You know the saying? "Put a fork in him, he's done?" Used that all the time when I was younger, and it meant just what you think it does, that they would be finished just like a cake in the oven. Time to take the cake from the oven.
So are we that close to customer service being done? I think so, unfortunately, and this new(er) centralized showing that companies are using, provided by a few different companies, is pushing that fork just a little closer. You know, that big room of phones somewhere that you call into to set showings on listings that serve many companies and many agents, all from the same room?
Had 7 showings to set with 7 different companies and 6 of them used the same centralized showing service. Made it somewhat easy for me because once i called in I could give my same information on all the homes at once, regardless of the company that had the home for sale. I got 6 calls back from them, 1 on my cell phone, 3 at home (where I never am and didn't find the calls till the next day) and 2 at my office. Also received 4 emails confirming the showings without instructions as to how to get in, and 2 emails for feedback before I even showed the house, which I promptly responded to :)
So is that a service that is customer friendly for your clients? You list your clients home with the promise of excellent customer service and you turn over the showings to a third party warehouse with no skin in the game and no control by the listing agent? I wonder how many showings get bungled? Any concern that your competitor offers the same product as you, and the same services you do?
Know what a "commodity" is in the marketing world? Its a product that the consumer percieves as not being able to distinquish one brand from the other, like toilet paper. So do you know how a consumer shops for a commodity? Easy, they shop for the lowest price. Are you one more step closer to making yourself a commodity since you all look like each other and the only difference is the color on the sign? Its just basic marketing, my friend, and you need to be different to charge more, not the same.
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