Searching the MLS is Like Having Your Own Electronic Agent! Try it! It is a Free Service From HomeRome

Dear Margaret,

Hope you are well.

I love the option to give one of these searches to clients.  People often want information at odd hours and they can easily go to these sites we now may provide.

In the Atlanta market, we have a service from our FMLS called LISTINGBOOK.com that has a really great client search feature.  For example - February 8, 2011, I gave a flight attendant access.  As of 2 minutes ago -  she has logged on 68 times!  We'll see when she decides to buy!

Have a happy day-
Lynn

Hi Margaret,   you are right on on your assessment..No way we could do our job without our MLS...They allow us  so many tools and the majority of them are FREE..

One of thesse days you'll have to show me how to do this link stuff.  I'm going to try what you said, and I'll let you know. :) Gail

I've taken your approach when renting Margaret...........just answer the question asked.  Most people feel much more comfortable that way.

Margaret, I remember my Sweathogs training, ask for name/number right away in case you get disconnected. Then they want to hang up! I have noticed that as soon as I ask questions, people often just want to hang up and get very agitated. And that increases these days.

Any website without ez searching is not a website that is getting used....and with 95% of the buyers looking on the net first...you had better be there with your best eye candy forward.

The sleuthing was fun then wasn't it Margaret?  By confirming the things they can find at their fingertips today lends to our integrity to a small degree.  When I read the sentence about "type of heat"  it gave me a chuckle, haven't been asked that one in quite some time. 

Margaret ~  I do the very same -- always hated to give out personal information BEFORE I knew whether I was even interested in the property.  Have an Associate in my office who has her phone reject and Blocked calls.  (She does it in a very nice way, however.) 

Great blog.  It is very important to answer a customer's question and provide them with excellent customer service as soon as they call.  After all, they DO make up their mind about you in a split second :).  I hope you had a nice weekend.

Hi Margaret, I couldn't agree more. It's called transparency and that is exactly what the customer wants. We're still behind in terms of a real MLS here in Manhattan but much has improved since I started. 

Thank you for calling this morning it really was a pleasure speaking with you. You can Call Mitchell Hall anytime.

Hi Margaret, I operate my business the same way. All that other stuff is baloney. If they want information, give it. If they want to work with you they will. I always offer more than they may be seeking if it helps to better define the property that they are calling on. All the game teasing is for people with nothing else to do. I always welcome them to use my IDX for complete home searches by area and they like that.

Hi Margaret, This is some great advice. I was taught the same way early in my career, but lately, I have been gladly just giving the callers the information that they asked about. Instead of asking for their names and numbers, I will give them my name and number if they would like more information in the future. They do not feel any pressure, and will call you back once they decided they need your services.

Hi Margaret, i had to chuckle at your recollections.  I have been selling real estate for 26 years and I remember when the listing contract was 1 page long, if a buyer wanted to see a house they called the name on the sign, agents rushed into the office to get a look at the new listings or to get the listing book.  I also remember when there was no buyer's agency.  I've always hated pushy sales people who call at dinner time pretending to be your friend, like Dan who called from San Diego tonight, at the dinner hour.  "Hey June, how are you?  It's Dan here..." Dan who I asked, knowing full well it wasn't my cousin Dan (the only Dan I know).  If buyers want to work with me that's great but I'm not going to chase after them to cajole or coerce them into working with me.  Great post!!

It is amazing how our industry has changed and evolved...and we definitelty need to embrace these changes

Hi Margaret,  We could all take lessons from you.  In fact, we should all take lessons from you!  I remember what it was like to be questioned like that too - just awful.  Thanks for the reminder.  Love your post.  It moves seamlessly and makes it easy for the consumer to do a search.

So far I've been taught the same way, fact find your way through the conversation and answer their questions, but also get name/number/e-mail and continually follow up until they appear cold.

I try to establish a connection and get them all the information they were looking for before I do this. I will continually modify this approach until I find the best balance between traditional salesmanship and a more relaxed approach.