I had an "audition" for a strange yet intriguing Montreal home staging project last week. Of course, I didn't know it was an audition, but I guess it would be safe to assume that all of our first contacts with clients are auditions, right?
We went through the house room by room, top to bottom, and the whole time, I was doing what we home stagers and real estate agents do best: problem solving.
I was eyeing the space critically. And while I did celebrate the great features of the home, my attention was focused on the not-so-great features, the ones that will need attention, the ones that home buyers are bound to focus on. In the end, we spent most of our time discussing the "problem" areas and how to address them.
At the end of the hour, the customer told me they were interviewing one other person for the job and then making their final decision. Their decision would be based on many criteria, but one of them was "...of course, enthusiasm for the project."
And I had to wonder: Did I show any enthusiasm for this project? Or was I so focused on problem solving - on my JOB - that I forgot to show any excitement for the project at all?
I don't know. I think sometimes I get so focused on solving problems, I forget to focus on the good - not in my personal life, but sometimes in my work.
I suppose I can blame part of it on my 18-year career as a criminologist, a field where we are trained to identify and address problem areas. But wherever it comes from, I suspect it turns off some customers.
People need to feel that we believe in their project, that we are excited for the opportunity to work with them. Unless of course we aren't -- and then we have a different kind of soul-searching to do!
I know I need to work on this. How about you? Are you good at showing your enthusiasm for a project? Or do you get right down to business and stay there?
Originally posted on PropertyWire.ca
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