What Makes You Stand Out From the Competition?

It has always amazed me that people do not return phone calls. That is the number one rule of business, whatever career path you have chosen. I have heard from many clients and customers, that they chose to disassociate themselves from someone due to their poor response to them.

Incredible, that many behave this way.

Great post!  I think that the biggest impression on prosects and clients is follow up and returning calls & e-mails promptly.  A gal in our office told me that she picked up a buyer because she was the only agent to respond (out of about 15).  I recently responded to a friend/prospect's e-mail within about an hour and the first line of her response was "Wow. Thanks for the quick response."  People appreciate when we answer calls and return messages & e-mails promptly.  This shows our interest in them as well as courtesy to them.

Congrats on the feature!

Good stuff.

I like the concept of phone answering agents....I get frustrated as an agent when other agents don't return my calls so I can only imagine how consumers feel.

I must have missed the brick wall era...don't remember seeing that.

Thanks!

TD

                    All of my Marketing focuses on the buyers/sellers wants, not needs. Also, there isn't a lot of what a great Real Estate guru I am....

Now how did you get a hold of my glamour shot?  Funny!  Thanks for the great reminders.

Great post.   I always return phone calls as quickly as possible. I recently worked with a listing agent and got so frustrated with her not answering the phone or returning calls.    Her phone messages were a litany of all the things she was doing that day...luncheons, award ceremonies, judging school events....very little to do with real estate.  I always found myself thinking maybe she should concentrated more on selling real estate rather than all the outside activities.   When we first met she gave me several cards to hand out at my office for referrals (we are located a distance from each other so it was a viable request).  But, after we finished our closing and all the trouble I had getting in touch with her I would never refer her to any other agents.   

Harrison,

Great stuff. Definitely worthy of a feature. Good to connect with you. :)

Steve

Harrison...

I will avoid all cliches and just say I shoot a hellava mean Counter Offer :)

I offer that service to our Seller's for free. They like it :)

TLW...ROAR!

Harrison:  An updated photo is probably in our future as well!  It wasn't Wal-Mart by the way. :)  What do we do better?  A good question to ask ourselves on a regular basis.  One is that we started in the Real Estate business three years ago and we're still here because we treat our customers as if there is no one else in the world but them - I hope that's saying something.

So funny and so true. Answer your phone, Realtors! I think I will make it my tagline. JK. Then I'd have to answer my phone in the shower too. Ha, ha.

Great post! I love the one about answering your phone. down here....SO many realtors DO NOT!

I am from not far from you- Cumming , Ga  .....born and raised now down in PCB.

Hope to hear from you soon and keep in touch!

~Alisa

Alisa Stone Herring, CRS, GRI
Broker/Owner
Stone Real Estate Group LLC
850-596-2456 Cell
www.thebeachpeach.com

"The Georgia Peach that Sells the Beach"

Harrison,

You have inspired me to write a blog about answering the phone.  I hope you enjoy.

Kathy

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1010639/Do-you-answer-your-phone-while-on-the-toilet

Harrison, we answer our phone. I've never been able to embrace that "leave a message and answer your calls twice a day" spin. I know it works in other industries but hello people, we are in sales! Carpe diem! Also check emails constantly throughout the day. Since getting my iPhone, keeping up with emails is a breeze. ~Sharon

Great Post. Thanks for sharing.

Congrats on your feature Harrison. I really enjoyed your post. I think the best advice yet was to have fun and be yourself!

What makes you stand out from your competition?  Great question. I recently took a class in which the same question was asked. I don't like to talk about myself and certainly don't like to brag so I had a little trouble answering it. As a matter of fact, I had to ask my broker. While I was at it, I asked what I could improve on.

One comment I have heard from every one of my clients is commending me for either always answering my phone or getting back to them within an hour. I didn't realize this was a problem until I started hearing it and then started noticing myself how difficult it is to reach some agent's just to show a property. Sorry, If you don't call me back, I won't be selling your listing.

Congrats on the feature! Well deserved.

Realtors and clients are often shocked when I occasionally answer my cell phone on the 1st ring. They are usually pretty impressed when I answer and call them by name.