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Do Clients Expect Convenience - And Do We Give It to Them?

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate Companies- Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania

Today I decided to switch banks. Now, for those of you who have ever undertaken this task, you know that this is not a decision reached lightly. It is a royal pain, for a number of logistical reasons, and in the end, you end up running two accounts for a while.

Why would this fool make such a rash decision, you may well ask? Well, I can assure you, it was not without great thought. I have been with this bank, a major name bank, for well over ten years. Then, out of the blue, they close the only branch close to my house. Then, when I do go to the next closest branch, it is a 20 minute wait in line.

Time to go, my time is important to me. It is all about convenience.

And then I started thinking. Am I convenient enough for my clients? If not, will they make the same decision?

I wonder. I wonder when I call an agent, and it goes straight to VM. What if I was their client? I wonder when that agent calls me back - 3 days later. What if I had a potential buyer for one of their listings? I wonder when an agent calls me for a copy of a addendum, and when I tell her that I emailed it the night before, and her answer, at noon, is that she has not checked her email yet that day. What if I was her client, and had emailed her last night?

I think clients expect convenience. I think if I don't give it to them, someone else will.

 

Kevin McGrath

The Wallace & McGrath Team

Coldwell Banker Elite

"Selling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Area"

www.fredva.com

**Disclaimer*** With No Malice Intended, I Present This Blog To The World Of Active Rain, And Anyone Else Who Reads It. I Write This Blog Not In An Attempt To Personally Profit From It, But Merely To Illustrate My Thoughts On The World In General, And To Promote The Free Exchange Of Information.

 

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Please Seek The Advice Of A Professional Before Making Any Financial, Legal, Or Sky Diving Decisions, And All Of The Information Contained In My Blog I Consider Accurate, But It Is Not Guaranteed. The Comments Contained In My Blogs Represent My Own Personal Musings And Opinions, And Should Not Be Considered To Be The  Opinions Of My Broker, Or Anyone Else On The Planet.

 

Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Kevin, I definitely believe in convenience and getting back with people promptly. That is the mark of a professional. With more instant communication with email, cell phones, and IM you can get back with people in a reasonable amount of time. To do otherwise, people must not really manage their business properly. I am amazed at the lack of attention to detail by many agents. Even if you're not good in this area you could delegate it to someone who is good at it.
Dec 01, 2007 01:53 AM
Matthew Rosov
Amerisave Mortgage Corporation - Laurel, MD
Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist

Yes, I know this is important.  I suppose that the response should be equal to what is being asked, but a short note saying one is working on something is advantageous to the process as well. 

Hope you get better service from your new bank!

Dec 01, 2007 01:57 AM
Rosario Lewis
DDR Realty - Newburgh, NY
GRI, SRES - DDR Realty - Orange County, NY
I absolutely love your disclaimer! Funny, I had you pegged for an astronaut.
Dec 01, 2007 01:57 AM
Lee Morof
RE/MAX Showcase Homes - Birmingham, MI
Associate Broker, Attorney, CDPE
This is so true about Generation Y'ers. If you don't respond to them in 20 minutes, they will go to the next professional for a response. Hence, I have a Treo that gets all of my email, all calls are forwarded to my Treo and I don't shut it off until 7:00pm. At some point you have to be with your family.
Dec 01, 2007 01:58 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County
Convenience is something we have to offer. But we must be careful of those who seek to take advantage of that "convenience."
Dec 01, 2007 02:01 AM
Nancy Brenner
Referral Associates of Georgia, Inc. - Roswell, GA
Roswell Georgia Real Estate Agent

Your disclaimer is priceless!

In response to your post.... We have to be 'Johnny-on-the-spot" for our clients.  There are so many Realtors® around that it's silly not to be there (within reason) at a moments notice.  It's smart to be a "convenience".

Dec 01, 2007 02:21 AM
John Fariss
Fariss Appraisal Services - Bakersfield, CA
Appraiser - Bakersfield, CA

Convenience is a big motivator for most consumers...that's why the internet has become such a huge phenomenon: it gives instant results.

I too am in the process of switching banks because I have a relationship with a bank manager, but I'm reconsidering my decision because the online access is horrible and when I went to my local branch to make a quick deposit at the ATM, they didn't have any envelopes...not even a place to keep envelopes. I went inside the branch and they still didn't have any. Okay, that's two strikes, I don't know if I have the patience for three.

Dec 01, 2007 02:30 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Until you've been through a bank closure, you won't know why you should have more than one bank account. That's why I keep two accounts at separate banks. I suggest you do, too.


Dec 01, 2007 04:00 AM
Matthew Rathbun
Coldwell Banker Elite - Fredericksburg, VA
ABR/M, CRB, CRS, SRS, ePRO, SFR, GRI

I'm only commenting to help your goal of more points... Just kidding! 

Convenience  is such a matter of perception...  So many people feel that agents are supposed to be immediately available to them.  With so many communication avenues, our Gen X and Y clients want to try IM, e-mail, cell and office phone to see if they get you and by the time they have gone through four or more options they are frustrated that we aren't available.  I make it a strict policy that when I am with a client, I shut my laptop and turn off my cell phone - I even tell them that I am doing so.  It's their time with me and the other clients will start to trust me, when they know that I ALWAYS call or e-mail back every two hours or so. 

This week I introduced an office mate to Skype, because it seemed silly to send an e-mail to trash talk a co-worker since we're five feet away, using the phone wouldn't work for fear of being overheard and I'm too lazy to walk to his office to chat - so IM works great for me.  After introducing it to him - I was a little sorry, because now every stray thought warrants an im message.  Oh well.... live and learn.  Not all conveniences are good :)

Dec 01, 2007 01:30 PM
Vincent McKamy
Samson Properties - Fredericksburg, VA
Realtor Fredericksburg Virginia
Great posting Kevin - Good luck on switching banks. 
Dec 01, 2007 11:36 PM
Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
The banking industry gets away with murder when it comes to dealing with consumers.  They're an overly-powerful lobby with far too many friends in high places.
Dec 01, 2007 11:44 PM
Kevin McGrath
Long & Foster Real Estate Companies- Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania - Fredericksburg, VA
Long & Foster Real Estate Companies

Eric - I agree - and it never seems to get a whole lot better.

Matt - I agree - I am still amazed by the realtor who has not checked their email by noon - I mean - you can do it on your phone...........

Elizabeth - you are wise like my wife - that's what she said as well.

John - Hope it goes smooth - I am actually going to run two accounts for a while to be safe.

Nancy - thanks for the kind words.

Gary - you are so right - some will try to take advantage of the convenience. I try to reduce it by being proactive - seems to help sometimes - but not always.

Lee - we are certainly a society that demands instant gratification.

Rosario - thanks. Not an astronaut - but I have been called a space cadet before..........

Mathew - I agree - sometimes a quick not letting them know you received their message works wonders.

Gary - great point - it amazes me when an agent does not call me back - AND THEY HAVE AN ASSISTANT. 

Thanks to everyone for being on my blog. 

 

Dec 02, 2007 12:31 AM