Sunday, February 25, 2007

Customer Service - Ridiculously Happy Customers

So sometimes just trying to the right thing is good enough -

I did an open house this weekend and got a new couple for clients. They are fun and very easy to work with and I like them a lot! They were interested in working with me because I ONLY tried to help them. I took them to a number of houses that were not my listings and I offered to help them get prices for houses even if they never bought from me. I did it because it is the right thing to do - and happily they liked my customer service attitude and are now my clients!

My listing partner Sheila spent a good bit of time this week helping a man who is listed with someone else. There is no opportunity there BUT she knew that there were things she could do help help him to work better with his agent. We may never list his house (until after it expires of course) but who do you think he will refer when someone asks him "who is your realtor?"

One of my favorite people (Jud Hennington) always said that you can't fail if you do everything possible to have ridiculously happy customers. I agree!

Friday, February 23, 2007

What is your UVP?

It sounds like an alternate kind of TV station or a dreaded disease but in actuality it is what you bring to the party real estate wise (unique value proposition). I talked with an agent this week who said she didn't like to work with Expireds because she was not sure she would do anything that the first agent didn't do (i.e. put a sign in the yard and put it in the mls).

I do not have that problem! I know EXACTLY what I will do try and sell that house and I have it written down and in my listing presentation. I spend quite a bit of money BUT you do not have to bust the bank to offer your sellers good features. Here are 8 ideas under $25 or free that you can do.

1. Open houses - Offer to do an open house once a week until they say NO MORE! You can put a sign rider announcing that you will be there from 1-4 on Sunday and also walk neighborhood personal invites to all the neighbors. Make sure you have you have magnets on your car so that the neighbors know it is you sitting in there all the time. If you can't make a week, ask someone from the office to help.

2. Free listing sites - Put your listings on your company sponsored website, on www.zillow.com, www.Point2agent.com, base.google.com and anywhere else you can think of!

3. Pitch sessions - These are back! Let your sellers know you will attend EVERY pitch session available and will tell all the agent about their great listing.

4. Backs of flyers - Put all your listings on the back of your flyers in the flyer boxes. If you don't have your own "borrow" some from other agents.

5. Brokers Open House (Under $25 bucks) - Invite other agents to participate and serve something that people will like to eat. Invite LOTS of agents so that you have someone to talk to!

6. Just listed postcards - If you can not afford preprinted ones, print them out on your copier at work. If you can't afford postage for all of them walk them around to 100 or so neighbors (do NOT put them in the mailbox as that is a federal offense and I will not come and bail you out!)

7. Neighborhood newsletters - List an ad for your home for sale and give the neighbors some statistics about recent sales and some home selling tips. Mail if you have the money or start walking the neighborhood if you are short of cash.

8. The MLS - Put the maximum number of picutes in there. Say more than one sentance about the house. Think about the fact that this house will be competing with over 17,000 homes in the area and some people will not even consider the house unless there are pretty pictures to look at.

If you do something cheap that you would like to share with group please let me know!

Real Estate Marketing Pro