The lesson learned this week - or, Professional Policy # 1772

1772 professional policies is probably a bit of an exaggeration.  But for those of you in the Home Staging industry who are constantly updating their contracts, you know what I am talking about.

This week's lesson stems from a simple communication error.  As the story goes, Monday evening I received a call from one of my REALTOR clients while he was at a client's home.  We agreed on an appointment for Thursday evening for a consultation visit. 

When I arrived Thursday (early, as usual, so I waited around the corner), I was greeted by the teenage daughter. The mother was not home and would not be home for a while.  [Go thing it was only about 10 miles from home]

Calling the Agent, he was mystified, and he put me on speaker so his assistant could read the email from the owner that arrived earlier in the day.  The email stated that after consideration they decided that a target list date of next week was not feasible, and wanted to push the list date back a couple of weeks.  Well - apprarently the home owner figured it was the REALTOR's job to pass this information on to me.  And the REALTOR and his team did not interpret the message as "we do not want to meet with your Home Stager for several weeks..."  In fact, I agree - it would make sense to me that they wanted more time to work on the home. Not more time before the Home Stager arrived.

So, I willl have to go back when the owners are ready. Frustrating - yes.  But it dawned on me - when I am taking appointments 4-5 days in advance, how much time would it take to call and confirm the morning of an appointment?  A simple five minute phone call yesterday morning could have prevented the entire misunderstanding. 

The Stage Coach's Professional Policy# 1772:  If an appointment is made in excess of 48 hours, a confirming phone call will be made approximately 12 hours in advance.  Morning appointments will be confirmed the evening before...  Evening appointments will be confirmed the morning of... And lunch time appointments will have deal with me doing it when I can get to it. :)