MEETING EXPECTATIONS, NOT EVERY AGENT CAN, OR DOES
Here is another post from my Things to Consider Series where I am on an "appreciate ya'" mission to emphasize the amazing contributions of the BRIGHTEST and the BEST here at Active Rain...such as the value-added content from eco-friendly "stars" at the Eco-All-Stars Group
To say I "appreciate ya"" I am reading members BLOGS like crazy, and reBlogging the posts that insisted I read them.
I am posting these on the Things to Consider Series. HERE, for example , Richard points out, " the reality is that customer expectation of near instant communication is here to stay...."
We really do have a "short attention span" society, at least here in North America. Potential real estate clients move from agent to agent pretty quickly if a response isn't received within their "loosely undefined" time line.
Gone are the days where you can respond in 24 hours and still be considered in the game.
That's the bad news. The good news is that the majority of agents still don't "get it." Too bad for them I guess, and great for those of us who do.
While there are many successful agents who haven't embraced technology, I believe that they are going to find it more and more difficult to compete. In the digital age, customers are expecting and demanding almost instantaneous service. If I don't get it from you, I'll get it from your competitor.
I find it hard to imagine how a REALTOR can compete in 2009 without an effective website, with IDX, and a mobile device with email capability. Yet, they're out there in droves.
I was out to dinner with my wife last night and my iPhone beeped during the salad. Yes, I checked the email...my bad. After 38 years she knows my bad habits.
Someone had signed up on my website and wanted more information on a property. The iPhone has a phenomenal browser so it was easy to access the MLS and email the MLS Customer data and a tax record. Of course, with the appropriate question, "what time would you like to see this house tomorrow?" Two minutes later I got back the response we all like to see, "is 1 PM OK." Hell yes! Bring on that entree.
Total elapsed time from him hitting my website to me setting up an appointment had to be less that fifteen minutes. Excluding yourself, how many agents do you know who can make that happen?
I'm not bragging here...this stuff is pretty easy to do in 2009, with the right tools. A couple of years ago it wasn't that easy, but today is a completely different story. The promise of an integrated, digital world, is largely here.
There are plenty of times when I may wish it weren't so, but the reality is that customer expectation of near instant communication is here to stay. Far too many agents are taking themselves out of the game by not embracing technology effectively. It's not that hard, and the price is coming down dramatically.
Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com
Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist©2008 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved
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