Service After the Sale - What Do YOU Do?

What do you think? Does your job as a real estate agent end at a successful closing of escrow? The buyer has done their walk-through before the sale, the paperwork is all finalized, the buyer has their keys, and everyone leaves the closing with big smiles on their faces; most of the time, anyways. We all know not ever closing is as smooth as we'd like them all to be.

But you've gotten through it and it's done, right?

Now is the time that you have an opportunity to stand apart from the crowd and create a client for life!  

Do you know your buyer's immediate plans after the closing?  Are they moving right in? Are they fixing up, cleaning and re-painting first?  When is moving day?  Do they have all the help they need?

Here are eight things I like to do - Why eight?  8 is the number of "new beginnings", so here are:

8 Things I Like to Do for my Buyers AFTER They've Closed on their Sale.

1. Do they need a referral for a locksmith?  It's important to change the locks for their own safety and security. You might work out a discount coupon with your favorite locksmith to give all your clients at closing.  Or, you might provide the lock change service to them as a closing gift.

2. Were there any small repairs on the home inspection that they might need referral to a local vendor for?

3. If they are moving locally and doing it themselves, you might want to send over a party-size pizza on moving day.

4. Show up on moving day and see if you can lend a hand, even for an hour.  Can you scrub a countertop, wipe down the refrigerator, or help unpack some boxes in the kitchen? Even if they don't accept your help, they'll remember you came!

5. How about proactively contacting them a day or two after the sale just to make sure all is well--and then again a few weeks or a month later?  You are more likely to find any problems before they start to fester, and clearly let the client know they are important enough that the sales relationship DOESN'T just end at the point of sale.

6. I also like to send them some reminders in the mail about two weeks after the sale has closed. There are some items that must be done shortly after closing or they lose their opportunity:

• I remind them to request a copy of the appraisal for their personal records if they want it and don't yet have it.
• Also, we give a reminder to make a decision about purchasing a title insurance policy for themselves if they deferred the decision at closing.             
• Finally, we give a reminder about taking out a home warranty if it was not given or offered at closing. This must usually be done within 30 days of closing.

7. Along with this list of reminders I might include a coupon for a local restaurant and a survey about our service during their recent transaction.  My survey asks some good open ended questions that usually provide an opportunity for the buyer to give us some good testimonial statements, or if we need it, some constructive criticism!

8. Finally, at the closing I have already requested a copy of the HUD-1 statement (with my buyer's approval). As a service to all my buyers, I immediately put the closing statement in an envelope addressed to the buyer and place it in a separate folder in my office. Then in the first week of January in the next year, I mail it out to them so they have a readily available copy for preparing their yearly taxes.

Now I'll be the first to say that I'm not as consistent as I need to be with all of these suggestions, but I do know that everything I do to set myself apart and do something extra to be of service to my clients will benefit them now, and my business in the long run.

So what do you do AFTER the sale to show your clients that you are more than a real estate agent, and they are more than just a business transaction?

Serving the North Central Connecticut region, Hartford County, and the communities of Windsor, Bloomfield, Hartford, East Hartford, South Windsor, Manchester, Windsor Locks, Suffield, Enfield, East Windsor, Somers and the Granbys...

Opening Doors to Home Ownership . . . The Master's Key . . .

Residential Sales, Short Sales and Foreclosure Prevention, Multi-Family and Investment Properties, Condominium and Property Management

            LISA ORME     

 

Licensed in the State of Connecticut, ABR, CRS, GRI, PSCS, SFR, Notary Public, Lic. #REB.755648

 Broker/Owner of The Master's Key Realty LLC, 340 Broad Street, #320, Windsor, Connecticut 06095

To contact Lisa, call 860-688-1400 or send an e-mail to lisa@masterskeyrealty.com

Copyright, Lisa Orme, 2010.  All rights reserved.