Face-to-Face in Steamboat Springs Establishes a Business “Relationship”

I read two things this morning that had me mulling over how important it is to meet with clients face-to-face. As an off-the-beaten-path (in a great way!) resort town, Steamboat Springs gets lots of initial inquiries via phone and email, but the sooner I can meet in person with someone the better. I understand the importance of knowing how clients prefer to communicate, and I posted a blog on just that topic on SteamboatsMyHome.com.

Here’s what caught my eye this morning, that strengthened my belief in face-to-face meetings sooner rather than later with potential clients, and periodically with current clients:

Proof Point #1: A featured post on the real estate site, Active Rain, by Judi Barrett titled: “Are You Pricing Your Home to Sell or Pricing it to Keep?”

* This is the perfect question to ask someone who has had their home on the market for a while, who has done the appropriate staging inside, ensured maximum curb appeal on the outside, and has ample marketing support from their real estate agent, but still hasn’t obtained an offer.

* But this is not a question I’d want to ask in an email, or even over the phone. Nope, this is a sit down together let’s have a heart-to-heart conversation about what your pricing motivations are.

* While it’s the perfect question that should lead to a productive conversation,  it could be taken totally out of context and cause a client to get defensive if it’s simply asked in an email or over the phone in a quick “do you have a minute” phone call.

Proof Point #2: An Inc.com post by Rene Siegel, owner of High Tech Connect, that was titled: “5 Reasons You Need to Meet in Person”. Here they are and my shortened (one example each) of how this relates to real estate:

1) You’re off the record: Ever tried to have a home buying/selling conversation with someone at work and their employer doesn’t know they are leaving?

2) Make use of not-so-small-talk: Small talk is what builds relationships that are important in real estate – small talk is much harder to foster in an email, text or phone call.

3) Make an impression: Just like some internet dates are flops, you can spend a lot of time working with someone over email, and when you meet it just doesn’t click for one or both of you.

4) Read the body language: What people say and how they feel as judged by body language can be two totally different things – hearing words while seeing body language gives you the upper hand every time.

5) Learn where the action is: the sooner a client comes to your office they see and know your personality much better, or when you go to their home you immediately see what needs to happen to list it or if it’s perfectly ready to put on the market as is.

—For more information on buying real estate or questions regarding Steamboat Springs real estate  in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, feel free to call Charlie at 970-846-6435 or write me an email at: charlie@steamboatsmyhome.com

Thanks,

Charlie