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Hey, looky-loos are buyers, too!

By Alan May

Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

January 31, 2015 07:42 AM

The contact came in through Trulia.

"Hi, we're George and Ethel (not their real names)... we met you at a few of your open houses last year. We weren't ready then, but we think we're ready now. Can you contact us and help us?"

I remembered George and Ethel well. They were charming and animated about one of the condos where they'd met me. They had just been walking by, and had seen my tent sign, just dropped in... not really looking for a house, but always liked the building.

I'm not an aggressive agent. I don't hound people after they've visited my open houses. I do put those who seem serious on a drip digital contact system, but only those who seem serious buyers. Even if I think they're a couple of years out.

This couple was just sight-seeing, or so I thought.

Hey, I'm thrilled they remembered my name well enough to look me up on Trulia.

Do you put looky-loos on your contact management systems? I know I will be, from now on.

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Richie Alan Naggar

people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA

agent & author

if it walks, talks and acts like a potential transaction...We go. If not...they go

Jan 31, 2015 10:39 PM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

Sharon - I'll try to remember that.

Praful - I'm not sure that they're all going to buy, but it doesn't cost much to keep them in the system.

Laura - some will, some won't... but as I said to Praful... it doesn't cost anything to hang on to them.

Christine - and, of course, some won't give you that info... or they give you a phoney email.

Paul - just call me Indiana May.

Doyle - I just remember before I was a Realtor, I really hated pushy agents.

Scott - I know... isn't it cute when they call and ask... "can you help us??" Why, yes... yes I can.

Sham - but that's kinda the point... these people gave me no indication that htey were going to be ready in 12 months or less. They were just looky-loos, as far as I could tell.

Sheila - you're right... you can never tell, for certain.

Susan - sometimes I'm happy to have the company.

Dorie - that's a great story.

Rick - that's exactly the call I got.

Richie - well, these people didn't walk, talk or act like a transaction.

Jan 31, 2015 11:36 PM

Richie Alan Naggar

Riverside, CA

Tom Bailey

Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

Alan,excellent post. If I can get their info I try to put them on my list. This post will spur me on to try harder. Thanks for sharing.

Feb 01, 2015 12:06 AM

Jill Moog

Coast & Country Homes and Estates, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA

Carlsbad, CA Homes for Sale

Hello Alan, This is a great reminder to keep in touch with people because eventually they may turn into a real buyer! Great post.

Feb 01, 2015 12:39 AM

Lisa Friedman

Great American Dream Realty - Essex, VT

35 Years of Real Estate Experience!

I send an occassional feeler out to looky loos who I think I would enjoy working with in the future. Very occassional so as not to be too pushy.

Feb 01, 2015 01:19 AM

Richard Robibero, e-Pro, ABR, SRS

Panorama R.E. Limited - Toronto, ON

Selling Your Home as if it were My Own!

Good post Alan May . I've had a few looky loos become Buyers, out of nowhere too.

I will only contact them if they want me to based on the sign-in sheet. We all know it's sometimes hard to work with someone who actually needs a place...

Feb 01, 2015 01:24 AM

Mike Belobradic

Johnston & Daniel Oakville - Oakville, ON

Your Trusted Advisor in Oakville Real Estate

I do exactly as you do, so very nice to hear stories that reinforce the non-pushy approach to maintaining contact without becoming overbearing. Nicely done.

Feb 01, 2015 03:41 AM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

Tom - sounds like a plan.

Jill - even if they don't look like a buyer.

Lisa - I think that's the best way.

Richard - why thank you, sir

Mike - low key.... it's the best key.

Feb 01, 2015 06:05 AM

Evelyn Santiago, Managing Broker Heart Realty Group, Inc.

Heart Realty Group, Inc.. - Oswego, IL

Passionate About Real Estate & Our Clients!

You probably got them because you did not hound them...seems most people prefer not being hounded. Currently have 2 leads on Listing book that I am incubating like little "chicks"....they are constantly looking...and looking but eventually the will find what they want and hopefully call me....or not! We have to try a variety of approaches with people...but laid back, low key, and not pushy seems to work the best for me, too!

Feb 01, 2015 07:56 AM

Sybil Campbell

Fernandina Beach, FL

Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

I like to keep the "looky loos" informed about the market and it sometimes pays off like it did for you.

Feb 01, 2015 01:23 PM

Nina Hollander, Broker

Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC

Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Everyone has to start sometime! But that's also why I tell my sellers that typically open houses are a better way for us agents to attract future buyers than to sell their home. I read a study some time ago that said the average open house attendee was six months away from buying. Your story kind of proves this premise.

Feb 01, 2015 08:51 PM

Richard Iarossi

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD

Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Alan,

It can't hurt. As long as we follow the unsubscribe rules...you never know when they might respond.

Rich

Feb 01, 2015 09:59 PM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

Evelyn - some people respond to hard-sell... but I don't have much choice... I just don't do "hard sell"... it isn't me.

Richard - and that's what I'm learning.

Feb 01, 2015 11:06 PM

Catherine Ulrey

Keller Williams Capital City - Salem, OR

Equestrian and Acreage Property Specialist

You never know who is watching or who will remember you!

Feb 02, 2015 03:32 AM

Mike Frazier

Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN

Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Alan, I have a few of those lurkers also. Let us know when you close on a house for them.

Feb 02, 2015 03:46 AM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

Catherine - you're right... you never know who you're talking to, or who they know.

Mike - I'll do that.

Feb 02, 2015 08:16 AM

Claude Labbe

RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC

Realty for Your Busy Life

I usually don't reach out; they've seen me work, and I'm not a pushy agent.

The ones that will work with my style...they'll find me and follow me.

Now....if the looky-loo is asking to give me their info, well, now they've moved into a different type and they will get me to follow them easy enough.

Feb 03, 2015 12:20 PM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

Claude - I'm right there withya.

Feb 03, 2015 10:11 PM

Kevin Mackessy

Blue Olive Properties, LLC - Highlands Ranch, CO

Dedicated. Qualified. Local.

Sometimes you never know. I don't get enough looky loo's to turn them down right away. I always hear them out.

Feb 04, 2015 04:55 AM

Alan May