Part of the reason that we are a Colorado Springs real estate TEAM, is because when we are busy the LAST thing we want to appear as is too busy for our customers and clients.

I bring this up because we just had a $100+ dinner at a local restaurant and although the food was as wonderful as it ALWAYS is, the service was awful. We waited for over 10 minutes AFTER we were sat before anyone even approached us. Once the server DID approach us, he made it abundantly clear that he was slammed and proceeded to treat us as though we were wasting his time each time he visited our table. He never asked us if we needed refills of our drinks, just (eventually) removed the empty glasses from our table. He never recommended ANYTHING from the menu, just said, "What do you want?" He rushed in and out of our sightline so quickly, I quickly realized that I had better sevice at the McDonalds drive through window. Sad.

Eventually the manager on duty made her rounds and asked how everything was. We explained that if this was our first time at her restaurant, it would have been our LAST. (However, lucky for her, we have eaten there on multiple other occassions and knew that this was odd ... but awful nonetheless.) She did her best to remedy it, comp'ing the dessert and apologizing and our waiter received a tip a fraction of what we normally tip.

How could this have been better?

  1. Our waiter could have easily given us to another waiter since he was so busy. It wasn't like he got more money by "waiting" on us. No other waiter was as hurried and perpetually rushed as he was. (teamwork)
  2. Our waiter could have enlisted the help of the wait staff with fewer tables and/or the bus staff to help him take care of the some side tasks, like refilling drinks, clearing off salad plates, etc. (teamwork)

And even if he could not do ANY of those things, he should have been 100% OUR waiter when he was with us, and not a flurried mess chomping at the bit to run from table to table.

How does this apply to OUR Colorado Springs real estate team?

Well, we believe that our clients deserve all the attention that they need. Yes, there are times where we are "slammed busy" and may not be able to give each client the attention that they deserve. (And the "shifting market" has only made us busier...) This is why we have built (and are building) a team. Our team is designed to act as an extension of us - able to accommodate our clients' and customers' needs at anytime, regardless of how busy we are.

We fully understand that we DO NOT HAVE a business without people looking to buy or sell homes, and so we make sure that we are never too busy for our clients and customers.

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Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Clients Choice Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
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(719) 434-7525

 "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." ~ Mahatma Ghandi

 
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6 Comments on Never Be Too Busy for Your Customers

Mariana, a great reason to have a team. When people ask me about when to build a team, my first response is when you are too busy to take care of current clients and too busy to follow up all the leads.

07/19/2008 07:01 AM by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Realtor Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor)


Hi Mariana,

Good to see you.

Big issue here too.I feel I'm running at 110 miles per hour but customer service here is about 20 mph and can't figure it out. I always thought that you have one chance to make a good impression and that's at first contact. I guess money isn't a motivator always.

07/19/2008 08:27 AM by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)


Mariana - You have far more patience than I on this, especially in a restaurant.  And you are right, we can all learn a little about service in other industries.

07/19/2008 01:24 PM by Steve Scheer - Denver Real Estate - Highlands Ranch Real Estate (RE/MAX Masters, Inc.)


Hi Mariana~ Exciting times this year for you...and now buliding your amazing team. No doubt in mind buyers and sellers in Colorado Springs that work with the Wagner iTeam are getting the best. Best of luck to you and Derek.

07/19/2008 02:06 PM by Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant (Creative Agent Solutions.com)


Mariana - you have made such a good point here. The service can truly make a difference in a mediocre restaurant, if the service is great, or vice versa in a high quality place. Same true in RE. If the clients have a great experience, even if the house does not sell, they don;t get the price they want, the buyers have a rally tough transaction, etc., if the service is topnotch it can make all the difference in the world. Important stuff to keep in mind.

Jeff

07/26/2008 06:49 PM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)


Missy - That is my same advice. When you get "too busy" ... hire to your weaknesses.

Hi Neal! You are right - You only have one chance to make a first impression.

Steve - I teach new agents to take DO and NO NOT customer service tips from EVERY industry. It is amazing what we can learn.

Thank you Laura!

Jeff - Customer Service trumps all.

07/26/2008 07:31 PM by Mariana Wagner ~ Colorado Springs REALTOR® (Wagner iTeam -Keller Williams Clients' Choice)


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Real Estate Agent: Mariana Wagner ~ Colorado Springs REALTOR® (Wagner iTeam -Keller Williams Clients' Choice)
Mariana Wagner ~ Colorado Springs REALTOR®
Colorado Springs, CO
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Wagner iTeam -Keller Williams Clients' Choice

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