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Don't End Up Like Elisha Gray!

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Second Self Virtual Assistance

Don't wait to contact your clients or you will lose out on sales!After reading Nate Rowe's blog about Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray, it got me to thinking: Would you rather be Alexander Graham Bell or Elisha Gray?  The story, in brief, goes that Bell and Gray both filed paperwork for patents involving similar machines that would eventually become the telephone on the same day.  If you believe Bell, his paperwork was notarized a month before officially filing, proving that he invented the phone.  If you believe Gray, Bell only got the patent because he filed later in the day, making his application the one seen towards the top of the in-box.  While the controversary over whether Bell or Gray actually invented the telephone will ever be definitively determined is not known, Realtors should keep this story in mind when deciding whether or not to contact a potential client right away.  If you are worried about thinking up the "perfect pitch", it may cost you valuable time and eventual profits if your thought process takes longer than the next Realtor that gets called and actually responds.  Letting obstacles like daily errands, other emails or plain old life get in the way doesn't mean anything to a potential client.  We live in an instant gratification society.  If you snooze, you lose!  You can be the smartest Realtor with the best credentials, but, if you make a client wait until all your ducks are in a row, you may lose them.  Be warned.  After all, it's not called Pacific Gray, Ma Gray or Atlantic-Gray now, is it?

Heather Chavez - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Just Isn't Enough of You to Go Around

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Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Heather, I agree with that do it right away mentality. What are they waiting for? Christmas!!

Mar 07, 2009 01:33 PM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

Thanks, Gary.  When there are so many other Realtors out there who are ready to gobble up a good lead, waiting to contact someone is a REALLY bad idea!

Mar 07, 2009 01:37 PM
Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

I don't think I ever learned in school that someone else could have been the inventor. Is this common knowledge. Very interesting.  I would make more sense that the phone was actually invented by a woman!

Mar 07, 2009 01:44 PM
Shane OnullGorman
Eau Claire Realty, Inc. - Eau Claire, WI
Eau Claire Wisconsin, Real Estate Agent & Realtor- Buy or Sell

Our patent system was bad then and worse now. Now corporations put out patents on every single thing imaginable.

Mar 07, 2009 01:51 PM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

Don't worry, Donna.  This isn't common knowledge.  I hadn't heard anything about it until I read Nate Rowe's post and researched it.  Quite interesting.  And, I think it was actually Mabel, Bell's wife, who gave him the idea for the phone.  That way, she could talk to someone else.  Just kidding! :P

Shane - I think it's all the "he said she said" lawsuits that have gone on throughout the ages that have brought about corporations putting patents on everything.

Mar 08, 2009 05:52 AM
Nate Rowe
Oakstone Properties, Homes in Richmond VA - Richmond, VA
Realtor, Homes in Richmond VA

Great post.  It is very true.  If you want it you have to jump on it.  Dragging your feet can cost you everything.  I wish you the best and hope you have a great week.

Mar 08, 2009 02:43 PM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

Thanks, Nate.  Thank you also for the idea.  I hope you have a great week and I hope you visit my blog again soon.

Mar 08, 2009 03:06 PM