This was passed on to me by a mortgage company, I thought it was useful, hope you do too!

Any other tips/ideas to share? Please post them! I love to learn from you!

The one thing you can do to create great client relationships
is to provide great client service.
Here are seven key things to focus on
to deliver superior client service...

1. Get to Know Your Client. It's easy to find out the obvious things a client wants: price, timing, neighborhood. But how about taking the time to learn about your client's hobbies, social activities, what their children are involved in, their education and job. All this information can help you better appreciate a client's needs and maybe help put together a better deal for them. People like working with people who understand what they're about. The simple fact is, the more knowledge you have about your client, the more valuable you are to them.

2. Tailor the Customer Experience. The way clients like to work with you can diverge tremendously. Do they like to meet after seeing a property and review everything carefully? If they're sellers, do they want to see you in person on a regular basis? How often? Or do they prefer to keep your relationship as time-efficient as possible for the both of you? Don't be afraid to ask, "How would you like me to work with you?"

3. Keep the Channels of Communication Open. No matter how hard working you are, if clients have trouble reaching you, they won't be happy. Make it easy for the client to work with you. Give them your cell phone number and keep your cell phone with you always. If you're in an important meeting, turn the phone off and let incoming calls go to message, or, if you expect an important call, put the phone on vibrate and look at the caller ID, which will display as long as the client is in your cell phone's directory. Use instant messaging, email or web conferencing. Fax listings or email web listings to the client before they view a property. Enhancing your connectivity in these ways, you'll deliver a positive customer experience at every touch point: on the web, by phone, email, and face-to-face.

4. Build Trust. The quickest way to build trust is to only make promises and commitments you know you can keep-and then keep them, no matter what. This may mean working overtime or reaching out to more people in your network for some vital information. Trust is highly valued by clients but a rare commodity, so once you earn it, clients won't want to part with you.

5. Be Yourself. People still think they should present themselves in business as someone other than who they are. They think if they can fake sincerity, they've got it made. You can do one better and actually be sincere. The most enduring business relationships have at their root an honest friendship. When it's appropriate, don't be afraid to bring up your own life goals, aspirations, and interests. Most people have dozens of business acquaintances but few friends. Try to be one of them.

6. Continually Monitor and Modify Your Approach. Ask yourself:

• Did I manage all my client interactions effectively from first contact to last?
• What are the things I did right in this purchase/sale?
• What are the things I wish I did differently in this purchase/sale?

Accept the fact that in relationships, there's always room for improvement.

7. The Most Important Question of All. With both existing and former clients, the most important question you can ask is: "What else can I do for you?" That may sound obvious and even a little self-serving. But to the client, this question suggests that you understand they have needs beyond the ones you're currently fulfilling. So don't be afraid to ask. You might be surprised at the answer.

*courtesy CTX Mortgage Franklin, TN*