Don’t Be Like Mike…. Be Like Fats!!
December 30th, 2007 Categories: Surprise AZ Real Estate
For all you jazz lovers out there, you would know I am referring to Fats Waller. Who sings a song that has a main chorus that says: “Find out what they like and how they like it and let em’ have it just that way.”
This should apply to all Real Estate agents today. 
Customer service is essential in today’s market, followed by Communication, and Knowledge and Experience.
Customer Service is a vital part of my business plan. With longer days on market I have to keep my clients abreast of what is going on around them. It is all the little things that matter such as keeping the flier box full, making sure my sign is not hanging after a monsoon, or doing a vacancy check on a empty investment home. You can always expect this level of service from a professional local real estate agent.
Communication or lack thereof, is the biggest complaint against our industry today. You should always expect regular updates from your agent. My market plan includes a local market update on tuesdays and a phone call on Thursdays to touch base. Sometimes there is not much to report but your clients will know that you are thinking about them (at least twice a week).
Knowledge in a down market is key. The party is over folks and we are in a grueling hangover right now. It takes more to successfully CLOSE ESCROW ON A HOME these days. You no longer need a Realtor to find out the market value of your home, there are numerous websites to do that for you. It takes more than a computer’s idea of market value to set a price on a home. Those program’s do not have a concept for what the buyer’s “emotional” price is at the moment.
What about schools, HOA’s, infrastructure, demographics, or who has the best Chinese food in town (Chen Wok). This all plays into things when I answer my phone (yes, I do answer it) on one of my listings and an out-of- state buyer wants to know these facts up front. If you were buying a home in Surprise, AZ and you wanted to know where the next Peter Piper Pizza was going to be put in, wouldn’t it be nice if the realtor knew that? What school your child would go to? Or when that mall and movie theater is going to be finished?
Experience is very important in today’s market. Gone are the days of “I just passed my real estate exam, therefore I am”. A lot of agents are not renewing their license because they have not adjusted to the market and do not have a plan to sell a home (not just list it). You can usually find the newer agents because they are trying to bribe you with gimmicks like free boxes, open houses, free dinner, or the newest one is “free vacation if you list with me”. How is that going to sell your home? They do not have a plan so they compensate with gimmicks that do not work. The goal is to find a buyer and sell your home, not get a sign in your front yard for 6 months.
There are also other factors in today’s market that require more experience than most. What about all the foreclosures, short sells, auctions, and the mortgage crisis. You need an agent who is versed in all these categories. You call an agent because you need a solution to your issue at hand. Sometimes selling your home is not the best solution…. It could be you just need to re-modify your loan (they are receptive to that now). Short sells are very hard to accomplish but getting better. Buyer agents rarely show them anymore, so how is the agent going to get it sold? Ask them? You need to know this stuff before you hire them. What builders will negotiate on list price and which ones won’t? I know, call me and I will also tell you who has the best cookies . All comes with experience in the local market.
“FIND OUT WHAT THEY LIKE AND HOW THEY LIKE IT AND LET EM’ HAVE IT JUST THAT WAY.”
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