How to Improve the Real Estate Industry: Shut Up And Listen
I Love Lamp
Last night Lani and Mariana tweeted “I love lamp” – of course it’s the out of context nature of the statement that is funny, but it goes beyond that. It made me think of the many times our industry fails to provide good service because of the mere fact many of us don’t listen (for the record, I’m including myself just to be polite and to see if anyone is paying attention).
Some of us have the bad habit of interrupting or worse yet, thinking of a response while the other person is talking. Can you shut up for a second and listen? It amazes me that listening has become a skill, one that is difficult to find in our industry. Clients complain all day long that their needs are not being met, not because they can’t find the right property or because they don’t qualify for a loan, but because their agents are not paying attention to their needs!
Come on people, it doesn’t get any more basic than that! Stop and Listen, let your client talk, pay attention and you will see what a difference that will make in your business.
We received this via email today…
…that represents what I’m talking about:
I am a loyal person who openly, honestly, and respectfully communicates my expectations and you can expect that from me as your client. And, in the spirit of transparency and open communication from the get-go, in truth, my frustration with prior REALTORS both in NYC and here Miami since my search began have surrounded around what I have determined as REALTORS simply not listening to, or ignoring, what I’m saying…. regarding architecture and style of home, for example (or its eventually potential should it need work) … over the past year what I’ve heard about homes shown is simply, “this is a good-buy,” without taking into any consideration what I’ve said from the beginning regarding what I’m looking for in a home. More specifically, overall space or mass raw square footage in a house is not paramount for me, but rather the thoughtful use of that space and how it is, or could be, designed that really matters – especially taking into consideration how I and my family typically spends our time and uses our home, you know?
So please humor me and shut up for a bit – really take time to listen to your clients needs and expectations. Our industry will thank you for putting a stop to the stigma.
**NOTE: if you love lamp……then you are a good listener**
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This article published on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 10:54 pm | Contact the editor
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About this Columnist (Full Profile)
Ines is all Miami, all the time. A Miami Beach Realtor® with Majestic properties, Ines authors Miamism.com, PrimeMiamiBeach.com, and MiamismPix.com and is always on communication’s leading edge. She goes out of her way to engage and be engaged, often using Mojitos to keep the mood light and give everything she does a Miami flavor. You can find her goofing off or instigating trouble at Twitter, Flickr, Facebook or LinkedIn.
Email Ines Hegedus-Garcia
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- sheldonpearce:
RT @LaniAR: awesome! @ines says the real estate industry would improve if realtors STFU: http://is.gd/4Rpp6 (also t (cont) http://tl.gd/t0m9
- RealEstate Babble:
AgentGenius: How to Improve the Real Estate Industry: Shut Up And Listen http://bit.ly/2crrzU Full http://bit.ly/3Kw4vg
- Real Estate Feeds:
How to Improve the Real Estate Industry: Shut Up And Listen: I Love Lamp Last night Lani and Mariana tweeted &#.. http://bit.ly/382dRO
- Sheldon Pearce:
RT @LaniAR: awesome! @ines says the real estate industry would improve if realtors STFU: http://is.gd/4Rpp6 (also t (cont) http://tl.gd/t0m9
- Ines Hegedus-Garcia:
@LaniAR I swear I had to go back and see if I wronte STFU!! LOLOLOL http://twurl.nl/8bzb4l
- Top 10 real estate posts of the day for 11/10/2009 : Hassle Free Phoenix Area Home Search:
[...] ) How to improve the real estate industry – Shut up and listen – Are you listening to your clients, I mean really [...]
- realdiggity:
How to Improve the Real Estate Industry: Shut Up And Listen: comments http://bit.ly/1NZTNv
- Mark Brian:
How to Improve the Real Estate Industry: Shut Up And Listen http://ow.ly/B2dW
- Ines Hegedus-Garcia:
RT @LaniAR: RT @agentgenius: #agnow @ines ima letchu finish, but @laniar @Mizzle had the best lamp of all time! http://bit.ly/2w5RLw [LMAO]
- Patty O'Brian:
How to improve the real estate industry via @agentgenuis http://tinyurl.com/yc2c3nv
Benn Rosales
Conal Campbell
Elijah May
Lani Rosales
Tara Steele
Marti Trewe
Charlene Jimenez
Ines,
That is so true. One of the first lessens that I learned back in the late ’80′s was to do exactly that. Be quiet, listen more and say less.
Well said!
Tom
Ines,
“I’m kind of a big deal.” Unfortunately that’s the reason why most do not listen to others. They have a heightened sense of self-worth and the only person in the room they want to hear speak…..is themselves.
Doug
“We have two ears and one mouth so we may listen more and talk the less.”
— Epictetus
Roman (Greek-born) slave & Stoic philosopher (55 AD – 135 AD)
I try to tell all of my clients that while I strive to listen and interpret as best I can, I expect them to tell me if they perceive that I’m not listening. You’d be surprised by how surprised they are that I have expectations of them, and of myself.
Tom – I don’t get how something so trivial can be so difficult for some – is as if they want to impress and don’t realize they are failing from the moment they open their mouths
Doug – I think that applies to some, but not the main reason people don’t listen. It’s as if their world revolved around a series of superficial events and never get down to the core. Personally, blogging has made me a better listener.
Jay – but some have a really BIG mouth
Jim – priceless! We ask our clients to repeat themselves often as not to have to interpret the space between the lines – it is definitely a two-way street. But as you can tell from the guy above, he has very specific needs and expectations and many have failed already. He even goes to say that if at anytime his expectations are ridiculous, to please let him know and put him in his place. I love good communicators.
This is something I work on everyday (with my wife too, not just clients, lol). I know I fell into the bad habit when I first got into the business when I had three different clients by a house that I didn’t show them with another agent.
Client A: ONLY wants to see duplexes, bought a detached single family $30k higher then he wanted to spend.
Client B: Had to have Jack & Jill sinks in the master bath of the newer (post 2001) built home; bought a 1950′s bungalow which didn’t even have a master bathroom.
Client C: Would not look at anything attached (too much noise from the neighbors); bought the middle unit on the 2nd story of a 3 story condo conversion.
Can you believe I heard the term “Buyer’s are liars” a lot that first year? Fortunately, I’ve learned to qualify my buyers wants vs needs better since then
When I was doing training I always emphasized that the way to make more money then the competition was to talk less and listen more. Clients will tell you what they want you just have to take the time to actually hear them.
@ines ima letchu finish, but @laniar @Mizzle had the best lamp of all time!
Hey Ines, only have a minute to chat, then I have to fly to Miami to meet up with Yngwie.
So yeah, lamp, that’s great. I get it. Did I tell you I’m visiting Yngwie? He’s got a few projects he has in mind for me. It’s going to be spectacular.
Maybe I can squeeze you and Rick in for a…what do you call them…mo-jeet-toe? Yeah, it would be fabulous, but I’m so busy with Yngwie, I’ll have to see what I can do for you.
Oh and he has the fabulous lamp, would have been great for your article. Yeah, absolutely super.
(If you’ve ever listened to me before, you’d know that that was completely tongue in cheek.)
Ines – You just gave me an idea for a post. Thanks!
And yes, I do love lamp.
Oh. So. True.
We have been provided:
Two Ears
and
One Mouth
For a reason.
This is quite possibly one of the most inane and insulting posts I have ever read.
I can’t believe this is what our professional forums our reduced to. Penning a post to tell agents not to be rude; in the rudest of all possible ways.
To be honest, I miss the Bloodhound days, where a post was researched, vetted and the writer brought up issues and ideas that needed airing. This is not of that caliber and what I call “internet bile.”
Benn, do people get 25 points for comments here, like AR?
Ines, you love good communicators? Do you think you communicated your message well?
Crass and insulting come to mind.
Here comes the obligatory “Good post!”
Ines,
If I told you your post sucked, and to stop writing, would you consider that rude?
Here’s the point to actually vet: Not listening is not exclusive to the real estate industry.
I go to Home Depot; they don’t listen. I talk to Verizon Wireless; they don’t listen.
@Kevin: Are you for real?
Completely.
Come on. Did you read the comment?
Kevin – you have the choice to not read
I did read the comment, it seemed considerably harsh considering this post seemed like nothing more than a gentle and innocuous reminder to listen, something we all seem to agree everyone could do more of.
Ines,
Posts like this don’t help the industry they only further negative stereotypes.
The post was condescending.
Trace:
gentle and innocuous? From Wikipedia: “Shut up” is a slang phrase with a meaning similar to “be quiet”‘, but commonly perceived as an angrier, “meaner”, and more commanding attempt to stop someone from talking or making noise
@kevin you said The post was condescending.
No more condescending than anything you’ve said here. Personally I agree with the consumer that wrote the email that inspired the post to a certain point. She sounds like a lady who will drag you to a million properties before she decides she likes the shingles, and that’s okay, she just needs to be closed or brought to reality imo.
I’ll listen to a point of deciding I can or cannot help someone, and in this case, I’m not there to assess it, therefore I can’t debate it.
I wonder though, did you Kevin get the same email and ignore it?
Kevin,
I think your comments are certainly the stereotypical comments of self indulged Realtors. It’s certainly what I’ve come to expect of many agents.
If the phrase “Shut up” were to be changed to “Be Silent” would that have made a difference? If your comments were intended to be constructive, doing so off the forum would seem to be a better way to reach your intention.
…25 points, please…
Kevin wrote: “I go to Home Depot; they don’t listen. I talk to Verizon Wireless; they don’t listen.”
So what? Because others don’t listen that makes it OK for real estate agents not to listen? I don’t recall Ines saying poor listening skills are exclusive to real estate.
Interesting to compare this post to BHB, where the primary owner / author frequently makes very personal, sometimes vicious attacks. If you miss it so much, go read it. It’s still there, and the personal attacks are still happening.
Given the widespread lack of listening skills I’ve encountered in this industry, I think what Ines said needed to be said. Not every blog post needs to be deeply researched and vetted to make a viable point. Just my opinion.
Benn,
No I didn’t get that email. I understand that my comment was harsh. I knew it when publishing it. Real estate is a “real” tough biz. In my 17 years of real estate I have never “closed” a client. A buyer can detect being “closed” a mile away. They know it the second it starts.
Though some people may find me obnoxious, I’m ok with that. The problem here is:
1. agents don’t have common sense
2. agents don’t know enough about biz
Telling an agent to shut up isn’t gonna help them.
If someone finds my comment so harsh–they may not have the cojones to stay in the biz.
It’s probably just me, but calling a post “inane and insulting” and “internet bile” is WAY more “crass and insulting” than saying “shut up”.
Way.
Telling someone to shut up may be ‘harsh,’ but real estate as you said is a tough biz, obviously you’re an effective listener.
Ok Jay.
Great.
I’m horrible. Heinous. I do read BHB. But I have the balls enough to read it and and not run from it and hide in a pretty little cloud with rainbows and butterflies of hashtags and acronyms.
I was having a conversation with someone else who was commenting that they quality of content at another publication, not this one, was dissapating rapidly.
Should we all just stand back and comment with “Great Post” with 14 million acronyms and hashtags? If not, that’s what seems to be happenin’
I think there is a place for Agent Genius, BHB, AR, et al. It’s clear that you don’t like BHB—but I read it for other things (not the personal attacks).
Benn,
I respect you. I like your pub. Listening isn’t all that hard. Helping someone is even easier.
Kevin, of course, tis why I let you comment and not call you names in rainbow land.
I don’t think you’re horrible and heinous for reading BHB Kevin. There is some brilliant stuff there. There’s pure unadulterated bullshit there too (just like on any blog, newspaper, TV or any other source of information — my own blog included).
I just found it ironic as hell that you were rude to Ines for being rude and then mentioned BHB, where Swann has redefined the word rude on multiple occasions.
It doesn’t take “balls” to read BHB (or anything else) Kevin. Read whatever you want to, I don’t care. I enjoy some of the BHB authors, but I can’t stomach the vitriol spewed there at times. So I chose not to read it unless someone sends me a link and says “you should read this”. It’s as simple as that.
#JustSayin
And where is my diet coke and popcorn?
Jay
I became incensed from “shut up.” My parents taught me a few things that still stick with me:
1. never, ever tell people to shut up. Dogs are told to shut up.
2. never eat while you are walking
3. never walk while smoking. My sisters smoked so my mom would go off if they would walk and smoke. “Prostitutes do that,” she would say.
Inane was professional. Insulted is the way I felt.
“Internet bile” well…not so much.
Jay
Consider this comment four acronyms and three hashtags.
Benn – please give Kevin 50 points for that last comment. That was funny.
Matt,
I didn’t understand your comment until I read your profile. You train agents.
Stereotypical? I sell multi million dollar properties. If I need to scrub the floor, I have no problem doing that.
There’s nothing stereotypical about me.
The last chastising I rec’d was yesterday from a “coach” who “used to be” an agent.
HMMM.
#wink
Great banter! I’m in love with Kevin already because I know he has a big ……. brain.
I find it interesting how two people (and many more) can read the same post and get something entirely different out of it.
Insulting? No. Although I can see where you see it as insulting based on what your parents told you about “shut up” and dogs.
What I read was a reminder to agents to stop and listen closely. A way to make our industry better. Sometimes we’re so wrapped up in the million ways we think we’re improving our client’s experience that we miss some of the basics. Sometimes we get so excited about our latest tech tool that we forget to communicate with our clients on a personal level. Sometimes we’re just tired and not doing our jobs to the best of our ability. Whatever it is, there are times when a reminder of the simple things in life need to be reinforced – even if you practice them everyday.
Ines’ ideas are common place in agent training classes – it’s not as if she jumped out of bed and said “I’m going to tell all agents to shut up.” I’ve heard the same theories many times before and sometimes the message has been harsh, sometimes it’s been given softly. The delivery caught the attention, but the message remains the same.
I’m on the other side of the fence on this one. Let’s bring the garbage to the surface and expose it for what it is. Let’s be open about the mistakes our industry has made and some continue to make. I’m not a fan of the “let’s keep it in the closet” and deal with it amongst ourselves set. I am all for an industry that stops the attitude of sweeping things under the rug in order to make sure we all look squeaky clean. It hasn’t worked. The consumer is a lot brighter than that and this attitude of hiding our flaws from the consumers only makes them more suspicious (they can see right through most of the gloss that we paint over everything).
Ines’ topic doesn’t quite fall into what I’m talking about here in my opinion, but because of the comment, I decided to expand it a little deeper.
I’ve been in the biz for 30 years. It’s been a pretty good run, big ups, big dips, laughs, tears, etc.
This listening thing is huge. I have no doubt that my lapse in listening skills has cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars (figure $20K X 30 years minimum) over the course of my career.
This post reminds me, again, listen more than I talk…which is so HARD.
Thanks for sharing.
PS. I don’t mind being told to “Shut-UP”. In fact, you could have said “STFU” and I would be cool with that too.
Cheers.
Ken,
If you read the Wiki thing for “Shut Up” it might as well be STFU. I saw/read the post differently. I spoke my mind, and now I’m done.
Looks like Harvard thinks listening (or the lack thereof) is not only a problem in the real estate industry…
http://sellsius.posterous.com/is-listening-an-endangered-skill-harvard-busi
Looks like listening paid off – just executed contract for above client and received the following: