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Always Communicate the Next Step!

By
Mortgage and Lending with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp Louisiana NMLS#2289 Equal Housing Lender NMLS 69996

 

Always Communicate the Next Step!

The Continuing Saga from the Series:

"The Dentist Diaries"




I couldn't wait. The on-line website had glamorized this dentist as the only one within two hundred miles who could accomplish what I wanted - the "Six Month Smile". He would have a specialized plan. Just for me. But I was to be sorely disappointed.

The “plan” the dentist put together for me was a print-out from a computer, that even as I read it for the 10th time, I had NO IDEA of what he is planning to do and when (or how?!?) I just knew it looked like it would cost a fortune and maybe some pain!


The “dentistese” (or his lingo) was totally foreign to me.Worse yet, no one bothered to “translate” or communicate this informatiomn to me. I had no idea of where we were in the process or what the next step would be.


As I left the dental office, I wondered how many times as mortgage professionals we do the same thing. We communicate with our clients in language such as“DTI” (debt to income) or make comments such as“….have to run through DU to obtain and approve/eligible….” –and our clients are left wondering “What????”


A lesson to me - We should be careful to communicate to our clients in a language they understand - not in our mortgagese that we speak to each other every day.


Each time contact is made with a client, it is always a best practice, and does not take very much extra time or effort, for that communication to include information about what is coming next in the process.   It goes a long way in relieving stress when the clients know what is going to happen next!



I know it would have made ME feel better in the dentist chair!



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Louise Thaxton VA Military Suits in Boots 

Louise G. Thaxton NMLS #69996, VA Home Loan Expert

#14 in Nation for VA Loans (Scotsman Guide)

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp NMLS #2289

Phone: 866-960-9115  Email: lgthaxton@fairwaymc.com

www.MilitaryMortgages.org 

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Andrea Bedard
Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD
Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

Good evening Louise, I know what you mean! Customer service does not seem to be standard practice everywhere - which amazes me, especially if they depend on customers! I always feel like I'm annoying them with my questions which does not really make me feel comfortable. Now why would I want to go back to a place that made me feel uncomfortable? Exactly. I don't! Great lesson for all of us Louise!

Nov 01, 2011 05:02 PM
Valerie Baker
Exit Real Estate Professionals - Spokane, WA
Spokane Realtor

Louise, I sometimes have difficulty understanding "mortgage language and I am a Realtor. I can just imagine how the buyers feel! I am sure they REALLY appreciate your attempts to make the process understandable! Good analogy! 

Nov 01, 2011 05:46 PM
Marge Piwowarski
Phoenix AZ Horse Property - Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix AZ Horse Property, LLC

Louise, I think that is a valuable reminder for us all.  Realtors are as bad..REO, FISBO, LSR, etc!

Nov 01, 2011 06:06 PM
Louise Thaxton NMLS 69996
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp Louisiana NMLS#2289 Equal Housing Lender - Leesville, LA
Military Mtg Specialist - 866-960-9115 VA FHA USDA

Andrea - great points!  It doesn't matter the industry - there is good AND bad in all - but why wouldn't we who depend on CUSTOMERS do our best with SERVICE?

Valerie - you are right on!  We should keep in mind we speak a different language most of the time!  (almost like husband and wives!)

Marge - I never thought of agents doing the same thing!  But you are right......!  REO? 

 

Nov 02, 2011 03:02 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Louixe,

What a wonderful point!  One of my very first jobs was to work with computer sales people and teach them to speak English to their customers instead of computerese...So crazy to assume people understand you...A

Nov 02, 2011 03:42 AM
Louise Thaxton NMLS 69996
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp Louisiana NMLS#2289 Equal Housing Lender - Leesville, LA
Military Mtg Specialist - 866-960-9115 VA FHA USDA

A - I think EVERY industry has its own "language" - but we have to speak the language of the people we are selling TO!  Great point that we can't "assume" they know OUR language!

 

Nov 02, 2011 09:23 AM
EC, JF, Double R and Zoey the Cool Cat
Russel Ray Photos - San Diego, CA

I'm just the opposite. I don't want to know what's next. If you tell me, I'll try to prepare for it, and it always seems to be worse. Just do it. Surprise me. I like surprises! lol

Nov 02, 2011 03:16 PM