I have been a Realtor in Oklahoma City for almost 20 years. I have been involved with over 2000 transactions, have given speeches to hundreds of people in an audience, been on marketing panels at conventions, but I have never given a TV interview in all that time until this week. Remember the B movie Panic in the Year Zero? Yep, that was me. It will turn out all right becasue the lady doing the interview wants the right information to get to the public, and they took 20 times the footage as necessary, so they can hone in one what I said well.
The interview was about how buyers can save money with short sales. I mentioned that three benefits come with the purchase, upside equity, downside protection, and they pleasure of keeping someone out of a froeclosure that would have a huge negative impact on them and their families. We also cautioned buyers to be patient, remember that short sales are still a small portion of our market, and that no repairs will be paid by the lender so make sure you have the money to make the house whole, and maybe try to find a home in excellent condition.
Now to the advice of how to prepare for a TV interview if you are asked to do one.
1. Develop scripts and practice in front of a mirror. You want to be prepared for every question if possible, and you want to make sure you make eye contact. Constantly looking away becasue of anxiety will make you look less than trustworthy.
2. By yourself. I know that sounds obvious but what I mean is don't try to be a "Realtor", or a "sales person". If you speak with conviction it will show, and if business comes from it it will not be because you practiced keyword phrases.
3. If you can get a list of example questions that is very helpful. If you don't ask, you don't get.
4) Remember to breathe during the interview. It is hard to relax, but if you are nervous you tend to hold your breath, and oxygen flow is restricted to the brain.
5. Since the program is not confrontational, rather educational, if you screw up and I did, ask to start over. Don't forget that these interviewers have jobs they want to keep, and they want to make you look good.
6. It's not about you, it's about the subject. Don't let your love of your expertise make you into Mr. Ego Realtor. Let it flow naturally and keep your mind on speaking truth.
7. Never forget you are an amateur. You don't get paid to speak, they do. That is why you sell real estate and they do interviews.
8. Most important, don't second guess yourself or beat yourself up about what you didn't say. How many times in our lives do we think of the best way to put something afterward. Be kind, don't rewind.
9. Tell your friends and colleagues to watch. Don't try to pretend that this is no big deal. They won't buy that merde.
10. BE SURE to DVR it or get a copy. Your youtube.com channel is waiting.
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