You Don't Have To Give Me Your Name

Nowadays, pretty much all information is out there already. But when they do call me for information, no problem giving out the information. Now I must admit that most of the calls come in for my own listings. And my goal is to get them to come to see the home! And at that point I certainly ask them for their name and email address--the phone number I already have from caller id.

We are a rural small town office parked up in the upper right hand corner of the country. Our videos, blog posts, website mediastreams reach round the globe. We don't ask for the surfer to sign in before getting anything, we don't make them give us contact information to get lots of hot and ready Maine real estate information. We deliver it all round the clock and they will be getting back to us if they like what we serve up. Don't make what you present skimpy and have an attitude of only taking them serious if they darken your door either. Too far away to keep trotting north to see what's new to the market.

I answer questions also. At the very least, it's a chance to have a nice conversation with someone I never knew before. At the best, we'll wind up having an indepth conversation and setting up an appointment. It's all good.

Margaret, I've never been one to follow what the Guru's teach. There is no value in attempting to hog tie anyone.  Inspired cooperation works well for me too.

It depends on the office.  Some of the bigger offices definitely still do floor duty because of all the calls that come in.  Our office just has a receptionist that helps customers by providing basic info and then taking their name if they want a showing. 

An equitable exchange requires value for value. They called in requesting information, until they receive that why would they part with their valuable information, their identity? I suspect the old school way worked often enough, but I couldn't have done it that way for long either. 

Answer the questions first, ask your questions when they have reason to trust you with the information. 

"I did it my way" comes to mind.  It's almost always better to go against the grain, people take notice that way

I do it my way...Love that way...It works for me..

The Rome Way would certainly work for me....I'm sure people felt much more comfortable without the pressure of revealing their personal information!

Hi Margaret - We haven't done floor duty for years, but we follow a similar philosophy with our website and don't require registration. I know there are two sides of this, but we found that many people would just click away or provide bogus information, and we'd rather they hung around and became reliant on our site. Many eventually register to set up an on-going search, which does require a name and e-mail address.

Hello Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland , The Rome way is of course the RIGHT way. Isn't it amazing that so many survived for so long from doing things ass backwards. They just had it wrong and houses can sell even with those that get it wrong. I am with you and did exactly the same thing. People would then say that I would be fun to work with after I teased them that my broker will kill me if I tell them without getting your name. But hey, what's in a name anyway? Of course I was also half imitating the agent that sat next me who always had fun together when we started out doing our cold calling together or floor duty.  Should I dare drop  his name? Brian Buffini.

Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland - and that's the reason I love the way you do business - ROME WAY!

You are always the best....and I am blessed to have known you, met you and have dinner with you.

Thanks, Margaret.

I like it! The Rome Way! Sounds like the right way to me...I have always done that too... I don't like people harassing me... so I don't harass people...

That's why free consultation works so well. People are invited to all you can eat without paying for it. As the one who does the counseling, I will get my due too

Hi Margaret --- I prefer to work with clients wo want to work with me --- if I provide information, some market insight and we develop a rapport, it's good.  If doesn't work, for whatever reason, what have I lost?  

I am with you I always give them the information they want they called for a reason; if they don't get it from me they will get it somewhere.

I like your style. Always thought it was obnoxious and frustrating to the caller not to give out any info. How were you to build trust if you started out being cagey? 

Prior to becoming an agent, I would hate seeing ads that omitted price/ location. Looking back I now see the method behind the madness, but such practice still stinks.

With that attitude, Margaret, it's no wonder most of your callers chose to work with you. Giving something of value (information) caused them to trust and respect you.