Hogwarts for REALTORS®: Practical Lessons from Harry Potter and Gang
Those wacky Hogwarts kids study the strangest things, don't they? But I'm here to tell you that every class has a practical lesson for every REALTOR®. Here, explained in full detail, are the courses descriptions of Hogwarts for REALTORS®.
Astronomy - There's nothing strange about this one. Know the stars, know your future. Er, where your clients are coming from in the future. And the best way to work with each of them to meet their needs. As well as precisely where the house of their dreams - in their price range, in proximity to their jobs and schools, and just far enough away from the in-laws - is located.
Charms - It saddens me to even have to explain this one. If you intend to be successful in the real estate business, you've gotta have charm by the bucket-loads. But authentic charm - none of that cheesy, smarmy, say-whatever-it-takes-to-make-the-sale fake charm. Oh, wait. It's charmS, not charm. My mistake. In that case, the successful REALTORS® are the ones who know how to make their own luck. They don't wait for the right circumstance, right clients, right climate, right market. They're active and ready at all times. As you well know, this method works like a charm.
Defense Against the Dark Arts - Yes, even the happiest, most productive REALTOR® is going to have down days. Defending Against the Dark Arts means that you know how to get through the funk quickly, so you can get refocused and productive again. You don't wallow. You don't throw a pity party. You don't fall into victim thinking or behavior. You simply shake yourself off and chart that broom full speed ahead.
Herbology - In Herbology, students learn to care for and utilize plants, and learn about their magical properties. The most important lesson in this course is how to sow the seeds for a fruitful garden (networking), and nurture those plants as they grow (maintaining client relationships). If you take the time to plant good networking seeds and nurture them with regular phone calls, e-mails, and face-to-face get-togethers, you will have a strong garden with the magickiest of ALL properties: lifelong clients!
Care of Magical Creatures - Very closely related to Herbology, the Care of Magical Creatures is the next step in the client process. Now that you've got them, what are you going to do to keep them? Newsletters are a pretty basic tool, but still effective, but alone they are not enough. You also need to use snail mail - whether that's a postcard, hand-written note, or some sort of lumpy mail (more than just paper). Every once in a while, pick up the phone, just to say hello! Not a sales call, just a check-in call. And, of course, make a point to see them in person at least once every few months.
Muggle Studies - This class is essential for the successful REALTOR®, because it's where you learn how to relate to all those essential non-REALTOR® types you will be working with on a regular basis. Lenders. Title agents. Appraisers. Inspectors. Don't forget - just because they're not REALTORS® like you doesn't make them unimportant to the process. The better your relationships with these key players, the smoother your transactions will be.
No matter how long you've been in the business, it never hurts any of us - myself included -
to revisit these courses for a brush-up, every now and again.
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PS: Do you live in the Phoenix, Arizona area? Are you thinking about making a change in real estate companies? Give me a call at 602-595-8900 or e-mail me at anna.banana@cox.net. Let's talk about your best lessons from Hogwarts for REALTORS - and how I can help you grow your business. JDI
