Nov 19, 2018 | Sales Skills
Imagine you are invited to a listing presentation. When you get to the house you discover that it’s dirty, cluttered, outdated, you name it.
How can you have an honest conversation with the homeowner without offending them?
Sellers are sensitive when it comes to their home. It’s very personal to them. They may become defensive when you try to recommend improvements. And you may not get the listing.
Tell the Truth! It builds trust and the seller will thank you!
A few days ago, Susanne met with a couple who just fired their agent. Here’s what went wrong …
Sellers Interviewed 3 Experienced Agents
The homeowners interviewed 3 Realtors in May. They didn’t list the house until October, because they wanted to move into a new built home at the end of the year.
The homeowners specifically asked each agent how to improve the house as it was only in average shape. Not a single agent gave them an honest assessment and made recommendations.
The agent who got the listing suggested to price it based the highest sale earlier in the year. That “comparable” sold for $25,000 above list price during the competitive spring selling season. It was completely remodeled and received multiple offers.
Needless to say, the listing was over-priced for its condition and did not attract any buyers. The home owners were wondering what went wrong?
They did not get an answer from their agent who was traveling and could not be reached. So the sellers cancelled the listing.
What Went Wrong?
There are 3 reasons why this agent lost the listing. They all have to do with an honest conversation.
- High Price – The agent based the price of this listing on the highest sale ever in the subdivision without analyzing exactly why the other property received with multiple offers.
- Average Condition – The agent did not make recommendations on how to improve the appearance of the house even when asked.
- Lack of Communication – The agent left town and did not tell the client that she couldn’t be reached.
This Script Will Not Offend Your Seller
Many agents don’t recommend upgrades, because they do not want to offend the seller. They are afraid they won’t get the listing if they speak honestly.
This is a big mistake.
As Realtors we don’t want to criticize the seller or their property. We certainly should not impose our own taste on the listing.
But we have to be honest about the condition of the property and consequently the correct pricing.
Here’s a simple script that works for us in these situations. Tell the seller “let’s look at your home through the eyes of a prospective buyer.”
Sellers who are looking for a new home themselves will understand how a potential buyer feels.
Telling the truth – even if it is uncomfortable – builds trust and that’s ultimately why a homeowner will hire you as their listing agent. Sellers will thank you for your honesty.
Do You Get Honest Feedback on Your Business?
Whom do you talk to when it comes to improving your business?
Can you get a straight answer from your broker or will they just tell you what you want to hear to keep you happy?
A coach will tell you the truth even if you don’t want to hear it. An honest assessment is the only way to improve.
If you want to grow your business but don’t get the honest help you need, it may be time to consider a move.
Call or text me to discuss your future! Have a wonderful week and a Happy Thanksgiving!
Oct 22, 2018 | Sales Skills
Many agents are struggling with follow-up, especially when it comes to staying in touch with previous clients.
NAR research shows that almost 80% of buyers would use their agent again. However, most of them can’t find their phone number when they are ready to sell.
Long term follow-up is very effective. And I have a personal story to prove it …
An Unexpected Rafting Trip in October
We spent this past weekend in West Virginia, in Fayetteville to be precise, the mecca of rafting.
Check the video out here!
You’re probably wondering why we were rafting in October when it’s freezing cold?
Long-term follow-up by Adventures on the Gorge is to blame.
We’ve been rafting with this company 8 years ago when they were called Class VI. They kept our information and stayed in touch over the years by email.
Most of their emails were deleted, but one caught my eye at the end of August. It said something like “Experience Bridge Day …”
That got me hooked. Bridge Day is like a national holiday in West Virginia. It’s the largest event in the State. Hundreds of daredevils jump down the 876 ft high New River Gorge Bridge and parachute to a small beach beneath.
So, I picked up the phone and booked a weekend at their resort including a rafting trip down the New River, to watch BASE jumpers on the bottom of the Gorge from our raft.
How Should You Follow Up?
Staying in touch with your clients is not difficult. It just takes a little planning and a system.
Our follow up strategy is simple. After each closing the client is added to our weekly email newsletter. Similar like the Agent-Insider, we write an original, real estate related email every Sunday.
This is not a canned newsletter we buy from an online service. Susanne and I write it ourselves, and it goes out to our database every Sunday morning.
Previous clients also receive a monthly postcard. We use a service called Sendsations. You select the postcards for the whole year on their website and simply update the mailing list after a closing.
Does Long Term Follow Up Work in Real Estate?
It absolutely works.
In 2017, 64% of Susanne’s clients (both buyers and sellers) were either previous clients or referred by previous clients. These are leads that called us, because they read our emails or received our postcards.
How Can You Set Up a Follow Up System?
When it comes to follow up systems you have 2 options. You can either create your own original content or you buy an off-the-shelve newsletter.
I am clearly in favor of creating our own content. It is fresh, local, and relevant. And, you can repurpose it for blog posts, videos or on social media.
It takes work, but it’s definitely worth it.
Of course, we share the content we create with our agents at RE/MAX 24/7. They can use or modify it for their own marketing. A small benefit that yields huge rewards.
Sep 24, 2018 | Sales Skills
Last Monday we attended the Ohio Realtors Convention. I hope you did, too. If not, you should next time.
Here’s why:
- As a Realtor you are a member of NAR and OAR. These are the organizations that represent your professional interests.
- You get a chance to listen to world class speakers and even get CE hours for most classes.
- You may want to get involved in their committees and advocate on behalf of homeowners in the political action committee.
As the convention was at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus, we paid a visit the statue of our famous countryman.
This year’s keynote speaker was Leigh Brown. She’s a top-producing Realtor from Charlotte, NC, owns a RE/MAX brokerage, and has become a popular national speaker.
Leigh talked about how agents can defend their business against the likes of Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com and other online services that threaten our business (I will call them the Zillows for simplicity).
How To Defeat External Threats
The key to defeating online services that take your listing information and pictures and sell it back to you for a high fee is to focus on what they don’t have.
Consumers find a lot of information online. They will hire you if you add value they can’t get from Zillow and other online services.
In order to do that you have to first define yourself as a Realtor.
Why do buyers and sellers hire you?
To find out, invite 5 recent clients for a cup of coffee and ask them why they hired you. Did they feel you are trustworthy, did they like your energy and commitment, were they impressed by your style, or did they simply hire you because you discounted commissions?
I hope it’s not the last. If they hired you because you are cheap, they did not see any value in your services.
What the Zillows Are Missing
The Zillows are great at accumulating public information. That information is already available to everyone, they just do a better job presenting it to the user.
Here’s what they don’t have:
Hyper Local/Lot Specific Information
If a house is located on a river that may be a bonus as it offers desirable water frontage or a negative due to the threat of flooding. A house on a slope may offer a great view or be extremely hard to reach in winter.
How does this information affect the price?
Zillow does not know, you do.
Property Condition
Zillow has the pictures, but you know what’s going on inside the house, as well as in similar houses in the neighborhood.
You know that the carpet that looks great in a professional photo is 10 years old and smells like cat.
Upgrades
Zillow won’t know all the upgrades done to the house, especially the ones that didn’t require a permit.
You know the exact value of upgrades and which ones are just a waste of money.
Exceptional Customer Service
The Zillows publish information, you explain it to the customer. Buyers and sellers need a trusted adviser who works on their side.
There’s NO customer service on any of the real estate portals. They are simply advertising devices for Realtors who are willing to pay their high fees.
Community Insights
If you want to become the local expert, you should attend City Council and School Board Meetings. At these meetings you get invaluable information that’s critical for your clients. If you speak up at the meetings you will establish yourself as the hometown real estate expert.
The Script
Leigh shared a script she uses when someone calls on her listings:
“I am so glad you inquired about my listing at 123 Main Street. Let me tell you what you can’t see in the photos ...”
For more expert tips and strategies be sure to check out:
ColumbusRealEstateCoach.com/blog and follow us on Instagram @Agent_Insider
Aug 6, 2018 | Sales Skills
As an active real estate agent, you know how competitive this market is. There’s a lot of pressure to reduce your commissions when you list a property. What strategies can you use? How can you defend your listing fees and beat your competition if they discount their commissions?
Here are 2 strategies. More to follow in a couple of weeks.
Commissions are Negotiable
Did you ever wonder why most agents charge 6% in commissions?
I could not find a specific reason. Supposedly, 6% was a guideline proposed by NAR in the 1950’s. And it stuck.
6% is an arbitrary number. It’s completely unrelated to the level of service you provide. This number does not consider your experience as an agent or the amount of work you put into marketing the listing.
Real estate commissions are purely based on the sales price of a house.
Is 6% (or 3% per side) the right fee to charge? Selling a $50,000 home takes just as much effort as listing a $500,000 mansion. But you only earn $1,500 per side vs. $15,000. Many sellers are wondering if that’s fair. And more agents and brokerages have decided to charge less in recent years.
We are in a free market!
Commissions should be negotiable – up or down.
As a coach I want to help you get the most money for the services you provide. So, here are some strategies to defend your fees.
The Psychology of Large Numbers
You know what’s really good about today’s typical commission arrangement. Paying 3% sounds much less than paying $15,000. It’s the exact reason why many sellers never question your commissions or how much you get paid.
You can use the same approach to defend your commissions.
When a seller asks you for a 1% discount they refer to 1% of the purchase price. 1% sounds like nothing. For you, the listing agent, 1% is really one third (33%) of your income. That’s a lot.
Seller Strategies
Ask your seller these questions and there’s a good chance you will keep your 3% or at least negotiate a smaller discount:
- If your employer suggests you take a 33% salary cut, would you accept that?
- When you hire a plumber or electrician, did you ever ask them to cut their quoted price by 33%?
- Did you ever negotiate fees with your doctor, your lender, your attorney and ask for a 33% discount?
Sellers do not realize how much a 1% commission reduction means for your bottom line. You need to talk about real dollars.
Let’s say you are selling a $300,000 property. The full 3% commission would be $9,000. The seller asks you for a 1% discount. This would mean $3,000 less in commissions for you, but the seller does not realize that.
If you counter with a specific dollar value, like $1,250, you have a good chance of getting the listing.
The seller will be satisfied, because you agreed to a discount, and $1,250 sounds much larger than 1%.
The Experienced Negotiator Approach
When you use this approach, you tell the seller that negotiation is the most critical skill when listing their home. If they hire you for a higher fee instead of a discount broker, the seller will net more money at closing.
How can you convince the seller that you are the most experienced negotiator?
Ask these questions …
- If the discount agent can’t even negotiate the fee for her services, how comfortable are you with her negotiating the highest sales price for your house?
- Discount agents compete on price, because they can’t show any value. That’s how they will promote your property. Do you really want to compete as the lowest priced listing?
Don’t give in when the seller asks for a discount!
They may just be testing your negotiation skills. The seller will respect you for standing your ground, and trust that you will fiercely negotiate on their behalf when they get an offer on their listing. I will share 3 more strategies in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, try these tips, and let me know how they work for you.
Jul 2, 2018 | Sales Skills
Did you ever think about selling your real estate business? According to NAR half of all Realtors are over 54 years old and may think about retiring soon. 87% say they will just walk away from their business and not attempt to sell it.
Is there a way to sell a real estate business?
Who would buy it, and how much would they pay?
Here are my thoughts …
Why Are Businesses Acquired?
Established companies acquire startups for their proprietary technology or huge membership base. That’s why Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion in 2012.
More traditional acquisitions are done for market share and cash flow.
When someone buys a business, they pay for an asset that produces a predictable stream of income.
Brokerages are sold frequently. In that case the purchasing company acquires the income created by commission splits and fees paid by its agents.
How about a solo agent business?
Is there a stream of income someone can acquire that’s not 100% dependent on you (the agent)?
What Makes a Sellable Real Estate Business?
Your business has ZERO value to a potential buyer if it totally depends on you.
However, if you have a database of clients who refer a predictable number of buyers and sellers every single year you have something you can possibly sell.
There are 3 items you must have to sell your real estate business:
- A database of clients that send a predictable number of referrals your way every year.
- Then a system to stay in touch with your database on a regular basis.
- A history of transactions that’s based on referrals from your database over the past 2 or 3 years.
With these 3 items in place a potential buyer could expect similar results if they purchase your database and systems.
How Much Will Someone Pay for Your Business?
Experts say that a real estate business can be sold for around 1.5 times its annual income – that’s commissions received from your broker less some marketing expenses.
Let’s say you generate $100,000 of income from your database each year. According to this estimate your business should be worth between $100,000 and $150,000.
Don’t expect to get a lump sum payment, though.
In all reality the sale will be more like a transition where they pay you in monthly installments. These installments would be based on a percentage of the income generated from your database.
You’ll also have to stay involved for a year to transition your clients to the new owner.
Who Would Buy Your Business?
There are 2 types of agents who have shown interest in acquiring your business:
- New agents who want to jump start their career
- Experienced agents who want to quickly expand their market share
Are You Planning to Retire Soon?
Let me know if you have any first-hand experience with selling a real estate business. I really appreciate your feedback on this story.
For more expert tips and strategies please visit:
ColumbusRealEstateCoach.com and be sure to follow us on IG @Agent_Insider
Jun 26, 2018 | Sales Skills
We all have difficult clients from time to time. The people who don’t listen to us, don’t value us, eat up too much of our time and energy, or have unrealistic demands and expectations.
But one of the great things about real estate is we have the power to choose our clients. We can decide whether we want to continue working with someone who is difficult. We can set boundaries and expectations that allow us to have the businesses we want.
The next time you find yourself working with difficult clients, here’s what you can do about it.
Two Questions
Start by asking yourself two questions. First, ask yourself how the clients are difficult. Take a step back from the emotion of the situation and make an objective list of all the issues.
With your list in hand, now ask yourself whether you want to act to correct the situation. This question is important because not every situation requires action. For example, making a list of the issues might lead you to realize the clients aren’t as difficult as you originally thought.
If after asking yourself the previous two questions you decide you need to act, it’s time to schedule a sit-down with your clients.
Schedule a Sit-Down
Letting unresolved issues fester is a surefire way to make a bad situation worse. That’s why you want to schedule a meeting with your clients as soon as you realize it’s time to act.
If meeting your clients in-person is inconvenient or impossible, a phone conversation is ok. Under no circumstances do you want to try to work out issues through email (too many misunderstandings can happen).
During the meeting, share your concerns but don’t assign blame. Instead of saying “you don’t listen to me”, try “I don’t feel my advice or suggestions are being heard.” Above all, keep your emotions in check.
If the sit-down goes well and you feel your concerns were heard, give your clients enough time to correct the issues. If the sit-down doesn’t go well, or if your clients remain difficult despite the meeting, it’s time to consider letting them go.
Let Them Go
Keeping difficult clients is rarely worth the time or energy. Yes, you might make a commission, but at what personal and professional cost?
If you decide it’s time to let difficult clients go, you don’t have to outright fire them. Instead, you can refer them to another agent. Few clients are so universally difficult that they can’t get along with any agent.
P.S. – Before you decide to let clients go, be sure to discuss the situation with someone who is objective. Talking the situation through will often lead to insights and solutions you wouldn’t have generated on your own.
For more expert tips and strategies please visit: https://columbusrealestatecoach.com/blog
And be sure to follow us on Social media!
