered my questions truthfully.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
One summer I had a buyer who said he wanted to find something right away and would be ready to move as soon as he found the right place. We looked all summer about 2 times a week during his noon hours.
Finally we found "the" place. He said he was pretty sure this was what he wanted but he wanted to take overnight to think about it.
He called me the next morning. I thought he was going to say, "Let's go ahead and put in an offer," but instead he said, "You know, I like that house a lot and I hope I can buy it some day, but I have a major financial problem I have to take care of before I can think about buying a house, so I'll have to get back to you."
Had he been straight with me, I could have advised him to wait before we wasted all that time or perhaps have steered him to a financial advisor who could perhaps have helped him.
In hindsight, I could maybe have quizzed him more before starting to look, but he sounded pretty convincing when he said he was ready to pounce. It's not clear that he would have answered my questions truthfully.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Ideal Client Trait #2: Responsible
One of the things that drove me nuts as a professional real estate agent was irresponsible behavior on the part of clients.
I remember two particular incidents, but I could talk about 40-50 of them.
On this particular day, a client wanted to see a house a number of blocks from my home and he had to see it before work, ~ 7:30 AM. We agreed to meet at the house. I made the appointment and got there a little early to open the place up, turn on the lights, etc. Waited, he never showed. Never called. I never heard from him again.
The other case I remember was an individual who "had" to see a home up in North Philadelphia at 4:30. I fought my way through rush hour traffic up to the house, got there a little early to open it up and look around. He didn't show either. A call to him was unproductive.
That was the last house I tried to show in North Philly. Have you ever made an appointement with an agent to see a house, then never show up.
As said, I could go on and on, but I won't.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
I remember two particular incidents, but I could talk about 40-50 of them.
On this particular day, a client wanted to see a house a number of blocks from my home and he had to see it before work, ~ 7:30 AM. We agreed to meet at the house. I made the appointment and got there a little early to open the place up, turn on the lights, etc. Waited, he never showed. Never called. I never heard from him again.
The other case I remember was an individual who "had" to see a home up in North Philadelphia at 4:30. I fought my way through rush hour traffic up to the house, got there a little early to open it up and look around. He didn't show either. A call to him was unproductive.
That was the last house I tried to show in North Philly. Have you ever made an appointement with an agent to see a house, then never show up.
As said, I could go on and on, but I won't.
I'm trying to create a more informed real estate customer. Is this working?
Want to learn entrepreneurship? Go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com.
Want to get a poem or short story published? Go to www.byandforwriters.blogspot.com
Want tips on writing? Go to www.timswritingblog.blogspot.com. Or want to read my first book for free, or maybe get it? Go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.
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