general trends regarding technology.
3
They know their neighborhoods intimately
The phrase "neighborhood expert" gets bandied about quite a bit but when it comes to top agents, they are walking, talking encyclopedias of neighborhood lore. Ask a question about a street and they know what's on the market, what sold recently, and the overall status of the neighborhood. If you tell the agent what you like in a neighborhood and suggestions on places to look will come tumbling out.
Looking to sell? Top agents will know what is on the market, what just sold, and what you get for your money. These days anyone can look at houses online but the top agents know what lurks below the surace and they keep their value that way.
4
They explain everything they are doing
Like staight A students doing math homework, successful agents show their work. When they meet with the client for the first time they explain the process, the potential roadblocks, and a few scenarios that could occur. They let the client knowthat they
are negotiating, they keep in regular communication, and they adjust their strategy as needed. When asked what makes sellers most satisfied with their agents, they said regular communication on what was happening with the efforts to sell their home.
5
They get leads anyway they can
Nobody really likes to talk about leads but leads are how many agents get clients. A leas is an intorduction to someone the Realtor hasn't met yet. Smart agents are experimeters, they try out different types of lead sources, they explore different types of ad campaigns, and they take notes on what works and what doesn't. They nderstand that having a social presence is important and that staying top of mind means being active with their clients through social media, through advertising, and even through more traditional methods such as postcard mailings. Postcards and bus stop bench ads are still around because they still work in some cases.
6
They have a great network
These agents don't just have a network to bring them clients they have a network of top-notch partners who prvide the same level of service they do. They know the best contractors, appraisers, lenders, and insurance providers in the business. They are what
Malcolm Gladwell designated in the Tipping Point as a connector. The agent is the hub of a group of professionals that canadvise and assist with anything real estate or home related. Top agents care for their network and arehappy to refer clients that they know will get top care. They are ruthhless about cutting out anyone who doesn't provide great customer service to their clients.
Overall, great customer service is about two things, knowledge and authenticity. The agents that asucceed are able to treat each cleint's purchase as vitally important. They are able to steer the cleint through any hiccups in the process and leave the cleint feeling that the whole process was as easy as possible.
Novemeber 2016