Seriously.
I'm on the hunt for a sofa table for my living room. A few days ago I ducked into a furniture store to look for said table. Usually within seconds of walking through the front doors I am accosted by the "up" salesperson. I was so relieved when this didn't happen. I made it through half a dozen furniture vignettes before she saw me.
The "up" saleslady.
She was very nice!
She even gave me a sales flyer!
She asked what I was looking for!
She then told me the sofa tables were scattered throughout the store and left me to look around at my leisure. Hot dog! I can deal with that. It was refreshing to walk around without someone in a suit 5 feet behind me. In the meantime, I received a text message from a client, so I moved out of the walkway and into a bedroom set vignette to respond.
Then I felt it.
When I was through a voice from behind me asked me if I was looking at dressers instead. Uh, no. Just responding to a message, staying out of the way of folks walking through. Still looking. To her credit, she disappeared and left me alone long enough to take a camera phone photo of a table I liked and then I promptly escaped through the front door.
Hey, I totally understand she was doing her job. Had I decided to purchase the table (I still might, actually) I would contact her. I even give her credit for not staying on top of me for the most part. Nonetheless, I felt a feeling of dread when I walked through the front door, knowing I was going to be accosted by the "up" person. Being in sales, I empathize with my brothers and sisters in sales. Heck, some products are harder to sell than homes! All that said, I hate feeling stalked. Especially if I know walking in that I'm really just looking and not planning on writing a check that day.
It caused me to view my open house visitors in another light.
From day one in the business, I vowed to never be a stalker. I introduce myself, offer them a brochure on the house and point out the most interesting features of the home. I then tell them that they are free to walk around the home and that I'll be here and available to answer any questions. Most usually thank me when i tell them that I won't stalk them through the house. The trip to the furniture store made me wonder how many people might even be avoiding open houses because they are afraid of being stalked by hungry realtors.
It reinforced my belief of treating others how you want to be treated.
Does it mean that I don't gain new clients I've met at open houses? Heck no! Not only have I gained new clients, but I've sold homes to open house visitors (okay, okay, the houses sold themselves). I've obtained new clients BECAUSE I refuse to stalk follow people around. I'm there when they are ready to talk and usually end up in a lengthy conversation.
The saleslady at the furniture store wasn't all that bad, but I felt on guard the minute I walked in. I don't want people who take the time to visit my open house to feel that way. Do you?
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