Very good observation.

I had to laugh when I read your post.  If you were here in Florida, I would swear used the same pest control person.  There was a couple of times when I feel he talk so much he almost let me lose a few contracts.  Though he was very detailed, it seems as if would spend too long on one topic.  And of course, was there educating me.

When I hire someone to do some task around my home, it is for exactly that reason.  To save me time.  Even if I can do the task for less money.  Sometimes time is more valueable than money. 

I do thik that spending time with clients does help them feel like they got their money's worth.  Some clients just want to talk about their kids or their curtains for a couple of hours.  For what we get paid, it's the least we can do sometimes for an elderly person who doesn't want to talk about the details, but wants to talk about something else.

To me, "Full Service" in real estate means doing everything associated with making a transaction go smoothly and going above and beyond just the writing of the contract and collecting your commission check.

It does not mean talking your clients' ear off until they finally fire you.

By going above and beyond, your clients will save time and energy. They will view you as adding value and being worth the commission you're getting.

Now some clients love to chat so I chat with them if they engage in conversation. Others just want the essentials so that's what I give them. Everyone is different so never assume anything and find out how much (or little) of your 2 cents they really want.

Ardell and Danilo,

You are absolutely correct.  I believe some people need and want the extended conversations and I am happy to oblige.  The key is to figure out what type of client you have and act accordingly. 

Danilo says it well. The more you know the better to serve your clients. There is difference though between getting an ear off and exchanging up to the point information.Some professionals have to hoot their own horn. But you have to give them credit if they are just proud of what they are doing. There are no rules though, sometimes you just have to say "escuse me I have a call, thank you for your your information ".Great blog Tim.

Full service includes caring deeply about your customers, they don't care how much you know or can do for them until they know how much you care.

Great Post Tim, When I first started out in the business I did the whole half hour to 45 minute listing presentation.  Now I do my 10 minute version, then answer questions, and usuall get the listing.  People just don't care about how long your companys been around or the history of your CEO.

Short, sweet and simple in my opinion...

It very well might...I had to deal with a property manager who would ramble on and on and on....AND ON....it was ridiculous!

Does he do tile too?  I had one of those.  Could have charged a lot less if he'd stopped talking and gotten the job done in a timely manner.  He did do a good job, but... oh so much blabber.  

This is a blog that relates directly to me.  I am not going to tell specifics, but there are a few people out there that would talk my ears off to prove a point that could be proven in 1 sentence. 

There are many professionals out there that make the same mistake.  It's always good to educate consumers, but don't let your passion for your work get the best of you.  Realize that you only need to explain what they need to know.  Long winded explanations always loses the audiences interest. 

Good post... As a matter of fact, one of those "talkers" just called me.  Thank god for caller ID... VOICE MAIL! 

Jennifer - That's the nice thing about web sites now.  It pre sells people so when you show up you can focus on what their needs are. Just ask them what they need and they sometimes are ready to quickly get down to business.  Others want to socialize and trade stories. 

Teri- Caring is very important. Actually that is what is on my business card: Tim Maitski, A REALTOR® * Who Cares.

* REALTOR^® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics

This is where voice mail and caller ID on cell phones come in very handy and so does the "hold" button and then there is one more" ignore" button. No one can waste your time without your permission.

www.homerome.com

Baltimore,Md

Margaret - You are right.  That is one thing I need to work on this year. 

Tim ~ I have two vendors that I stopped using for this very same reason.  One was an inspector and the other a loan officer.  They both are very nice people but drove me absolutely nuts with their personal conversation on the job.  It always took longer to get everything done and I don't think they did it better.  Now I just avoid them.  Too bad, they are their own worst enemies.

kk

I learned this lesson some years ago with a challenging agent. So the rule was to leave me voice message, email or fax. And this is how the communication went for the entire transaction. This taught me a great deal about saving time with  people  who suffer  with oral diarrhea.

http://www.homerome.com

Baltimore,Md.

Kristal and Eric - Sometimes loan officers are the worst.  As an agent, I really just want to know if they can get the loan for my client or not.  If they can, great. Spare me the details.  If not, then maybe I might want to know a bit more.  Clients giving me feedback on the lender is all I need to know if they are doing a good job. They don't have to try to impress me.

Tim, I'm with you 100%. I want the readers digest version and I want it quickly. And please Realtors if I call you for info and leave the request on your voice mail, just call me back with the answer. Don't make me call you again.

If it can't be said in a minute, then email is best!  Good story...reminds me of a few clients.

time really is the big equalizer isn't it?

 Thanks for the post,

John Occhi, Hemet Realtor
www.JohnOcchi.Com

From your perspective, the pest guy was "high Maintenance", not full service.  I'd simply tell him I love service, but don't have time for the stories.  If he didn't get the message...next.

And agents please if you are leaving me a message, let me know what property and what day and time you want to see it. So frustrating to get a call like this. "Hi This is Betty Buyer Agent, I want to make a appointment on your listing."   Oh and sometimes "Betty" forgets to leave her phone number and is calling from her other job or her office and caller ID is of no help.    AAARRGH

Please..Leave a number at the beginning of the message and repeat it at the end.

www.homerome.com

Tell you the time... don't tell you how to make the watch?  Onward...

I am with you--- get the job done, be polite and professional..save the chit chat for your friends onthe down time.

Business is business and personal is personal.  I wonder how much business this guy cost himself by slowing himself down with extended conversations!?

This reminds me of the 3F's in business:

Tim...  this is an excellent post. Your point is right on and I can relate to it. I am on both sides of this. Meaning.... there are many times when I have a client that has a story which each question that I ask. I have learned how to be polite about asking them to just in keeping to the basic question with a quick answer.

On the other hand... I tend to talk much.....  but that is outside of business... or if not working on a certain task with someone... just catching up with someone... or speaking to a client on the side, I tend to talk.

Overall.... able to recognize when you need to get things done in a timely manner... and also not to hold the other person up from their time. And realizing that there is a time and place. Just not all the time.

Again, great topic of discussion.  

Tim, You are so right.  Time is the most valuable commodity we have.  If someone wastes our time, they are messing with your money, family, friends, etc.  ~JoAnne, I like the 3F's.  I've never heard that before.~