Connie Goodrich, CRS (McKinney Realtor) Texas

Do your clients feel like they are one of many that you are working for or a special standout from the rest? The perception of the client defines the experience they have with their Realtor. Are you an average Realtor that delivers a typical performance or are you an exceptional professional that provides an outstanding experience?

You can elevate the experience by simple added touches, courtesies and a solid foundation of real estate understanding and communication. Are you ...

•· On time for the appointment?

•· Dressed professionally?

•· Call to confirm a meeting time?

•· Listen to their needs and making sure they are met?

•· Giving your clients blank copies of all the contract types they will interface with so they can read over prior to sitting down and filling out the document?

•· Providing organized books for your listing presentation and buyer books for your clients?

•· When working with a buyer is your showing appointments well organized with copies of information about the homes, maps, and a summary sheet for comments?

•· Do you call your clients and communicate. Actually call not just email?

•· Do you know the client's children's names and animals names and greet them and include the children in conversations?

•· Do you summarize and follow up?

•· Do you research prior to your home visit and showing appointment to know facts like days on market, builder, facts about the neighborhoods, school locations, etc?

•· Do you always sound upbeat and happy they called with a question?

•· Do you feel like you have provided a warm and customer servicing attitude?

•· Do you offer and do things well out of the scope of your job to help your client?

At the end of the day when your listing closes or your buyer gets the keys to their new home do you feel like they have been given the red carpet treatment? Perception is reality so make sure your clients have a wonderful and lasting experience regarding your service. Do you feel like you are a member of the family at the end of the day, if yes ... job well done!

I received multiple offers on one of my listings and my homeowners were ecstatic. One of the offers came in at full price and the other was $5,000 below the other one. My owners wanted to whip out their pens and to sign off acceptance. I recommended to them to hit the pause button. Some questions needed to be asked.

As I read through the full price offer I noted the following:

•· The agent verbally had told me his clients were pre-approved. They had been on contract for another home but it fell out because the condo complex they were trying to purchase a unit was not FHA approved and that is the financing type they were obtaining.

•· The buyer was putting 20% down on FHA financing.

I called the agent and inquired - if the buyers have 20% to put down, why are they not obtaining a conventional loan? The agent stated that they had a little credit challenges and their score was below the conventional standard. I asked when the lender had given the approval. The agent was not sure as he had did not represented his client on the previous transaction. Who is the lending institution? The agent was not sure. Then the agent said, my client is putting 20% down and that buys a lot of forgiveness. They will be able to purchase this home. I said that 20% was impressive and I certainly agree it will make them look stronger for their financing but I still wanted to have a letter from the lender regarding their ability to purchase this home. I asked the other agent if he by chance knew what their credit score might be as the guideline had just changed for FHA and just wanted to make sure they were still qualified. The agent again said that they had 20% down and that should qualify them for the loan. I again agreed that this was a very nice amount but as a professional duty of mine, I needed to review the pre-approval letter.

The next day I received a call from the agent. His client needed to withdraw his offer. It seems that they no longer would be able to qualify for a home purchase. The agent paused and said they have a ways to go before they will be purchasing a home. My clients went forward to accept the second offer.

Dig below the surface, ask pointed questions, be immune to tap dance answers and seek answers and validation. If your antenna goes up, trust what your gut.

They come around in those uniforms and you know it is that time of year again, Girl Scout Cookie time. I have very few vices in life but cookies, well that hits me right where it hurts, on the hips thighs, stomach. So I got on my scales after savoring the last cookie in the box and to no surprise, a weight gain. It's the Girl Scouts fault having those tempting cookies. I use to be a Girl Scout so I had to buy, it was patriotic. Yes, I could have contributed a donation but that would have left me without those great cookies. It simply is the Girl Scouts fault.

I took some time off this last week to enjoy the spring and rebuilt some energy. I did not get out my marketing pieces, network, stir up some business. New opportunity was not sought or gained. I blame it on the spring season. It tempted me with gorgeous weather and a goof off feeling so I just had to cave to the moment and quit feeding the pipeline.

I went of a listing appointment a few months ago. Had a wonderful meeting with the homeowners and they just did not think the timing was right to make a move. I wrote them a thank you note and then put their folder away for a rainy day. I noticed there was a new listing and what, it was their home. How could that be? I wrote a note and we had a lovely visit. I blame it on the fact we have not had a rainy day and therefore I did not keep in touch.

Excuses, excuses ... what next? Have a hard self visit to see if you are happy for the direction your business is moving, life is treating you. Remember with any action you have the choice, you control that choice. I decided to eat, eat, and gobble down those delicious thin mints and I also made that decision that weight gain would happen unless I altered my other eating and exercise. Choice and consequence. Be brave and make smart choices and reap positive results. Choose to be smart in your business and not just wait for the phone to ring because it won't. You have to earn that call. It's all in your choice so make it a thoughtful one!

What a gorgeous visit to the Dallas Arboretum last weekend. Picture perfect weather which gave me plenty of photo practice moments. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a 66 acre botanical garden located abutting the White Rock Lake area of East Dallas. There are many areas of varied garden features and fountains. The skyline of Dallas can easily be seen over the White Rock Lake shoreline where the Arboretum borders. Forty four acres of the Arboretum were once part of an estate, Rancho Encinal, built by Everett and Nell DeGolyer. Their Spanish style residence is still present and serves as a gift shop and area for small events. The DeGolyer home is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Among the plants and horticulture is a collection of azaleas that includes 2,400 varieties, 400,000 spring blooming bulbs.

The day that I went was simply breathtaking! Several brides were there with professional photographers snapping away. There were a couple of areas set up for weddings after hours. Truly a wonderful experience and a well spent joyful few hours just soaking in the beauty!

I snapped some colorful pictures which I will share over the next few weeks.

Frustrations and disappointments hit an all time high and you are ready to quit, toss in the towel? When you reach that point there are a few things you need to consider pulling yourself back on track. I'm speaking of your posts with no visitors and few to no comments and the invisible feeling you may be experiencing.

•· So you pour out your heart on what you consider to be "Feature" worthy content. This time you know you have hit a bull's eye. You labor on the wording, clever images to incorporate, popular topic or thought. You push Submit. Wait; go back and forth to see if your post has entered the blog path for viewers, yes ... there it is. Wait, a couple of minutes pass, go back to your home page ... no comments yet. Click to the blog posts, yes still there but working itself down. Flip to the feature list, no not yet but surly the powers that will be will read. Click, click back and forth. No, no, no comments, no interest, no satisfaction, no gold star. Your post works its way down the line and then off the page, 0 comments, no recognition, no pat on the back.

•· What went wrong? It may have nothing to do with your content but some other factors to consider. First of all - are you writing for the Feature or what is you motive? I have found personal satisfaction for making my post be a mirror of my outlook and thoughts. If you write with the intent of the Feature then you more than likely have set yourself up for failure or disappointment. Yes, being recognized and all the glorious comments are exciting and rewarding but should never be the purpose for the content of your post. Personally I try to write to uplift myself, give out helpful suggestions to others, pass on experiences, and give tips. With that frame of mindset you will build your own subscribers who will enjoy reading your post because of what you offer. Write and they will come.

•· Title - be clever; hit on the content in thoughtful wording. Think about when you read posts, what is it that attracts you to go further to click and read? The heading, the first few lines of the post are the grabbers. Be selective to quickly guide the reader to what your topic covers.

•· Content - Who has time to read a novel? Be concise, thoughtful, use bullet points, and respect to layout.

•· Be yourself, let your personality shine.

•· Proper grammar and spelling. Check in word and read over what you have authored again, don't be so quick to submit.

•· Join groups that center on interest that you have a post that is a great fit. It may be featured there.

•· Subscribe to others - if you give of your time to thoughtfully comment on many posts, consistently to those you enjoy, they in turn will visit your post and comment. Your AR friends!

•· What time of day do you post? Experiment as to when the traffic is higher on AR and more exposure. Just remember at popular posting times your exposure on the blog line goes rapid down the line and time visible at a first glance.

The Gold Star is great but your self satisfaction of expressing yourself, sharing, and educating is what Active Rain brings. So give yourself a gold star when you hit the big zero and move on. Look in the mirror to see what you can do to alter some things to attract more viewers. Keep in mind that if you are happy with what you post then goal achieved!