It's the little things that count! Sometimes we loose sight of the small things that make people feel warm and fuzzy.
Not long ago I was showing property to some people from Bellingham Washington. They were purchasing a second home in Sun City Grand for the winter months useage. I would safely guess that about 20% of current sales will be used by Washingtonians as a second home. I haven't been to Washington in a few years but I know that it is pretty wet. Just like the Big Island of Hawaii - namely my hometown of Hilo.
The prospective homeowners met me at my office in Sun City Grand. They had already checked out the listings on my website and knew exactly which homes they wanted to see and they were very excited.
We met early in the morning and I showed them all of the homes on their list. They j
ust didn't find anything that they could say "this is it!" We stopped at JB's Restaurant and had lunch looking out on the 18th green of Granite Falls South Golf Course. I listened intently to their conversation as they described their Bellingham home. Then it rang a bell. I thought of a few homes that I had shown over the couple of weeks.
After lunch, we went back to my office and I selected a few homes for them. I forgot to mention that the temperature was 104 degrees. As we walked into each home that I selected, they commented about the floor plan, model, exteriors and décor etc.
At the third home, the listing agent left a note on the counter to help ourselves to a bottle of water in the refrigerator, and we did. The buyers sat on the comfortable furniture relaxing, drinking their cool water and getting a feel for the home. You know she said, "I like this home". "Yea, it's warm and inviting" he said. They took their time and just studied the home. This was it! A sale was made because a seller and their Realtor® had taken the time for the little things that count. CHILLED WATER WITH AN INVITATION TO HELP YOURSELF!
Leolinda Bowers
I live here! I work here! I know this community!
Hi Leolinda, What an excellent idea. I take a cooler of iced water in the car on showings and people love it. That agent took it one step further.
Oh...that was a great story and we should all stop to remember the little things...stop to smell the flowers and so forth. Thanks for a great reminder!
Bill, I too normally provide chilled water for my buyers. By the time we were on the third house, the water was warm and we were hot. This was an excellent idea that I am sure a more Arizona agents will begin doing.
Sally, I agree that it truly is the little things that count.
Leolinda,
I too have kept a cooler with water in it in the heat.....stop and get coffe or hot chocolate in the cold.
And being a tour guide is part of the job description.
Great idea with the cold water. WE don't get as hot here in Payson as you do, but it does get warm.
I noticed you mentioned thinking of some homes you had already shown. I tell buyers time spent looking at houses is never wasted, so not to feel bad taking time to look even if they aren't ready to buy yet. If I don't sell that house to them I may to someone else. And since I've seen it I can describe it. Our MLS has dicontinued the tours of new on the market homes- I thought it was a great idea. I loved seeing new houses.
That's a great idea. I usually provide water on the really hot days, but it gets warm in the car, in no time. We should suggest this to sellers (and we can provide the water). It's a great idea. (A lot of realtors don't want us to take tours of homes on our own, without our clients, and I think it's a bad idea ... as we can see from the success story here.)
You are right. That small thing made a world of difference.
Leolinda, Sometimes I leave a bowl of fruit or chocolate which will be appreciated. Other agents perceive it as someone who actually cares and is thanking those that visit their listing. At least that is what some agents have mentioned to me.....Now if I could only get some of my own agents to also do this......
Dan, I never thought about the hot coffee or chocolate! Excellent idea!
Leslie, sometimes we see so many homes with a variety of upgrades that showing it again refreshes the property in our minds eye. And who knows, the buyer may like one of them. I recognize that it is especially difficult for you when showing ChaparralPines or the Rim properties in Payson due to the many facets of specialty homes & upgrades in both golf course communities.
Sylvie, If your client called and asked you to describe a home in your market area, how could you describe it if you did not see it?
Every time I show a home, I try to remember as much as I can about the home. I even take copious notes - just in case that client or another one asks me questions about the home. I get telephone calls every day from people inquiring about a listing most of which are not mine.
Knowing your inventory is the key to your success.
Kim, I'll share a secret, now don't tell anyone but....I am one of the few people in the entire world who does not like chocolate.
Leolinda, unfortunately, some things are beyond our control. Just because I WANT to know ALL the inventory, doesn't mean I can (or I'm allowed to, unfortunately).
If we are not allowed to tour the house, then we are not allowed to tour the house; and have to do so, with our clients. (We are trying to change that rule within our Board, so that showings have no restrictions of any kind, once the property goes on MLS).
The properties I am allowed to tour, I take notes on and ask permission to take photographs. I am very thorough, right down to drawing the room layouts.
I think listing agents have to work a little harder at educating their clients about the importance of letting other agents tour the houses - with or without their clients.
Leolinda, Wow, that's fantastic. I love that idea. Now to see what and how I need to set up my listings with something similar.
Sylvie, You are absolutely correct! Sellers need to be educated. :)
Bob, Let me know what the buyers and other agents think. I am sure you will get positive reations.
What a awsome Idea, I will use that with my listings. I'm down in Houston and we get Hot. already broke two records this week.
Instead of lunch, I take my clients to starbucks (cost as much as lunch). But we can keep going and everybody including me gets renergized and I can show them more houses.
Ginny, I hope it works for you too!
Its all about the little things, how the home looks and how comfortable teh buyers feel in teh home.
case in point have the AC on in a arizona home in the summer if you ever want to sell it.
Andrew, you are absolutely correct! I showed 6 homes today. Four of which had the ac set at 90 degrees. The buyers hurried in and out. Even I just wanted to get out of the house and into the 109 degree weather.
The temperature in the other two homes was set at 80. The buyers took their time and really studied those two homes. I'll let you know which on they decide to buy.