Are you willing to do it after 5:00?
I maintain 2 blogs, sometimes what I write pertains to my Mountain House customers and NOT just my Tracy buyers.
I like to have control of my time. I will give my buyer's and seller's every second I can. However, there are times when my family needs me too.
Are you willing to do it after 5:00? I'm asking about answering the phone
My new referred clients told me "The agent who referred us told us "Don't call Susan after five, she doesn't answer her phone." She is very responsive via email or text but she doesn't usually answer her phone after 5:00. (Setting expectations - BTW this a great Active Rain Referral!)
At first I wasn't sure if I was offended or grateful. The more I considered this the more I was certain it was a good thing. WHY?
Last year, I was so consumed by my real estate business in Tracy CA, when I was home I was constantly on the phone. My friends, family and kids started to complain that "I was always on the phone." When your friends say, "we didn't know if you'd want to come with us, as you're always on the phone." When your kids say, "You never listen to us, you're always on the phone." You don't even want to know what my husband said. OUCH OUCH I had to reevaluate my life and decided I need to take back SOME control.
Real Estate in Tracy, CA had consumed me, and it will you too if you are not careful. I got lost in my own ego... "I'm so needed by my clients, they can't live without talking to me, if I don't answer the phone I might miss a lead...." I had no balance.
I decided to set expectations for those who call me, clients, other agents, etc. I did this by doing ONE SIMPLE LITTLE THING.I changed the voice mail message on my phone.
I change my message daily, and set return call expectations. For instance, today I had a doctor's appointment I knew I'd be out of the office until 12:30. My voice mail message stated "Hello, you've reached Susan with Crown Key Realty, it's a Marvelous Monday, January 10, and it's an unbelievable time to be in Real Estate. I have a meeting this morning and will be returning phone calls after 1:00. If you have called after 5:00 I will return the phone call tomorrow morning. If you need immediate assistance please text me at this number or email me at Susan@SusanGoulding.com, I'm frequently able to respond to texts and emails when I'm unable to talk on the phone."
I explain to all my buyers and sellers that I am always there for them. Typically if I see one of my client's phone number come up on my phone I will answer and they will never hear my message. If I am unavailable to talk on the phone I will call them back ASAP or when my message says I will.
The referral clients I met with in Tracy, CA yesterday said, "Wow, that is amazing that you have BUSINESS HOURS, I don't want calls from work after I get home. We completely respect your ability to protect your time."
These are people I want to work with. They recognize this is a business. When was the last time you called your auto mechanic, doctor, dentist, house cleaner, etc after 5:00 and had them answer?
I'm no longer worried about "losing a sale". WHY?
First if I'm able to answer the phone I do, thus the person on the other end never hears the message.Second, I'm setting expectations, and the person calling is not getting angry 20 minutes later waiting for me to call them back. (I'll call you back at my earliest convenience, to the client that means NOW, to you it may mean 3 hours from now.)Third, if it's a person who does not respect my time, they MAY NOT be someone I want to work with.
Do you respect the time you spend with your family, friends and clients or do you let business consume you? How do you find balance in your world?If you are buyer or seller in Tracy or Mountain House CA and you'd like to work with an agents who values her family as well as yours call me, I'd be honored to help you.
Cell: 209-914-5573 | Direct: 925-679-5573 | Fax 925-226-4645
email: Susan@SusanGoulding.com| website: SusanGoulding.com
Tracy & Mountain House, CA | License Number 01490605 | Keller Williams RealtyConnect with me:
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About the Author...This article was provided by Susan Goulding, a Nationally recognized Realtor and Certified Short Sale & REO Specialist. Susan can be reached via e-mail at Susan@SusanGoulding.com by cell phone or text message at 209-914-5573. Susan has helped hundreds of people buy and sell their home. For Northern California real estate and homes see www.SusanGoulding.com. If you need to Short Sale your Tracy or Mountain House, Northern California home please contact me for more information or visit www.ShortSaleMyTracyHome.com
Specializing in the following Northern California Communities: Tracy, Mountain House, Livermore, Brentwood, Oakley, Pleasanton, Danville, Patterson, Lathrop, Manteca and Ripon. Keller Williams|Tracy|Mountain HouseTracy, CA |Homes for Sale Tracy CA |Short Sale Tracy CA |Foreclosure Tracy CA |Tracy Real Estate | Mountain House Real Estate | NorCal Real Estate
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