Judy Hicks, Re/Max Coastal
Q. With all the new technology out there, is there a new way you are communicating this year? How is it working for you?
A. Of course, the quickest way is to send emails. I’m an early riser so I can get a lot of work done via email from 6-9 a.m.! I consider email to be very effective but passive. To me there is nothing that replaces a conversation. It’s old fashioned, I know, but it’s effective and most times when I call someone it makes my day! This year my goal is to “see” more people instead of just using email. I visit my favorite clients and referral sources monthly. It takes time but man, is it worth it!
Q. What are some of your favorite forms of communication to your clients and prospective clients?
A. I use a contact management system that allows my clients to log in and view activities pertaining to their sale or listing. It’s web-based so, like me, they can use it anytime they want. My goal is to have coffee or lunch with my business-to-business contacts and referral sources at least quarterly and really get to know them and how I can be a resource to them in their business.
Q. What are the best ways you have found to communicate with site agents?
A. My absolute favorite and what I consider to be the most effective is to visit with them. The visits are not long, but I can catch up on pricing, see new product and sometimes even bring lunch.
Q. Communication is an important part of any business. How would you advise agents to take a new look at how they are currently communicating and consider opening up to some of the new forms of communication?
A. The most effective way, I believe, is face to face and phone calls. I can promise you if a site agent calls me and invites me to a luncheon or an event, I will do everything in my power to attend. Emailing invitations is passive — they are easy to ignore and so most of the time an emailed invitation is not the most effective way to get the word out. I also do not recommend dropping off flyers (they are costly and mostly thrown away – save the money and give it to a charity!). Seriously, builders spend a lot of money on luncheons, giveaways and bonuses to get Realtors to visit their models, luncheons and after-hours and there are few things that replace the professionalism, excitement and passion that someone feels for their product or for an event like a phone call does. Picking up the phone and calling someone takes time and people appreciate it. It’s really hard to say no when someone calls you, don’t you think?
Shawn Starr, Dreambuilder Custom Homes
Q. With all the new technology out there, is there a new way you are communicating this year? How is it working for you?
A. I don’t have a new way of communicating unique to this year, but rather I’m continuing to use technology to communicate with clients, Realtors and my subcontractors. Demonstrating the company’s use of technology presents a good face for the company and shows we’re current and relevant to today’s world. I use email, text, blogging and Facebook to communicate, and I have a special area of my website that I use to communicate with my trade partners.
Q. What are some of your favorite forms of communication to your clients and prospective clients?
A. It’s a combination of what you might call the traditional and the new. When I want to send a thank you note, for example, I will compose one on letterhead, or perhaps handwrite one and mail it, as that’s the most appropriate method from an etiquette perspective. On the other hand, communicating via email and text is very fast and responsive. I can send an email to a prospective client with information, attachments and web links all at their fingertips. Generally speaking, I will respond, at least initially, in the same form of communication that someone reached out to me with. Clearly this was the most comfortable method for that person, and I want to respond in kind.
Q. What are the best ways you have found to communicate with Realtors?
A. It depends on the situation. I’ve communicated with Realtors that I’ve never met in person via email or phone who may be looking for some basic, high-level information. As things develop then a longer phone appointment or an in-person meeting is arranged. Everyone’s time is in short supply to it’s important to meet a person’s needs without taking up more time than necessary. I keep in touch with Realtors in a general sense through my blog and then by attending networking events where I can see them in person.
Q. Communication is an important part of any business. How would you advise agents to take a new look at how they are currently communicating and consider opening up to some of the new forms of communication?
A. First of all, when you get a communication, respond, and do it soon. If you don’t respond or take too long, you’re going to lose whoever it is you’re communicating with. Beyond that, I would encourage Realtors to take advantage of the technology available to target specific messages to their markets. Don’t send out a bunch of ‘junk mail’ but find out what your markets are interested in and send them that information. Today’s technology makes it much easier to divide our contacts into groups to send different messages to that are relevant to them.