Special offer

How Not To Sound Like A Tin Can

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

Sign LanguageFrom our early development we attempt to communicate with others in many fashions. There are grunts and groans. There is crying. There is rudimentary forms of sign language. As we grow we have to be better at what I find is an essential element, especially in Real Estate, with all its complexities. And that is the art of

                           TRANSLATION.

Ever see those funny headsets for language translation at the United Nations? They have this thing down to a science.

UN

 

 

 

 

 

I think one reason many teachers that become REALTORS do so well is they are skilled in the area of education. They know how to translate ideas into understanding. They also bring nurturing and encouragement to the party.

For lenders alike, and other professionals like Stagers, you need to explain the what (what is an Adjustable rate mortgage, what makes a house present well?) and the why (why will power lines over your house hurt your resale some day).

Those with these good "translation" skills, are tuned into the wavelength, the behavior patterns of the listener and in the end get through. "Getting through" to other people is what makes you excel at your craft and not just communicate the basics. Be an excellent translator and don't have your words and ideas fall on tin ears.

Tin Cans

Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches
Gary, This is especially true with doctors.  I don't care how great a doctor or surgeon is, if he can't explain the process to the patient in a way that the patient understands, he is not doing a good enough job. 
May 06, 2008 11:58 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA
Gary:  This is an excellent post.  Communication is key to this business. 
May 06, 2008 12:10 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Gary: Playing with tin cans was a blast. Primitive, but a blast.

Susan: Do any doctors commuicate well? This seems to be a deficiency in med school. I think patients are always prying information out of them. That, to me, is what is painful.

Chris Ann: Absolutely we should learn to communicate well.

May 06, 2008 12:20 PM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

Excellent post Gary. Communication skills can make or break you in this business.

Thank you for commenting on my post Gary.

May 06, 2008 01:14 PM
Mara Hawks
First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL
Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

well... those tin cans & folks talkin' about hollerin... we did a lot of livin' in the basement of our Chicago home (me & my 9 siblings)... a few times I was down there by myself & a brother would sound off through the heating vent in a voice that was supposed to sound like God admonishing me. To this day he denies it. FREAKSHOW!

Seriously though, I think it's significant that EAR is most of what having a hEARt is about...

May 06, 2008 02:26 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Gary, Great post.  I always explain the WHY to my clients so they can understand better.  Listening to what they want to achieve is essential.
May 06, 2008 02:53 PM
Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire
Communication skills can be learned but I think a lot of it is also part of ones emotional IQ. I saw a test for that one time I wish I knew where...it would be fun to post on here!
May 06, 2008 03:12 PM
Leeshay Wright
Keller Williams Realty - Mauldin, SC
Good post because I believe in anything communication is important and it involves more than talking.
May 06, 2008 03:19 PM
Julianna Hind
eXp Realty - Tacoma, WA
REALTOR, 206-679-4768, Tacoma Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, WA

Hi Gary - I read you loud and clear - over.

~ Julianna

May 06, 2008 04:14 PM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate
Gary, Effective communication is the key to effectively selling. Great post...I remember those tin cans!
May 06, 2008 05:06 PM
Trey Thurmond
BCR Realtors - College Station, TX
College Station , Texas Homes
This is why we spend so much time on language skills with new agents at our firm.
May 06, 2008 11:28 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Monika: Those with the communication skills move forward, without them you struggle.

Mara: What a great story with the basement, and what a large family. I'm sure you had to speak up to be HEARD with that large of a group.

Carole: The listening and the explaining the "why" is what many people don't seem to be good at.

Joan: I like your idea of linking Emotional IQ with good communication. That looks to be very true. Those that are comfortable with themselves are comfortable with others.

Leeshay: You are so right that communication involves a lot more than talking. Think of all the nonverbal communication for example.

Julianna: Short and to the point. That's effective communication.

Carol: Communication and selling, very much linked. We did the tin cans between branches when climbing trees. Fun stuff!

Trey: Choice of words are critical.

May 07, 2008 01:28 AM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Gary,

There are more teachers than there are great communicators...I'll take the latter!!! Thanks,   Fran

May 07, 2008 03:56 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Fran: You CANNOT go wrong in life being a great communicator.
May 07, 2008 04:01 PM
Rosario Lewis
DDR Realty - Newburgh, NY
GRI, SRES - DDR Realty - Orange County, NY
"Translation" is a perfect way to put it. Listen AND restate. The person you are talking to will let you know if you got it right.
May 08, 2008 02:33 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Rosario: Listening and restating is a GREAT communication technique to confirm understanding.
May 08, 2008 04:25 PM
Arina Hanciulescu
RealtyPros - Las Vegas, NV
RealtyPros

I believe Garry that by been a good listener is an essential part of the art of communication... I have in my family a nephew who was born with a rare condition -Auditory Neuropathy- form of hard hearing...  We learned from him how to listen, transalte and communicate.

 

May 08, 2008 06:10 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Arina: Isn't it amazing with those that struggle to hear how it teaches us all to be a better listener? Each person can teach us so much.

May 09, 2008 12:38 AM
Patricia Beck
RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realty

There are so many skills a realtor must possess with the most important being a good communicator.  If you cannot get through to people nothing else can be accomplished except misunderstanding! 

May 09, 2008 01:31 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Patricia: Right. That's why we all need to practice and get good at all our forms of communication. Misunderstanding and assumptions happen far too often. Some of it is fear based or not being assertive. Some of it just needs changed behavior.

May 09, 2008 02:02 AM