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An Experienced Salesperson Is Friendly And Listens To Their Clients

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Access Realty 433494

An Experienced Salesperson Is Friendly And Listens To Their Clients

 


While attending school, I spent two years as a waiter at a high end restaurant in the Annapolis area. There, I learned a lot about the art of selling and customer service. After leaving that gig, I spent three years in another high end role in a resort type atmosphere. During this time, I was grasping what it means to think on your feet and how to respond to the needs and challenges of your customer.

 

These challenges are and will be met by the beginner in this field as they embark to learn the tricks of the trade.  Dealing with multiple clients  can be difficult, especially at peak times like winter here in South Florida. It is important to stay calm, listen, and identify the issues and offer the best solution at hand.

 

Some of us are born to be salespersons. We have a positive attitude 90% of the time, a pleasant demeanor, and very outgoing. Keep in mind though, the art of salesmanship can be learned through the art of development of interpersonal skills, listening and communication skills, and a lot of practice.

 

There are many laws that help or master this approach and the two biggest ones are as follows:

 

 




 

No. 1       Don’t talk about yourself, unless you are giving them your name and the reason you are in front of them. Rambling on about oneself is a DEAL KILLER.

 

No. 2     Sell your products or services by engaging your prospects with questions, not answers. Focus on what your clients need is not how great your product is.

 

 Master these two big steps and you will achieve far better production than 80% of the other salepersons.

Posted by

P. Winston Heverly, GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CIAS, PA

We service all of Palm Beach County and S. Florida

 

 513 N. Country Club Drive, Suite 200, Atlantis, FL 33462

Office: (561) 247-7376 - Fax: (561) 537-7223 - Cell: (561) 629-2660

Email: PWH@WinstonRealty.co - Web: WinstonRealty

 

Search: Atlantis, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens,

South Palm Beach, West Palm Beach           

 

                      

              

P Winston Heverly - Real Estate Agent

Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

A good people person does well with real estate. Those with human relation problem often lose clients.

May 08, 2016 10:15 PM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Sometimes listening without talking can be the best tool ever. HARD to do at times, but very necessary.

May 08, 2016 11:08 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

When I meet someone that is warm, inviting, bubbly and engaging, anything they do has my attention & support. A living billboard of life are some humans

May 08, 2016 11:25 PM
Gloria Laughton Allston
COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE - Princeton, NJ
Realtor(NJ)/Broker(NY)

We never know what opportunities present themselves early on that are really there to guide us to where we are supposed to be.  Who knew that the skills learned as a Server in a restaurant could help prepare you for a real estate career.

May 08, 2016 11:28 PM
Paul McFadden
Responsive Pest Control - Seattle, WA
Pest Control, Seattle, WA.

I agree. The biggest should be listening. The client will often share what their needs are if a person listens. Thanks!

May 09, 2016 01:40 AM
Athina Boukas
Virginia Capital Realty - Richmond, VA
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)

When I was a sales manager for a builder I was always on the look out for great salespeople to join tour team. A friendly waiter with good listening (professional) skills and superb customer service was the type of person we were looking for. 

May 09, 2016 05:03 AM
Melissa Spittel
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Westminster, MD
"Achieving Results Together "

Agreed. It's always about the client and their needs. They don't care about our experiences and stories.

May 09, 2016 10:56 AM
Noeleen Duffy
Claddagh Florida Properties - Palm Coast, FL

"Listening" is showing respect to the speaker. Formulating answers in your head while the other person is speaking means you are missing half of what's being said.  Great advise, thanks for sharing.

May 09, 2016 11:04 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Winston,

Good post! I agree with you totally. Sometimes it is better to listen than to speak. 

May 09, 2016 11:09 AM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

That makes it short, simple, sweet and easy to remember and implement!

 

May 09, 2016 11:24 AM
Anonymous
Zippy Larson

Another listening skill: when the other guy is finished talking, do not jump in right away with a response. Leave some space. It often happens that when you think he has said all he wants to say, if you are quiet, his next comment is the vital one you want to hear. Try it!

May 09, 2016 11:56 AM
#24
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Well said, Winston. I would never have thought I could be a salesperons, but it does seem to come naturally.

May 09, 2016 12:19 PM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Great Advice Winston.  It's all about them!  Not us!  Finding a pain point / a special need and filling it. That's what sales is all about.  

May 09, 2016 06:18 PM
Pete Baranowsky Jr
The Castle Team at Maximum One Realty Greater Atlanata - Dallas, GA
Selling Good Homes, Priced Right, Quickly

Winston Heverly Winston, great post!  I know your skills and that you truly are a people person, thanks for the memory jogger

May 09, 2016 09:30 PM
Mark Artesani
Keller Williams Realty - Fountain Valley, CA
Huntington & Newport Beach, Fountain Valley Homes

Winston, Thanks for the post. Most resorts train their people very well in customer service.

May 09, 2016 11:38 PM
M.C. Dwyer
Melody Russell Team at eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Felton, CA
MC Dwyer-Santa Cruz Mountains Property Specialist

Even college jobs can offer wonderful insights if we are paying attention, and clearly you were.    It can take a bit of discipline to really listen, but if you do, people may learn to trust you enough to reveal what they truly want.    Thanks for the post!

May 10, 2016 12:13 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Being a waiter/waitress is great experience for dealing with all kinds of people. Sometimes I do feel like a waitress of real estate and it's not really that different. Show them the menu of what's available, pick a selection or two and proceed to get the order in front of them quickly and efficiently with no drama or mistakes. If you have to take it back and get it right then that's what you do. And it's a team effort involving many people to pull it off smoothly.

May 10, 2016 06:40 AM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Winston, these are two great points.  It's all about the client, their needs and their interests.

May 10, 2016 08:24 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Excellent points. I was working on a draft post this morning about what "I don't have to sell" means at listing appointments. Part of my explanation involves listening closely. Excellent feature!

May 11, 2016 02:47 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

My daughter-in-law was highly successful as a waitress (making superb tips) and now is successful as a real estate agent. It's the "people skills" that make the difference!

May 15, 2016 02:31 AM