Home > Blogs > Karen Anne Stone > Fort Worth Real Estate View

Floor Time... The Early Years... Part Two

By Karen Anne Stone

Real Estate Agent with New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County

December 21, 2007 12:33 PM

Here is another tale from my "early years" on floor time:

This second "happening" occurred way back in about my third month in real estate ... and luckily, by that time I had learned quite a bit from Howard, my broker, about how to handle "floor time calls."

My broker's office phone number was only one digit off from the number of a local "fine dining" restaurant nearby. I had already received a few wrong numbers asking for the restaurant. This one Saturday I received another call... asking to be connected to the "dining room."

By this time, I was feeling pretty good about my phone technique, and also on this particular Saturday, I was in a "playful" mood.

The caller asked to be connected to the "dining room." I answered... "Ma'am... I am sure you are trying to call the Quail Hollow Restaurant, but you have reached a real estate office by mistake."

"Our phone numbers are only one digit off. Although I cannot connect you to the Quail Hollow dining room, being a Realtor, I could very easily find you a brand new home with it's very own dining room."

The woman started laughing, and then told me that she and her husband actually had been talking about buying a home. We chatted some more, and after I gave her the correct phone number for the restaurant, I asked the woman if she would like to "set aside a time to get together" to look at homes. She said "Yes !"

My silly mood paid off. I ended up selling them a very nice home with a gorgeous dining room. They were so pleased that after they closed and moved in... they invited me over for the very first dinner they celebrated... in their very own dining room. Floor time can be profitable. Having a good attitude about floor time, and being a bit "creative" in handling the callers... can make success during floor time much more likely to happen.

What kinds of fun things have happened to YOU on floor time or sign calls ?

______________________________________________________________________

If you need a new home with or without a dining room, please visit my website at www.NewHomeHuntersDFW.com . Or call the New Home Hotline at (817) 929-3400. My email address is KarenAnneStone@gmail.com .

Comments(21)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Hi Marchel: Although that was a very long time ago, it is a great example of what can be done... even if the call you get is really a wrong number. I was just being myself, and I was in a silly mood, and the woman on the phone sounded friendly. So... I did what I did, she laughed, and we slowly got comfortable with each other on the phone. It took about six weeks, but I found them a really nice home... with a dining room of course. Thanks for your kind comments, Marchel. Have a Merry Spring Texas Christmas !

Dec 21, 2007 12:44 PM

Ginger S

Wilkinson & Associates, Wilmington NC - Wilmington, NC

Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation~

My first day on floor time, I received a call on one of our listings, from a young single lady, first time home buyer. It was late in the day, so we went out the next day, she wanted the house, and wrote up an offer on my car hood. She had no idea I was a rookie. Another offer came in, and I was thrown right into the learn as you go help me BIC stew! we won the bid, then Inspection issues, repair negotiations, lots of negotiations and everything turned out great!

Merry Christmas Karen!

Dec 21, 2007 03:53 PM

Maggie Dokic /Indialantic | 321-252-8696

Magdalena Dokic - Indialantic, FL

Selling the beach in Florida's space coast

Karen, excellent story. I actually hate floor time. I never do it but the calls still get sent to me if no one's there. aaaaarrrrgggh!

Dec 21, 2007 04:00 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Hi Ginger: Awesome Job you getting a sale so quickly. It must have been that special charm you exude. Yeah, I'm sure of it. Thanks for sharing, and Merry Christmas to you, Ginger !

Dec 21, 2007 04:08 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Hi Maggie: I don't take floor time any more either. I haven't for about fifteen years... maybe more. The story above was way back when I first got licensed in Ohio. Most of my calls come from either my New Home Hunters website, or my Homes and Land ads. The rest are referrals. But, hey, Maggie, when they refer the calls to you... ya just never know when one will produce a listing or a sale. Thanks for visiting. Take care, and Merry Christmas, Maggie ! I hope you and your family are well :)

Dec 21, 2007 04:14 PM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

I've had a similar sale on a condo. My phone number 9494 and a local apartment complex's number is 9595, I took the call and turned it in to a condo sale after telling them after tax saving it could cost them less and it did!

Dec 21, 2007 05:13 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Hi Todd: What a cool move ! It is such an advantage in real estate to be able to think quickly when thrown a curve ball. Congratulations. And, Merry Christmas to you and your family ! Thanks for sharing.

Dec 21, 2007 05:33 PM

Ruthmarie Hicks

Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

I don't do floor time any more because if the phone actually rang - I'd die of shock! This was true during the boom as well. So few people call brokerages any more and those that do want information - but most DON'T want an agent. When I was with a larger brokerage I was always amazed at how few calls came in. Old timers shook their heads and said that floor time used to be GREAT - but no longer. I thought it was my conversion technique - but they all agreed that "things had changed."

Dec 21, 2007 07:55 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Hi Ruthmarie: Things have changed in many ways in real estate from the way things were years ago. The public is more educated, and much less likely to feel the need to call a real estate office to contact a Realtor. I don't miss floor time, but I do miss the personal interaction between Realtors and those who phone into a real estate office. The internet is so much more impersonal. Thanks for sharing your comments, Ruthmarie. Take care...

Dec 22, 2007 12:30 AM

Margaret Woda

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD

Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

While I have fond memories of my floor time days, I can't imagine doing that now. 'Must say that I did create a lifetime of future business with my ten years of floortime!

Dec 22, 2007 03:02 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Hi Margaret: I haven't taken any floor time in years, either. But how can you beat creating a lifetime of future business. Excellent. You go, woman ! Take care, and have a very Merry Christmas. If you see Susan over the holidays, tell her I said hello, and Merry Christmas !

Dec 22, 2007 03:09 PM

Dionne Morgan

Realty World Solano Realty - Vallejo, CA

Broker REALTOR ,GRI, e-PRO

Karen That was a great story. This proves everyone or anyone is a prospect. You only have to ask!

Dec 22, 2007 05:51 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Hi Dionne: It is really funny, but I have told this story many times over the years since it happened. I cannot tell you how many people have said they never would have done what I did. They said they would have been embarrassed to say something that "silly" or were afraid that the called would get angry at them for trying to sell them something.

What is there to lose ? Where is the risk ? I don't know, but I didn't even think about that when she asked to be connected to the dining room. Perhaps it was my nine years of teaching experience, and my ability of learning to "think on my feet" that developed with the kids and their once-in-a-while smart-alecky things they would come out with. I do not know, but when it came up, I just didn't even think about it. And... LOL... I ended up selling the woman and her family a home. It's funny sometimes the things one does when they don't even think about it. Dionne... take care, and Merry Christmas.

Dec 22, 2007 11:25 PM

Adele Irving - Easton Area Homes

Prudential Patt, White Real Estate - Easton, PA

Karen Anne, you always impress me with your creativity. I don't do floor time, because I think things have changed since the time you are talking about. We hardly get any calls!

Dec 23, 2007 07:20 AM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Hi Adele: Oh, things have changed drastically since I took floor time. The reason the phone was so busy way back then... is that it was just shortly after Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. Because it was so new, I guess it was way popular... just like Tickle Me Elmo was when it came on the market.

Ahhh... the old days. I miss a little bit of the old days, but not much. I hope things are well with you, and I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. Take care...

Dec 23, 2007 07:29 AM

Shayne Stone

HomeSmart - Fulshear, TX

"Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED

Great story Karen, now I am motivated to doing some phone time...

Dec 23, 2007 08:04 AM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Hi Shayne: I think it's just great that I have motivated you. When you get and sell a prospect from it, please send the 20% referral fee to your local Home For Elderly Realtors. Thanks so much ! Take care, and Merry Christmas !

Dec 23, 2007 09:40 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I love these kinds of stories. I remember my first day on floor. A couple called to ask about a home, and in the course of the conversation, they ranted and raved about how much they hated the agent they had been working with and wanted to know if I could help them. In fact, they said, they were right around the corner from my office and wanted to know if I could take them out to show them that home. I found somebody else to cover floor, hopped into their car (because mine was a two-seater) and went to see the home. It wasn't for them. But I suddenly remembered another home I had seen on tour (and agents wonder why they should go on tour!) and took them to see it. They bought it on the spot.

We ended up becoming fast friends, often calling each other to meet up for dinners -- either at my home, theirs or at a restaurant. Last year, I sold the remaining two homes they owned. You never know what can happen on floor.

Thank you for sharing that experience, Karen! Merry Christmas.

Dec 24, 2007 04:01 AM

Marsha Cleaveland

No longer in the sales business - Glendale, AZ

GRI, AHWD, CNE

Terrific story! Making a point to have fun and be creative pays off! And I'm sure that couple never forgot you.

Dec 28, 2007 09:39 PM

Gayle Balaban

The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E - Chattanooga, TN

E. TN Waterfront Real Estate

When oppportunity knocks one must be ready. I ended up selling a home that began with a conversation with the woman that was cutting my blinds at the Home depot.

Dec 28, 2007 10:06 PM