I was just thinking... : Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up

Welcome to Reliberation Sign in | Help

Reliberation > Blogs > I was just thinking... > Post

Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up

By: Mike Farmer
Friday, March 30, 2007 10:43 AM

According to Encarta Dictionary:

1. continuation

further action or investigation or a subsequent event that results from and is intended to supplement something done before

______________________________

I'm here this morning to do a little preaching on follow-up. Can I get and AMEN!

It is very difficult to get agents to understand the importance of follow-up. Further action, supplement, these are vital when dealing with buyers and sellers. Buyers fly away without follow-up and sellers get mad. And the crazy thing about it is it is not that difficult. At least drip 'em!

Working with buyers, the view that down-the-road business is not worth the follow-up effort is myopic, and costly. Wouldn't it be nice to have a follow-up plan that results in five sales this coming November? February 2008?

Develop relationships with prospects, reach out and touch them, let them know you have the patience of Job, that you are a zen-like person with a perfect vision of the perfect future home.

Be steady, consistent, persistent, act as if it is a done deal that you are their huckleberry agent.

As a matter of fact, write them and say -- You want an agent? I'm your huckleberry!

Never let 'em see you sweat, never push, always lead.

If you are working with a seller, LET THEM KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON! You can get a lot of forgiveness for a slow-moving home if you develop a relationship and stay on top it. Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up!

I know I am preaching to the choir, but my agents are not here and I had to get it off my chest. I was hit by the inspiration and I had to let it out.

Now I will pass the offering plate.

Comments

Member Since '03	Mike Farmer said: "an" amen, not "and" amen March 30, 2007 9:19 AM
Member Since '04	Mary Welch said: Ok, I am not familiar with being a "huckleberry" but I got the general idea. Amen, followup is very important. Recent scenario: The deal was done, seller was happy, seller made it clear all through the entire process that I was doing such a great job and praise, praise, praise..... The DAY of closing. Buyers agent had sent me an email of the address of the title company a week earlier, seller had droven by it to make sure they knew where it was so it was all set. The day I drive up there 60 miles away, it is not where the buyer agent said it was, they had moved 2 years previous. I have a gps so found it, but my sellers had no idea where to go now and I didn't have their cell phone #. How could anything so right go so wrong at the last minute? I should have checked the information the buyers agent gave me. HE was even late looking for the place and so was his buyer. I thought he said that is where he closed his transactions? So after all the smoothness of the entire sale and now my sellers are a little put out with me because they were late? The last thing you miss because you didn't follow up can make the whole thing bad. March 30, 2007 9:31 AM
Member Since '05	Lonn Dugan said: Good stuff Mike. Really good stuff. People need to hear this. New agents, experienced agents, agents who know it but started forgetting to do it - they benefit too! Thanks for sharing! March 30, 2007 9:33 AM
Member Since '06	Dan Tolman said: Making a real estate dinner, the deal is the main course, and follow-up is the vegetables. If you don't follow up, someone else is going to be eating your lunch. If my son doesn't eat all his dinner, he doesn't get ice cream. And he just loves his ice cream! If I refer a lead, and follow-up is not performed in a timely fashion, I re-refer the lead. No debate. A hard lesson learned, but it's very effective. March 30, 2007 9:49 AM
Member Since '07	Klaus Nicholson said: Amen! March 30, 2007 10:05 AM
Member Since '04	Gary Smith said: Other than the movie Tombstone, I've never heard the phrase. Learn something every day. thanks Mike. "A man; specif., the exact kind of man needed for a particular purpose. 1936: "Well, I'm your huckleberry, Mr. Haney." Tully, "Bruiser," 37 So "I'm your huckleberry" means "I'm just the man you're looking for!" March 30, 2007 11:21 AM
Member Since '04	Mary Welch said: Mike-I may have to pick another fruit since I am female March 30, 2007 11:37 AM
Member Since '07	Helmer Zapata said: Amen March 30, 2007 11:43 AM
Member Since '06	Todd Clark said: Great post Mike, Follow up even after the sale. I call my buyers and sellers a week after closing to see how things are going. I usually get, I was thinking of calling you. I got someone that wants to talk to you and bang I get another lead. Follow up is key to endless referrals. March 30, 2007 11:49 AM
Member Since '07	Efrem McGruder said: AMEN!! March 30, 2007 1:12 PM
Member Since '06	Sharron and Steve Lobman said: Mike, Here are some Benjamins for the offerin' plate! I'm a believer! March 30, 2007 2:01 PM
Member Since '03	Mike Farmer said: Bless you all. Reverend Mike March 30, 2007 2:27 PM
Member Since '07	Gena Plante said: Amen, I get so fustrated with agents that don't follow up. You have to consider your career as your own business, not just hoping a sale will just fall into your lap. Many agents fail in this business, mainly because they lack the need to follow-up. March 30, 2007 3:37 PM
Member Since '03	Mike Farmer said: Thanks for visiting the thread and commenting, Gena. March 30, 2007 3:49 PM
Member Since '05	Becky Troutt said: LOL....Mike are you following up on all the comments too? ;) March 30, 2007 3:52 PM
Member Since '03	Mike Farmer said: Yes, and thank you for commenting. I hope you have found what you need in this thread. I will be calling you shortly to see if there is any way I can further assist. March 30, 2007 4:44 PM
Member Since '05	Becky Troutt said: Dang it all, why did I comment here..... You're not one of those pesky realtors that's going to try and sell me a house are you? UGH.....do you know how long it took me to get rid of the Amway guy? March 30, 2007 5:12 PM
Member Since '03	Mike Farmer said: Oh no, I would never presume that someone as smart as you would fall for a cheap sales trick - no, I am merely offering my humble services in case you might be in the market for the perfect 3 bedroom 2 bath lakefront home with a 2 car garage and a huge bonus room, recently reduced. For more details visit.... Ha! March 30, 2007 6:59 PM