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Be memorable and you'll always have agents waiting to work with you.

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Cornerstone Business Group Inc 0225086119

There are certain things that make us memorable. Of course that can be good or bad. I prefer to be memorable in a good way. What about you? I've had a couple recent deals where the other players were memorable, but not in a good way. In one deal that is a short sale, the buyer's agent recommended a negotiating company who would do all of the negotiating for our deal. Great! It turns out they are the most arrogant, condescending and snarky group of people I have ever worked with. I did tell the agent I will never work with them again, recommend them and I've sent a memo out to all of the agents on our team in two states asking them not to work with them. They are truly disgusting.

At the same time, I have an agent who is going above and beyond to help my young buyers afford a house they love. She doesn't have to do that, but she's one of those agents you love to work with, and she is memorable. That got me to thinking, "What makes someone memorable in a good way?"

I think the one simple thing that makes us memorable for most clients and colleagues are words. Let me give you few of examples of the words that make others memorable to me. When they say:

  • I'm sorry, I made a mistake. I can be very patient with someone who is contrite. Excessive mistakes are one thing, but in this business most of us run into single mistakes that could easily be forgiven with a simple correction. Few would void a contract, but even if they would, making sure they're caught and corrected is a simple process. 
  • I forgot. How many times has someone called and asked for that addendum you promised three days ago? If that happens to you, refer to the first point. I run Yesware behind my email to make sure I can verify whether I did or didn't send a form. If I didn't, I apologize and send it. If I did, I let the other side know what day and time I sent it, and I let them know who opened it, what device they opened it on and where they were at the time. Yesware provides that detail. I will still send it again, but I do like for agents to know that sloppy work on their end did not equate to my mistake. If I made the mistake, I admit it.
  • I never received it. Would you please send it again? If we're going to live by technology, we're going to be at the whim of technology. I had an agent call today asking for a form I sent to her last Friday. It was in my sent folder, but apparently it wasn't in her in-box. OK, I'll send it again. Things really do happen that end in this scenario. It's not an issue unless someone wants to make it an issue.
  • Would you help me? A humble request for help is magnetic. Everyone needs help at some point. Of course, everyone should  grow beyond the need for continuous help, but an occasional request is not a problem. I did a deal last year with an agent I've found to be difficult to work with. This time, I ask for help from her. She was thrilled to help, and we've been friends ever since, and we've done multiple deals since then flawlessly.
  • May I help you? On the flip-side, some people need help but may not ask because our business is full of egos. Asking for help may be considered a sign of weakness or incompetence. I had an agent send her client to my office a few years ago and I wrote the purchase contract because the agent kept messing it up and the REO bank kept rejecting it. I didn't mind helping, and she received her full commission. 
  • I don't know. It's OK not to know everything. Clients really don't expect us to know everything, and I can't imagine that our colleagues do either. 
  • Thank you for the great job you're doing. I like to always let the other side of a deal know when they're being a big asset. That's true of staff members, home inspectors, termite inspectors, attorneys, closers, etc.
  • Thank you. How can you beat that?
  • Please. This is one of those universal words that all people appreciate.
  • It was great working with you. Let's do it again. How can you turn that down?

This list could go on and on, but you get the point. Living and working a life of graciousness always leaves a good feeling with people you deal with. Be that person, and you'll always have others who want to work with you.

Comments (23)

Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Mike, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!    

Feb 04, 2018 03:44 PM
Alesha A. Wilson, M.Ed.
Buy and Sell Oklahoma LLC - Oklahoma City, OK
Buy and Sell Real Estate with Confidence

All very memorable phrases in our business.  As soon as you admit "I don't know" - the knowledge is just around the corner.

Agreed, this one is feature worthy!  

Feb 04, 2018 05:33 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Mike.

I've had the pleasure working with a few of those types of agents in my career.  They are getting harder to find, don't you think?

Feb 05, 2018 02:38 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Mike- I'm late in reading this but your posts rings true with me. I was on the phone with 2 representatives from Apple today and the second one, the Senior Advisor was memorable in a very good way. She said all of the right words and I may just write Apple to let them know that!

Feb 10, 2018 01:01 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

                

                             Thank you Mike Cooper 

 

Feb 10, 2018 05:59 PM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Glad I was given another chance to read this post.

Great tips. We will all make mistakes, it really depends on how professional we are when we handle them.

I was not updated on yesware. Thanks

Feb 11, 2018 05:26 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Mike,

I'm so glad that Kathy Streib featured this in her "Ah-Ha" moments for the week. Such common sense but then many don't apply these simple things that make us memorable! Good advice and happy Sunday!

Feb 11, 2018 06:02 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Mike. You are memorable on so many levels. I agree this should be featured too.

Feb 11, 2018 06:35 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

Thank you, Sheila.

Feb 11, 2018 06:39 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Way to go on being mentioned in Kathy's weekly wrap up this week!

Feb 11, 2018 07:16 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

What a great post, Mike.  A good relationship with everyone in the process can't be overstated for a successful long haul career.   Thanks for the post.

Feb 11, 2018 09:22 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Mike,  You nailed it with this blog and glad that Kathy Streib had it on her list today.

 

Feb 11, 2018 09:50 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Mike

I think we all want to be memorable, in a positive way, in our business and in life. These words can be pretty powerful...and memorable. I have worked with a number of agents in recent years that I would love to work with again!

Jeff

Feb 11, 2018 11:08 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

If only everyone we worked with followed this advice! Happy to see Kathy share this post this week.

Feb 11, 2018 01:01 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I loved your list.  And I strive to be one of those agents that is in a good way memorable to work with.

And I had one of those agents who said "hey I have a guy for short sales, it will only cost us each 25% of our commission"  Well no, I wasn't up for that, I had a ton of time invested and I knew everything was approved on my end (my seller).  At the end of the deal the agent dropped a nice gift card on my desk and said she appreciated the level I had my short sale business.  I try to achieve that level of service with all agents on every deal. 

Feb 11, 2018 07:57 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I’m told and memorable by a few people here and there but I actually make an attempt to actually be extra good to people just because I believe in it.

Feb 11, 2018 08:47 PM
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Hi Mike, this is very good advice. We do need to strive to be memorable in a good way. When you're in this business long enough, you'll definitely meet both kids of people. Hopefully, we can be contagious so others will also strive to be memorable in a good way.

Feb 12, 2018 05:04 AM
Marney Kirk
Cummings & Co. Realtors - Towson, MD
Towson, Maryland Real Estate

Hi Mike, What a great post. It is true that being nice and wanting to work together towards a common goal - the sale of a house - can make one want to work with another agent again!

Feb 12, 2018 05:10 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Good morning Mike, in real estate as well as in our personal lives, thank you, please and showing appreciation goes a long way. Unfortunately, bad mistakes and attitudes are hard to forget no matter how much we try. Great list!

Feb 12, 2018 06:47 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Mike, we don't say "thank you" for a job well done enough, especially to "the other side". It's such a pleasure to work with someone you are in sync with. As to "mistakes", the sooner corrected, the less damage.

Feb 12, 2018 08:19 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Love this post!  So true.  Being honest and simply saying, "I forgot" or "I didn't receive it" are powerful and HONEST comments that anyone can openly say without fear of retribution.  

Feb 13, 2018 09:49 PM