Motivational Monday…Adding Value

By
Home Stager

 Motivational Monday…Adding Value

 

Let’s face it, most of us here are in sales. We are selling a product, our services, and ourselves. 

 

There are a lot of us out there selling something so how do we get consumers to use us?

 

 

For example, the other day I went shopping for a pair of walking shoes. It’s something that I could probably buy online or at some other store. In the past, I’ve purchased shoes from a specialty shoe store. You might say that their niche was athletic shoes.  First stop was a big sporting goods store.

 

It had everything…walls and racks of running, walking, standing, etc shoes. What they didn’t have was a salesperson who did anything more than bring out the matching shoe to the one I was interested in.

 

I ended up back at the store whose niche was athletic shoes. The salesperson at the specialty store watched me walk and asked me questions like how often and how much I walked as well as the types of surfaces I walked on. 

Yes, I spent more time and money at the specialty store but I also walked away with shoes that were just right for my needs.

 

Today’s consumers need to see the value in what they are buying. If it's a home they're buying they must see the value...if it's choosing an agent, they need to know why YOU vs Joe Agent.


For listing agents, it may be a one-of-a-kind marketing plan that fits their unique property. For those working with buyers, it may be showing your buyers that you know more than just the address of the property they’re viewing. 

 

Some products or services may sell themselves, but are you willing to sit back and let that happen?

 

 

Consider what you do or who you are that makes you stand out and makes you the irreplaceable factor.

 

   In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. Coco Chanel

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments (21)

Brian England
Arizona Focus Realty - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I could use a good pair of walking shoes but I hate shopping, haha.  I used to love getting the newest basketball shoe when I was a kid though.

Feb 06, 2023 04:19 AM
Kathy Streib

Brian England I'm happy in flip flops or boots. 

Feb 06, 2023 05:46 PM
Brian England

I like flip flops too!

Feb 06, 2023 05:52 PM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker/REALTOR® - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Service truly is so important - the ones who forgot that will lose.

Feb 06, 2023 04:48 AM
Kathy Streib

Kat Palmiotti I am amazed at the number of people in the service business who show now customer service skills. 

Feb 06, 2023 05:52 PM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
Relocation to NW AZ with elbow room & more freedom

All of us are in sales or as Daniel Pink said "To Sell Is Human." Value is created by the buyer and it is for the seller to recognize and more importantly to connect to that value.

Feb 06, 2023 05:00 AM
Kathy Streib

Leanne Smith if we're not selling a product, we're selling ourselves. 

Feb 06, 2023 05:53 PM
Ed Silva
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

There is a big difference between a salesclerk and a salesperson. Knowledge being the biggest

Feb 06, 2023 05:08 AM
Kathy Streib

Ed Silva like an agent who lists properties and a true agent who markets the property and helps to guide their client through the process. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:05 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

It is always nice to receive meaningful customer service. And, we are likely to return to those businesses.

Have an outstanding week.

Feb 06, 2023 05:18 AM
Kathy Streib

I agree Roy Kelley We are happy to return to businesses where we've received good service!!! Hope you're doing better. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:07 PM
faye schubert
Retired - Branson, MO
Living the Branson Lake Life

I have an ASICS outlet here and I love the shoes, but especially the staff is very knowledgeable about the shoes.

They explain the difference of each type and what is best for certain activities and they are ADAMANT of putting the shoes on, as every style can fit differently.

I keep going back there because of the shoes, but also because of the knowledge of the staff about the products they sell.

Feb 06, 2023 05:26 AM
Kathy Streib

faye schubert I feel as you do. I have no arches so need support in my shoes. I loved how the staff at the specialty shoe store watched me walk and took the time to help me. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:08 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Good morning, Kathy... amen to everything you said. When I train new agents, I'm always telling them they need to figure out their "point of differentiation" and to always be adding value. Otherwise they are a commodity and no one pays a premium for a commodity.

Feb 06, 2023 05:46 AM
Kathy Streib

Nina Hollander, Broker You were right to train them to find what makes them stand out.  You have to give them a reason to use you!

Feb 06, 2023 06:10 PM
Scott Schulte
Scott Schulte LLC - Phoenix, AZ

"Consider what you do or who you are that makes you stand out and makes you the irreplaceable factor." I listen and match, the home sells itself, it either works or we look at another one. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:08 AM
Kathy Streib

Scott Schulte "Listening" is your irreplaceable trait!!!

Feb 06, 2023 06:11 PM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Yes Kathy I agree with you. What is your value that someone would choose you over all the others? Ours is that no matter how many clients we are working with, they all have our FULL attention!

Feb 06, 2023 06:15 AM
Kathy Streib

Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400 and in today's social media/texting frenzy, it definitely sets up apart from others who have their heads buried in their devices. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:12 PM
Bill Salvatore - East Valley
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Still better to meet face to face with the ability to get specially fitted for a shoe or what not.  However, more and more Brick and Mortars are gone. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:37 AM
Kathy Streib

Bill Salvatore - East Valley it truly is sad that so many of the big stores I loved to go to are closing. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:13 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Kathy, asking questions for someone wanting to buy anything is imperative.

Feb 06, 2023 06:54 AM
Kathy Streib

Joan Cox I agree. You have to find out what they want before you can tell them how you can help. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:13 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

An excellent analogy Kathy! Having the right experienced professional may cost more, but in the long run is the best value!

Feb 06, 2023 08:14 AM
Kathy Streib

Thank you Sharon Tara There are times when you have to be willing to pay more but you'll be happy in the long run. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:14 PM
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

I have found that I have to visit the smaller shoes stores that take the time and effort to get me into the right pair of shoes.  Otherwise, I have to deal with pain.  The extra I spend on the shoes I buy, is very well worth it.  We have to stop treating ourselves like and acting like a commodity.  There is no real advantage in it.

Feb 06, 2023 08:21 AM
Kathy Streib

Ray Henson I agree. Happy feet mean a happy day for all of us. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:15 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Kathy,

An awesome analogy! I will do the same thing....people will pay for service and not an order taker. It's always the best value. I've always loved that quote by Coco Channel and saw it in the Channel store in Florence, Italy!

Feb 06, 2023 09:52 AM
Kathy Streib

Wow- even better that you saw the quote in a Chanel store in Florence. I've met some agents who are just  "order takers" unlike members here who provide a concierge type service.

Feb 06, 2023 06:18 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Kathy Streib - I am with you on this. Your blog post hits the mark.  There are certain things I need to be in a store for.   Shoes are one of those items.  I will travel to Phoenix to go to a store where they will help me rather than buy online.  Personal service is very important to me.  

This is a great post to emphasize our personal commitment to our clients!  

 

Feb 06, 2023 10:32 AM
Kathy Streib

Thank you Sheri Sperry - MCNE®  I've read the posts here and the agents here fit the "specialty" store type of agent. You go out of your way, for example in how professional your photos are so that the marketing on the property outshines the others. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:20 PM
Anna Banana Kruchten Phoenix Broker
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Kathy I can so relate to the show shopping experience.  I find that the specialty stores (like REO) are very well trained and asked the 'right' questions  - at least the always have with me. I feel like saying 😊 If I've said it once (to agents) I've said it a million times - Ask The Right Questions!  People love being heard!

Feb 06, 2023 10:46 AM
Kathy Streib

Anna Banana Kruchten Phoenix Broker When I trained consultants in the staffing industry, I reminded them that you can't begin to tell them that you can help them unless you know what it is they need. You have to ask questions and then listen. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:21 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Kathy if we don't want to be replace by Zillow, than we need to not act like Zillow and show our value.

Feb 06, 2023 04:59 PM
Kathy Streib

George Souto perfectly said!!!

Feb 06, 2023 06:22 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

There really is a science behind finding the perfect walking or running shoe. So many variables. 

Feb 06, 2023 05:05 PM
Kathy Streib

Dr. Paula McDonald there really is. Larry, for example, has high arches and I have none!!!   You can't get a good fit if you go to a place where the only thing the clerk does is bring you boxes of shoes. 

Feb 06, 2023 06:24 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Like you, I am willing to pay a little more for a product I know will work better for me.  It often takes a skilled salesperson, who knows product to help me with that.

Feb 07, 2023 12:27 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

This reminds me of my experience wedding dress shopping with my daughter.. it goes a long way to really be heard by a salesperson and have specific , detailed questions asked..not just bringing things out from the back! 

Feb 07, 2023 09:31 AM