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How Many is too Many?

Gaggle of Geese The other day I had a client who came to town from another state to look at several homes that were of interest to her. She said that she would need to take another car because we needed a total capacity for six persons. I replied that I had seating for six in my truck. So we agreed to take my truck. Gaggle of Geese

I found that since they hadn't seen each other for quite a while, they seemed more interested in catching up on family and friendly news and not so much in the homes that we were touring. I found it difficult to hold my client's attention for very long. I think that we needed to travel with far fewer people so that my client and I can have more direct communication.

My client will be back in about two weeks to view more homes. I would like to know from the experts: How many is too many to take on tour? And if more than one or two people, how to hold their attention?

Posted by Roger Stensland on 04/25/2007 01:28 AM

Comments (6)

showing homes

6 Comments on How Many is too Many?

APR

2007

Wow, that really makes it hard. Maybe suggest to them that only the buyers attend and how quick you can make the tour so they can get back to family. Just a thought.

APR

2007

Roger, your patience deserves a merit badge. Jaclyn's suggestion is great in terms of keeping the home tours a speedy process. You can add that once the customers find a house they love, THEN invite family members for a second look. Between us, family members tend to muck up the process. In the process of trying to be helpful, they scare the buyers to death over minor or non issues.

MAY

2007

I agree with the others. It is hard to keep attention with such a crowd, but you hate to offend your buyer by not allowing the group to go all at once. Maybe you should suggest going out alone with her the first day to, say 6 homes. Then she can pick her favorite 2 to see another time with the others. Then, they will take it more seriously too because they'll know she is more interested in those few homes she chooses to show them.

Hi Roger, thank you very much for your comment & advice on my blog. I just visit your blog to say thank you, but after I read your blog, I felt like leaving a comment. I have a similar experience. The bright side of this occasion is that other four people, I guess her family, may become your next client or referrel source. I felt I wasted my time when I took my clients and her friends to the tour. However, two of them became my prospective buyers and one gave me the referral. None of the escrow is not closed yet, but I felt I was so fortunate. I hope the same thing will happen to you!!!

MAY

2007

Hey Roger, I just wanted to stop by and make a comment on this. Our time is so valuable and it just seems like customer/clients don't respect it. We have to walk a fine line between being rude and getting walked on. We work on commission only, we spend countless hours with our clients Sometimes those hours aren't so pleasant. Man, this is really hard because like Rubi said, some of those other folks could be your next customers??? Let us know how your next encounter went with them and what you decided to do. I guess my vote is for asking the client let's go view your choices and when you narrow them down, let's take the geese out in my big truck so you can narrow it down for everyone.

Best of luck!!

Beth

JUN

2007

Roger we see a lot of this being in a resort - what I have found to work is having them follow me - allows them time to chat without me in the car -then we we get to the home - I tend to take over and work the property - prior to leaving I ask for a group thought of what they thought about this property compared to the others - seems to keep the family reunion to a minimum during the showing and brings them all back to the task at hand in the home - now the downside is they usually have no idea of the neighborhood because they were too busy chatting. But we can always talk about that when we have our selection down to two or three homes.

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