Over 3 years ago, when I first started real estate, I put all my energy to get as many clients as I could, mostly buyers. I was excited whenever I got a chance to talk to a prospect, no matter I met them through open house, phone duty, or just someone I ran into in a grocery store. I kept counting, wow, I would have plenty of clients to work with, they must all ready and wanted to buy, otherwise they wouldn't tell me or asked me about their real estate matters, right? Yep, that's right.
When I was a buyer myself, I didn't call all agents around town to look at houses, I did my homework, I went online to look, then I called the agent. That's the way it supposed to be, right? At least, that's what I did. I talked to only one agent who I saw online, I didn't even know who she was, but I liked how she looked, she seemed friendly and honest, so I picked her. I called her the next morning, she sounded very friendly and very helpful, I liked her. So, I met her at her office and my buying process started with her.
Okay, back to me. After I became a real estate agent, I thought everyone was like me, they wouldn't call any other agents but the one they wanted to work with, well, that's what I did. Was I crazy wrong or what??
Some of them could exhaust me, used me for my time, my information, they were just plain users! I didn't know the reality of real estate was like that. I was innocent and naive when I came to this real estate world, thinking every customer was nice. A call to me meant business, a sales, why would someone so inconsiderate to use someone's time and abused my willingness to help them? That's not fair at all!!
Let me be honest with you, I thought about quitting real estate in the first few months because of those unkind customers, and some other crazy things, too. But, I didn't. Why? I guess I don't like to see myself fail, I just have to learn how to be more selective. I need to learn to be a true real estate professional, not a door mat, a door greeter, I just have to learn.
Being selective doesn't mean to be a snobby real estate agent, it just means I need to learn how to weed the users out, those who don't respect my profession, not loyal, won't commit to only working with me, those egomaniacs who won't listen to my advice, and they think they are always right no matter how wrong they are. It is a process to learn to be selective, especially if you are a new or newer agent. You keep thinking you may lose a client by weeding the wrong ones out. How do you know if you are weeding the right ones then?
During the course of working with someone, you should be able to know how the working relationship is with your prospect. Sometimes, you may not need to completely weed them out, if you think you can keep in touch with them, let say by email, do so. I do that all the time. But, if someone keeps wanting to see properties and will not commit to go to talk a lender, that's a red flag. If they keep making excuses not to do the things you ask them to do to get the ball rolling, another red flag. Use your judgement, pay attention to their body language, unless they are really good actors, actresses, you should be able to see some flaws somewhere. Don't be afraid to let your foot down on those who just want to use your time and efforts and no intention to work with you or buy from you.
Once you present yourself as a true professional, you will get the respect you deserve.
photo courtesy:http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2365523136/
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