Demonstrate the value you bring to your customer!
Just read through the 182 (so far) responses to this person’s question on Trulia Voices.
There are some dumb answers to the question, and some very intelligent responses. It’s interesting to read. And tempting to join in, but I think enough has been said.
If someone’s convinced we, as real estate agents in general, are ripping them off, it’s better to ignore them. Nothing will change that state of mind. They may have had a bad experience and that’s that.
However, we have the responsibility to explain the value we provide to our customers.
If we fail to show how a seller, or buyer, benefits from our involvement in their real estate transaction, we’ll be treated as plain salepeople, and with very little respect. Do you have a list of benefits you provide your sellers and buyers? Can you demonstrate how you can add value?
If we fail to educate sellers and buyers on what could go wrong, they may not feel we did much even if everything goes perfectly. Do you have examples of sellers who made the wrong choice and lost money?
If we fail to provide good service, we will lose the trust of our sellers and buyers. Are you making sure that you provide what you promised, and treat sellers and buyers the way you’d expect to be treated? Are you keeping up with marketing techniques and doing the best you can to promote a seller’s home?
We run the risk of being called names and marginalized if we don’t provide great service and if we can’t show what that is.
And if a majority of agents choose to be lazy and only put one photo in the MLS, and a couple lines of text, or don’t tell their sellers what their home’s true market value really is from the beginning, and let their sellers down, then yes, we will need to start getting scared.
