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The Power of the Handwritten Note

By Ann Cummings

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine NH and Maine Broker

January 20, 2007 06:53 AM

Notecards - Ann Cummings

I felt like I was 'rained' on this week, and rained on in a GREAT way!! No, I didn't get any leads from Active Rain. What did I get?? I got 4, yep, FOUR, handwritten notes this week!!

How great was that!!! Each of those, separately, and together, made my day each day that I received them.

In this day and age of computers and instant contact and immediacy, it's so very easy to forget about the power of the handwritten note or letter. I'm guilty at times of that, too. I do try to send as many handwritten notes as I can, but I also have to say I use email and e-cards to send thank you and staying in touch notes as well.

Two of these wonderful handwritten notes were from beautiful ladies here on Active Rain - both for different things. One of the handwritten notes I received was from someone I have in one of my 'drip' campaigns, thanking me for sending one of the posts that she found especially interesting and informative. And the fourth handwritten note was from a family member, thanking me for something I had done.

I received each of these on different days during this week. As I opened each one, each of them a surprise, a most pleasant surprise at that, I sat there, re-reading each of them, and so enjoying and appreciating the time each of those wonderful people took to write those notes. They impacted my day so much that I picked up the phone and called my partner to tell him about them. He was equally impressed with each of them. Letters

Each of those handwritten notes conveyed a powerful message to me, and I feel fortunate to have had it repeated to me FOUR times this week - don't ever lose the art of the handwritten note or letter. If those notes meant that much to me, then the notes I send out probably mean something to those I send them to.

Today's technology is wonderful - don't get me wrong about that! But there's something to be said for the 'old-fashioned' ways of doing some things, too.

So, take a few moments this week to pick up a pen and jot a note to someone. Just tell them you were thinking of them, thank someone for something they did for you, anything.....you'll feel great, and the person receiving it might just have their day brightened considerably by something so simple yet so powerful.........

Always remember the power of the HANDWRITTEN note - Make someone's day!!

Ann Cummings
1-888-349-5678 x 3839
AnnCummings.com

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Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Margaret - I was just checking out info on that site to see how things work. I like being able to set things up ahead of time as you mentioned above....that really has my attention, that and being able to have all my contact info & photo on it. Something I saw was talking about having it on your own site so clients and customers can use it from there. That's different...do you find many people use it that way on your site? Or I should ask, do you have that on your site, and if so, do folks use it?

Many thanks again!
Ann

Jan 22, 2007 11:39 AM

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD

Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Ann, The eMailacard link is on my site. People use it but you need to direct them there. I used to have a link to the cards in my signature line. Ann If you call me tomorrow we can talk about it. 410-530-2400.

www.homerome.com

Baltimore,Md.

Jan 22, 2007 12:10 PM

Darryl Glade

RE/MAX N.O. Properties - New Orleans, LA

New Orleans Real Estate

Ann, I agree! I have seen wonderful results after sending a handwritten note. In addition to helping my business, it makes feel like a better person. It only takes a minute or two to write a quick thank you note!

Jan 23, 2007 05:59 AM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Darryl,

Thanks for your comment, and I am right in the middle of writing some notes of my own! I so appreciated them, and so now I'm going to carry it forward to others.

Thanks for reading!
Ann

Jan 23, 2007 06:03 AM

Geri Sonkin

Douglas Elliman Real Estate 516-457-7103 - Merrick, NY

Long Island Real Estate & Staging Expert

Ann,

You should definitely do Buffini's "100 Days To Greatness." It's one of the best training programs out there IMHO. Of course if you do it right, there is accountability.

Jan 23, 2007 03:26 PM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Geri - that's THE program I've been giving serious thought to taking. I just heard him speak last week and really was excited by his program and the way he built his business.

Thanks for your comments!
Ann

Jan 24, 2007 06:57 AM

Lisa Wopschall

Blue Fin Realty, LLC - Brookings, OR

Selling & Listing Ocean Front Properties

Ann.

I know that when I receive a handwritten note or card it makes my day much brighter. I was fortunate enough to have purchased some very distinctive cards and began sending them out a few months ago. I have had so many people respond telling me that it made their day, and seemed to come at a time when they were needing to have their spirits lifted. It sure does feel good to know how much these cards were appreciated. I know I will continue to send out handwritten cards, just because it makes ME feel so good. Thanks for the post.

Lisa Wopschall

Mar 14, 2007 01:15 PM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Lisa - thank you for reading my post, and for your comments. Keep sending those notes - they really do mean something special to those who receive them.

Thanks,
Ann

Mar 14, 2007 01:25 PM

Anonymous

Christine

I love reading about and seeing people sending handwritten cards.

Our business is all about the power of handwritten cards. Check out www.customerlove.com.au. We have some great tips and verses on our site along with a number of articles all written to help people build their business relationships.

We have received some great feedback from people who benefit in receiving and sending handwritten cards.

All the best

Christine Parker

Customer Love

Mar 28, 2007 11:47 PM

#90

Ashley Drake Gephart

Drake Intel Group - Albuquerque, NM

I love to send them as well as receive them it's something that just isn't done enough these days.

Apr 11, 2007 04:38 PM

Carla Horne

Grand View Home Inspections, LLC. - Meredith, NH

NH licensed Home Inspector

What a great post Ann!

I feel great when I receive a hand written card.

sending them is special also, Nancy LeRoy taught me that!!

Carla Horne

Grand View Home Inspections

Apr 12, 2007 09:11 AM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Ashley - many thanks for reading this post and for your comments. Sadly, you're right about these kinds of notes not being done much these days. I think we live in such an 'instant gratification' society, that email seems to have taken over everything, including handwritten notes.

Hi Carla - Nancy and I have been friends for years, and she's certainly taught many things to alot of us, that's for sure! You must be up in the Lakes Region, I would guess..... Thanks for reading and for your comments - handwritten notes are great to send and receive!

Ann

Apr 13, 2007 12:30 AM

Greg Herson

Mal & Seitz Real Estate - Portland, OR

Hi Ann. Thanks for the tips. Your absolutely right.

Apr 13, 2007 05:52 PM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Greg - thanks for stopping by and reading this post. This is one of my favorites!

Ann

Apr 14, 2007 08:02 AM

Glenda Conrad

Jack Gaughen Realtor ERA - Camp Hill, PA

Ann- I have found that especially at Open Houses, I have a better time getting home addresses than email addresses. Maybe this is partly to do with people HATING to clean out their inboxes. I haven't met a person yet that doesn't like receiveing a personal "Thank you" card in the mail. I thank them for coming of course, and I revisit some of the topics we may have discussed while we went through the house. People love that you remember them and thank them personally, and they know it came from a REAL person! :)

Oct 26, 2007 02:33 AM

Kristen Jones

Prudential Zack Shore Properties - Manahawkin, NJ

Your Local Realtor - 609-713-1335

Ann,

I completely agree with you. I make sure that when I get a new inquiry, people who stop by an open house or just to say hello, that a written note is so much nicer. It makes people feel like they are that much more important and you have time in your life for them.

Oct 26, 2007 03:52 AM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Michael - I remember those days, too, and yet I still send out handwritten notes because they mean so much to me when I receive them.

Glenda - I agree completely with what you wrote, and I'd bet you're right about the cleaning out of inboxes - that's exactly how I feel. That personal touch means so much to the people on the other end.

Kristen - You're right about the feelings receiving a handwritten note evokes. I know when I receive one, it really means a lot, and i know that person took that extra little bit of time to write that note to me.

Many thanks for reading and for your comments!
Ann

Oct 29, 2007 12:38 PM

Dionne Morgan

Realty World Solano Realty - Vallejo, CA

Broker REALTOR ,GRI, e-PRO

Let me be the 100th to say your are absolutely right!

Nov 03, 2007 06:04 PM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Dionne - why thank you for that! I did notice, before I scrolled down, that your comment was #100, and I was going to thank you for being #100 - so thank you!

Those notes do make a difference, that's for sure!
Ann

Nov 03, 2007 10:25 PM

Loreena and Michael Yeo

3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX

Real Estate Agents

The power of a handwritten note CAN stop the world, can't it? Very, very powerful indeed. I want to do more of it.

Oct 10, 2009 10:00 AM