Texting Agents, Clients and for the 411
Nov. 05. 2010
Maybe it is the fact I am Generation Y (well, I would like to say I am on the cusp), because I have tendencies and a like minded work ethic of a person in Generation X (but I think kids these days are getting lazier, no one will know how to send a piece of mail or communicate face to face in the future. And what is with "cyber-bullying"?), but I feel as though I am slightly more connected with Generation Y (Open to social networking, videos, member of Facebook since college, constantly texting my friends, younger family members) and now…I even have the last line of my voice mail state, "For a faster response or question, please send a text message, thank you."
TEXTING AGENTS….
Is it bad of me that some times calling my voice mail is more work than simply reading my text messages that are right in front of me on my phone screen? I certainly appreciate it when I can text message an agent to ask a simple question, for example, "What is the combo code for__?" or "Does this house have any applications/offers on it?"
I will say I do not randomly text an agent, it is more of a last resort. I called the office, called the cell, maybe I will shoot them a text message to just sum up my message and what I need? It is such a frustration when an agent doesn’t answer or doesn’t call you back (within a good amount of time), however it is understandable that you can’t always answer the phone as an agent. Going back to Joetta Fort’s blog about not answering your phone in front of other clients is a good excuse as to why an agent won’t answer the phone as well.
TEXTING CLIENTS…
I know it may not be establishing the best repor, but I find texting my clients from time to time is a nice gesture. Some times I will text a client if they are waiting to hear news from me and I know they are at work, I will write "Hey just letting you know I haven’t heard anything yet, but they said they will get back to me today"
I will also text my client to see how things are going after the move, "How is the painting coming along?" "Did you get a chance to check out (fill in the blank with a place I talked about near their home)?"
Don’t get me wrong, I use email. I send thank you cards, I will call, but it seems like text message is the non-intrusive, but faster provoking response method of communication.
TEXTING FOR INFORMATION
Since people want information faster than ever (they don’t wait to get home and call or email you about a house), they immediately start looking up the property on their phone as they drive down the street…(half the time they probably don’t even catch the house number)!
You can set up information to be distributed by text message with your listings. "For more info. on this home text _" on a rider sign in the front yard. Chances are (depending on the clients, I suppose) the text numbers will get more action than your cell phone. Depending on how you look at it, this can be a good thing or a bad thing. If you can track who texts the number, and get their info. this can work to your benefit. The text message to the interested buyer can tell the price, square footage, schools, and then the agent’s number to set up a showing. If a buyer made it past the first few criteria, then you are already one step closer to qualifying the buyers and possibly building a repor, and adding them to your client list!
My Text Messaging Tips:
Proofread what you send (phones some times guess words and this can cause confusion)!
Don’t ONLY use text message (your clients may get too used to it, then you won’t have a good idea of how to read them)
Keep the messages short and sweet. (Anything that requires a lot of detail, pick up the phone).
Bad news is not for text message (again, pick up the phone)
No late night texts (as a night owl agent, I do a lot of my "computer" work from my bed at night, this is not a good time to remember something and send a text message. Plus if my clients are like me, their phone might not be on silent at night). And with that being said, no early morning texts either
Keep it friendly 😉