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If you don't ask, you don't get

By
Real Estate Agent with Bettina Clairmont

Whenever I browse other agents' websites I see that many of them have a page for testimonials for clients. Why didn't I? Frankly, while my clients are always very thankful for my services and express this freely to me whenever we see each other, none of them ever thought of putting it in writing.

So, this week I started emailing my clients to ask them if they could write one or two sentences about their experience in working with me, so that I could place these testimonials on my website. Everybody was more than willing to give me a recommendation. Now I'm collecting them all and will be uploading them to my website soon.

Here's a particular nice one I received from Dr. R.S. and Dr. J.H.: "To say that house hunting in San Francisco is difficult is an understatement.  Bettina made the process of buying a house much more reasonable.  She assuaged much of our anxiety by giving us an unbiased financial analysis of what we could reasonably afford, and then systematically took us through several properties over several weeks.  She had already critically reviewed the properties before we saw them.  It wasn't long before we found the house we wanted, and Bettina was very good at coordinating all the details that led to a very smooth process of inspection, acceptance of our offer, and closing of the sale.  She was available 24/7, and her attentiveness to detail saved us many headaches, valuable time, and money.  We wouldn't hesitate to recommend her and utilize her services again.  We moved into our new house this summer and haven't looked back."

Just goes to show: you don't ask, you don't get!

 

Diane Testa
Mullica Hill, NJ
If you send out something to your clients right after you close the deal you tend to get a great response! If for some reason they don't do e-mail, just mail them a questionaire and leave room for comments at the bottom. Include a self addressed stamped envelope. Good luck!
Oct 05, 2007 01:29 AM
Danielle V. Lewis
DDR Realty - Newburgh, NY
DDR Realty
Sometimes we think we have all bases covered, then realize there's something left! I'm glad you now have this part under your professional belt. =).
Oct 05, 2007 01:29 AM
n d
Naoma Doriguzzi - Virginia Beach, VA
Bettina - The best time to ask for a testimonial is at the closing table when the customers are happy and have the experience fresh in their mind.  I always ask if they could do me a favor and write about their experience so I can include in my referrals/testimonials book!  And they love to do it and have not had a customer tell me no yet. 
Oct 05, 2007 01:45 AM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552
Nice testimonial, Bettina.  The longer after the settlement, the harder it is to get a testimonial.  I ask for comments in a survey that I give or mail clients after the settlement.  If you look on my home page, you'll see that it's been quite successful.
Oct 05, 2007 01:52 AM
Keisha Hosea- KASIHomes.com
KASI Homes - Chino Hills, CA
Real Estate Solutions For Real People
Bettina-I usually send out a postage paid client survey. It is addressed back to my assistant so hopefully my clients feel that they can share their honest opinion of the services they received. At the bottom is a place for comments or a testimonial. This has worked reasonably well for me. But you are absolutely right, we have to remember that if we do not ask, we will not receive.
Oct 05, 2007 01:54 AM
Debbie Cook
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc - Silver Spring, MD
Silver Spring and Takoma Park Maryland Real Estate
I have heard of agents writing them on their own and then sending the letter to their client to sign, along with a self addressed stamped envelope enclosed - Wow - what could be easier than that?
Oct 06, 2007 11:16 AM