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The Flossing Of Real Estate

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Eddie Brown ~ FM Realty a Long & Foster Company/ Raleigh NC

The “Flossing” of Real Estate

 

Twice a year we all lie…even the most moral and upright grandma will tell their Dentist they floss regularly when asked the question. Why do we lie? Because everyone knows you should floss daily to keep your teeth in good shape.

 

There are lots of other things we “should” do …like yearly physicals, eating 3-5 servings of vegetables every day, exercise 30 minutes a day, and leading less stressful lives …but to be honest, most of us end up “shoulding” all over ourselves!

 

If flossing keeps our teeth in shape …what is it that keeps our businesses in shape? Let me give you a hint …like flossing it is something you know you “should” do, and most REALTORS lie about it when asked ….Did you guess  “Prospecting for New Business”?

 

The question to ponder is this …Why if you know it’s what you “should” do …and you also know consistent prospecting activities greatly increases your probability of success …then why does only 20% of the REALTOR population do it systematically? Here are two common causes…

 

REASON ONE:  The AGR Syndrome

The “Always Getting Ready” Syndrome is commonly identified by looking under a non-productive associate’s desk and counting the dust covered boxes of post cards and other out-dated marketing materials.  

 

In acute cases of AGRS, the dusty boxes will spill over into the corners of their office and some may even find their way into the trunks of cars. The most severely afflicted agents also become strangely attached to objects like business cards and calendar magnets, hoarding them in the folds of wallets and purses until they yellow with age.

 

The only known cure for AGRS is to get a full strength (non-generic) subscription of  Accountability …Most can’t swallow such a large pill by themselves and need to find an accountability partner or hire a coach to assist them back on track to start performing income producing activities at least 5 days per week.

 

REASON TWO:  Afraidtocallitis  (uh-freyd-to-kawl-eye-tus)

This disease is rampant in real estate offices across the USA, and is easily spread by well meaning (but low producing agents) sneezing out “that won’t work” over every new agent hired. In fact …some offices have recently been boarded up and closed due to the wide spread contamination of afraidtocallitis.

 

If your office shows signs of this deadly disease …your only hope of survival is to run immediately to your phone and make 5 calls to your Book of Business and ask for a referral! Follow each call up with a hand written personal note with a few of your hoarded business cards inside. Once exposed to the virus, this routine must be repeated over and over again to avoid risk of re-infection.

 

Stop “shoulding” all over yourself  …kick it back in gear …get active building relationships again and stop whining and start winning…no one likes a whiner!  And remember that dusty box you keep kicking around under your desk is full of potential clients …open it up and one just may fall out in your lap! Good Luck!

 

Eddie Brown ©2011

www.ICU-Coaching.com

 

James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

What a great post.  I really like the acronyms you used but they are so true

Mar 02, 2011 11:17 PM
J. Philip Faranda
Howard Hanna Rand Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY
Associate Broker / Office Manager

Eddie- You're hired. =)

In this day and age we don't even have to CALL clients, we can even email them! No rejection and we don't stutter, hem or haw, and we can deliver value with a personal story, a link to resources, and good wishes- no sales pitch, just a soft contact to keep us in their mind. I am all for dusting off that box. 

Mar 02, 2011 11:18 PM
Eddie Brown
Eddie Brown ~ FM Realty a Long & Foster Company/ Raleigh NC - Raleigh, NC

Thanks James and Philip ! Everyone need a booster shot in the buttocks every now and again.

Mar 02, 2011 11:28 PM
Anonymous
Mark Parker

Eddie, As alwasy, great post!  So simple, yet so true!!!

Mar 02, 2011 11:44 PM
#4
Dianne Goode
Raleigh Cary Realty - Raleigh, NC
Realtor/Broker

A good metaphor in another way.  Just as flossing is part of the daily routine, so should calling be a part of the daily routine.  You don't stand at the sink wondering .. am I in the mood to floss today?  Won't tomorrow do just as well?  No, you JUST DO IT.  Picking up the phone needs to have that same kind of inevitability.  I agree to some extent with Phillip, that an email will do almost as well as a phone call, but only if there has been regular communication over time.  If the relationship has lain fallow for a few months, a phone call is much more effective. 

Mar 03, 2011 12:13 AM
Eddie Brown
Eddie Brown ~ FM Realty a Long & Foster Company/ Raleigh NC - Raleigh, NC

Dianne: You have hit the nail squarely on the head!  You get the GOLD STAR for today.

Real Estate is a Contact Sport. Building Relationships is your foundation for building a long term viable business. You cannot rely on electronic communication to build a relationship...So-called FACEBOOK friends will rarely have the level of trust as those whom you have looked in the eye and shaken their hands!

Mar 03, 2011 12:18 AM
Keith Vermilyea
Boise Homes Realty brokered by Found It LLC - Boise, ID

Eddie ~ thanks for the booster shot this morning, ouch!

Mar 03, 2011 01:20 AM
Anonymous
Bette McTamney

As usual you are right on the money!!!!  Lterally - thanks Eddie for the morning wake up!!

Mar 03, 2011 01:22 AM
#8
Eddie Brown
Eddie Brown ~ FM Realty a Long & Foster Company/ Raleigh NC - Raleigh, NC

Keith and Bette - so how many new income producing activities have you completed today? I'll bet if you call 5 of your relationships and send 5 Hand Written notes you will get some new business! Anyone care to take on the challenge?

Mar 03, 2011 05:12 AM
Steve and Jan Bachman
RE/MAX Gateway, Reston, Herndon, Ashburn, Sterling, Fairfax - Herndon, VA
Realtors - Northern Virginia

Perfectly wriitten Eddie. Suggest!

Most agents don''t fail because they do not know how to write an offer or listing agreement...they fail because they have no one to do that paperwork for.

Mar 07, 2011 12:35 AM