customer appreciation

Five-Star Roadmap:How Customer Feedback Fuels Your Real Estate Business

Sep 17, 2023

At ProspectsPLUS!, we fully understand the profound impact of our customers’ feedback. It is a testament to their level of satisfaction with our service and underscores our commitment to providing world-class products and service.

With this in mind, we’re thrilled to announce a significant milestone we just achieved: ProspectsPLUS! surpassed 5,000 five-star customer reviews!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you. This remarkable accomplishment would not have been possible without your continued loyalty and support.

Now, let’s delve into the topic of why customer reviews are indispensable to the success of every business, specifically a real estate business.

Why Customer Reviews Are Crucial

They Build Trust and Credibility

Real estate transactions are significant life events, often involving substantial financial investments. Customers want to work with agents they can trust.

Positive reviews from previous clients act as a vote of confidence, assuring potential clients that you are a reputable and reliable professional.

Provide Social Proof

In a highly competitive industry, social proof is invaluable. Customer reviews are authentic testimonials that demonstrate your ability to deliver excellent service.

They give prospective clients a reason to choose you over your competitors.

Positive reviews can also improve your online visibility and search engine rankings. When potential clients search for real estate services in your area, a strong presence with favorable reviews can help your business stand out.

Highlight Your Expertise

Customer reviews often highlight an agent’s specific skills, expertise, or standout qualities.

These insights can attract clients seeking a particular skill set, such as expertise in a specific neighborhood or property type.

Encourage Referrals

Satisfied clients are more likely to refer their friends and family to you. Positive reviews create a ripple effect, potentially expanding your client base through word-of-mouth recommendations.

How to Earn More Customer Reviews:

Make It Easy: Streamline the review process by providing clients clear instructions and links to review sites. The easier you make it, the more likely they’ll follow through.
Timing Matters: Ask for reviews at the right time. It’s often best to request them shortly after a successful closing when the positive experience is still fresh in the client’s mind.
Offer Incentives: Consider offering small incentives to clients for leaving their feedback. Make sure to adhere to FTC guidelines when offering any incentives for customer feedback.
Engage on Social Media: Actively engage with clients on social media platforms. Share success stories and client testimonials to encourage others to do the same.
Ask for Reviews: Don’t hesitate to request reviews from satisfied clients. After a successful transaction, politely ask them to share their feedback on platforms like Google, Yelp, or your website.
Respond to Reviews: Engage with both positive and negative reviews professionally and promptly. Your responses demonstrate that you value feedback and are committed to improving.

By consistently delivering exceptional service and proactively encouraging reviews, you can harness the power of customer feedback to grow your real estate business and establish yourself as a trusted professional in the industry.

PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct, response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts and engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you. Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card! – Click Here

2. The Free 6-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 6-Month Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

3. The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review

The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review allows you to enter your business goals for the remainder of the year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals. – Click Here

4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

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Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

Time to Bring Your Real Estate Closing Gifts to the 21st Century

Jul 6, 2020

Nope. Not another debate about whether or not to gift your clients at closing. Just a polite plea to change up what you’re gifting.

You’ll find what seems like endless advice online about closing gifts. The most popular suggestions include cutting boards (right?), gift cards, welcome mats and knives.

I think we can all agree that anything with your logo, face or other branding is a giant “no way!” Those are gifts that end up in the trash, the closet or at the local thrift shop.

So, what’s a modern, thoughtful closing gift?

“That’s going to depend a lot on the price point of the listing and your relationship with your clients,” according to Emile L’Eplattenier at TheClose.com.

And, we might add, your budget.

You’ve just spent at least 30 days getting to know these people, so we’re hoping you have some sort of clue as to what they like, need or want when they move into their new place.

If you’re stuck, read on — we rounded up some gifts that agents are giving at closing that we think are both memorable and trendy.

*Thinking of You* postcard from the *Customer Appreciation Series*

Get them on the road to a smart home

There are so many cool and useful smart home gadgets on the market now. From the basics, like an Amazon Echo or Google Assistant to a smart thermostat, doorbell or door lock, any would please the new homeowner.

Get ideas by checking out Amazon’s most popular smart home tech:

Echo Dot (3^rd generation)
Smart home cameras with night vision
Indoor security cameras
Ring doorbell
Nest Learning Thermostat
Smart light switch
Smart sprinkler system controller
Smart meat thermometer

For the cash-strapped agent – Give a home management app

Billed as “The All-In-One Home Management App,” the folks at Centriq have nailed the gifting decision process for those agents on a tight budget.

This app promises to help your clients “… troubleshoot, operate and maintain …” their homes. The process sounds easy as well.

“Just snap a picture of the appliances, electronics, and tools in your home. We’ll add the user manuals, warranties, how-to-videos and more.”

For $7.95 per client, annually, the app will display your branding and it offers a “dedicated management dashboard,” among other goodies.

Check out the agent plan at mycentriq.com.

Bling for the newly-minted luxury homebuyer

The luxury home client’s gift may not look anything like that you purchase for the starter home client. And, luxury homebuyers can be further divided by newly-wealthy or old money when it comes time to choose a closing gift.

“Those who are new to wealth tend to flaunt it,” according to Winston Chesterfield, the founder of Barton Consulting. The old-money types prefer “experiential gifts,” according to the editors at RobbReport.com.

How about something to hold the keys to the new home, like a key ring from Tiffany & Co.?

Old monied client? Consider gifting him/her with a book

When billionaires gift their billionaire friends, they usually choose an “experiential gift,” according to Harry Cheadle at Vice.com. Agents with deep pockets may get some ideas by reading Cheadle’s blog post.

Agents on a budget can’t go wrong with the careful selection of a book as a closing gift, according to Cheadle. Especially if that book is the biography of a successful person.

No, books aren’t particularly trendy, but Steve Seibold, author of “How Rich People Think,” says that one of the first things we’ll notice when we enter a wealthy person’s home is “an extensive library of books they’ve used to educate themselves on how to become more successful.”

“As long as that book is not attacking them and their way of life, they would value that gift and they would see that gift for an intelligent gift,” according to Chesterfield.

Some clients are a cinch to buy for while others may take some thought. Hopefully, these ideas will set you on the path to finding that just-right closing gift.

Send the Thank You: Big as a House postcard from the Customer Appreciation Series to your past clients.

PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

1. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

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The Real Estate Mailing List Guide outlines the top tools for generating targeted prospecting lists including Baby Boomers, Empty Nesters, Investors, Lifestyle Interests, High-Income Renters, Move-Up Markets, and more. The Guide also defines done-for-you marketing campaigns to match these markets. –Click Here

2. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

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The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence. –Click Here

3. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan

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Treat your business like a business it is vital to long-term success in this industry. Some agents may put together elaborate business plans, yet there’s something powerful about keeping it simple. Check out our one page Online Real Estate Business Plan. – Click Here

4. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

5. The Market Dominator Branding System

Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a Mega AMrketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this excerpt on the Market Dominator from a recent Q&A Todd Robertson (Director of the Market Dominator) did below.

For additional questions, you can reach Todd at 866-405-3638 or Todd.Robertson@prospectsplus.com or go to Market Dominator for more information.

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

Consistency and automation are the keys to success. Discover how effective direct mail marketing can dramatically increase your bottom line. Enter your statistics in our Free online ROI Calculator and click the ‘CALCULATE MY ROI’ button to see your results instantly! –Click Here

7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”

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The “Crush It” Guide includes easy steps to launching an effective direct mail marketing campaign, how to create a targeted prospect list, the perfect way to layout marketing materials for success, seven opportunities available to target in your area right now. –Click Here

What are you grateful for this Year?

Nov 25, 2019

A couple of years ago, I read an article about a woman in St. Paul, Minnesota who, for 15 years, had led exercise classes twice a week.

Why this caught my interest is that this woman, Loretta Taggart, was 100 years old, which means she began her exercise-training career at age 85.

Taggart chalked up her longevity and stamina to three things: “Moderation, attitude, gratitude … that’s it,” according to KARE-TV’s Jana Shortal.

The Big Thanks postcard is available in the postcard section under the Customer Appreciation Series.

Since we’re approaching Thanksgiving, this is the perfect time to discuss the many benefits of gratitude.

Gratitude and the soul

An attitude of gratitude doesn’t often happen naturally; it’s something that may require conscious practice. But, the practice is well worth the results, according to researchers at the Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley.

“People who practice gratitude report fewer symptoms of illness, including depression, more optimism, and happiness, stronger relationships, more generous behavior . . .”

This increased happiness leads to more success in life, they continue.

Which flies in the face of most of our beliefs. Starting at a young age, most people believe that they’ll reach a state of happiness once they’re successful.

Turns out, that’s backward. Living a life of gratitude is the first and most critical step to success and happiness. In fact, the roadmap to success involves three steps, according to the researchers:

Step one: Gratitude
Step two: Happiness
Step three: Success

Other perks inherent in an attitude of gratitude include an increase in “financial patience,” according to a study cited in the journal Psychological Science.

Why is this important to real estate agents?

Think about how many in your ranks fail to reach out to those in their database. Instead, in their pursuit of “now business,” they chase after new leads. This, despite clear evidence that real estate consumers are ready and willing to work with the agent they used in the past.

It’s that old “immediate gratification” thing. The one thing that makes us spend too much, smoke too much, eat too much.

The Thank You postcard is available in the postcard section under the Customer Appreciation Series.

Anyway, back to the study. Researchers learned that the amount of gratitude felt is in direct correlation to the degree of patience one exhibits.

How to get that powerful gratitude juice?

Ok, without getting too “woo-woo” on you, cultivating an attitude of gratitude starts with counting your blessings.

Every day.

Start a “gratitude journal” to help you out, jotting down those little blessings that made you feel grateful.

Apparently, just the act of journaling your appreciation for the small blessings in your life will help build happiness, according to psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky.

Her research shows that journaling just once a week (for six weeks) is ideal and that “people who wrote three times a week” didn’t experience a similar boost in happiness.

Don’t just create lists in your journal. Give some thought to how your life would look and feel without a particular person or event that makes you feel grateful and then journal about it in detail.

Surprises, by the way, are something to savor, especially if they result in instant gratitude, according to Toby H. Birnbaum, J.D and Hershey H. Friedman, Ph.D.

“Try to record events that were unexpected or surprising, as these tend to elicit stronger levels of gratitude,” they suggest.

Even nasty surprises, however, may offer a valuable lesson or insight; something to definitely be thankful about.

Real estate agents may find that free time with their families, new clients, a colleague that goes out of her way to help or a challenging transaction that met with success ends up in their journals.

The peaceful calm you feel when petting your dog, the love that surges when you hear your child’s laughter, a warm smile from a total stranger – these are also things to consider if they make you feel grateful.

Use tech to help you out

If you prefer using a pen and a bound journal, by all means, go for it.

If, on the other hand, you prefer tech, we’ve rounded up some journaling apps to make the task a little easier.

Android gratitude journal apps:

iOS gratitude apps:

The Thinking of You postcard is available in the postcard section under the Customer Appreciation Series.

This year, as always, we’re grateful for you. Thank you!

Send the Thinking of You postcard from the Customer Appreciation Series to all of your past clients. Let them know you’re thinking of them and here to help with anything they may need.

Need help targeting the perfect niche of buyers or sellers? Use our mailing list too l to create the ideal list (it’s easy) or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!

PLUS: When you have time…here are Free killer tools to help your success this year!

1. The 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Planner – NEW 2020!

2. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan – NEW 2020!

3. Get the ALL-NEW Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”

The “Crush It” Guide includes easy steps to launching an effective direct mail marketing campaign, how to create a targeted mailing list, the perfect way to layout marketing materials for success, seven opportunities available to target in your area right now. –Click Here

4. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

5. The Free Online ROI Calculator

Professional Agent Behavior: 101

Business Etiquette

Jan 30, 2019

Do This, Not This

Reading the news every day it’s easy to assume that manners are a thing of the past – some dusty old idea that few feel the need to adhere to. Our whole sense of what is and isn’t appropriate has been turned upside down to the point where bad behavior is so revered, there are TV shows on the topic.

Unfortunately, this lack of dignity carries over into the business world and the real estate industry as well. Poorly behaving agents is a subject that is becoming more prevalent in the real estate industry.

“Real Estate is a reputation business. Practicing sound business etiquette and consistent professional courtesies will enhance your reputation both inside and outside the real estate arena,” claims the Austin Board of REALTORS®.

And, truer words have never been spoken.

This is a great time of year to reach out to past clients and say thank you. (Available in the Customer Appreciation section under “Postcards”)

“When we asked agents to tell their experiences with poorly behaving agents, we heard horror stories.”

Professional showing behavior

“How about when the listing instructions say to call the listing agent for an appointment to show the house and the agent doesn’t answer the phone?” asks Realty Billings’ Amber Uhren.

“In addition, the agent doesn’t have anyone else answering the phone and doesn’t return your calls.”

How much does a listing client pay for high-quality service? Everyone is trying to make money – the seller, the buyer’s agent and, hopefully, the listing agent as well.

To not do all you can to make it easy for other agents to show the home is not only a breach of your duties to your client, but it’s frustrating for other agents – agents you may need to deal with in the future.

Even if the house has a recently-accepted offer, answer the phone, return the calls and update the listing in the MLS to reflect the change in status.

It’s professional business behavior 101.

Then, there’s the flip side. Most homeowners go through hoops to keep their homes in showing condition. Imagine the frenzy of cleaning and tidying they must go through when they’re expecting a potential buyer.

Then, having to leave the house before the buyers show up is another huge inconvenience. But they do it because they want their homes to sell.

As a listing agent, have you ever faced a ticked off homeowner when, after going through the hoops, the showing agent didn’t show? “Either show the home you made the appointment for, or call the homeowner and cancel,” Uhren continues.

One issue we heard repeatedly is that so many agents don’t leave feedback about the listings they show their buyers.

This may be an old-school custom, but isn’t obtaining feedback the listing agent’s job?

In the past, it was up to the listing agent to gather up all those business cards agents toss on the kitchen counter and make the calls to get the feedback.

Today, the onus not only seems to be on the buyer’s agent, but those that don’t take the time to reach out to the listing agent are considered rude.

Show your past clients your gratitude by saying thank you (Available in the Customer Appreciation section under “Postcards”)

Sure, it’s good etiquette for the buyer’s agent to offer up feedback, but if it isn’t forthcoming, call, text or email him or her.

Professional communication behavior

This may sound crazy, but please check your email more often than once a week.

We spoke with one agent recently, that was in the midst of a deal with an agent across town who, when asked if she got her email, said: “I only check my emails once a week.”

It’s 2019 – time to check your emails daily, at least.

Then, there are the agents who are so busy, their texts look like shorthand. The problem is, not a lot of us understand abbreviations and symbols. If the information you need to communicate doesn’t fit into a text, use email or pick up the phone.

Business communication, especially when we’re dealing with contracts pertaining to someone’s largest investment, need to be clean and clear. No emojis, no emoticons, and no text-speak.

Professional client etiquette

Then, there’s the agent who told us a story about a particular listing presentation. We’ll call her “Agent 2.”

Agent 1 did her listing presentation just prior to Agent 2 giving hers. When Agent 2 arrived for hers, the homeowner shared Agent 1’s trash talk about her. Not only is this a violation of article 15 of NAR’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, but Agent 1’s unprofessional behavior handed the listing to Agent 2.

The homeowner told her she would NEVER work with anyone who would stoop so low as to insult a colleague just to get her business.

Unprofessional agent behavior isn’t just harmful to a transaction; it is also seriously damaging the real estate industry’s reputation as a whole. Professional agent behavior boils down to what you learned in scouting.

Be polite, be respectful and be considerate.

Remind your past clients where to turn for help (Available in the Customer Appreciation section under “Postcards”)

And, although you didn’t learn this in scouting, please don’t EVER leave a listing until you check that all the doors are locked.

Send at least 100 Customer Appreciation postcards to past clients and referrals.

Show them you’re thinking of them and get them thinking of you, again.

Need help targeting the perfect niche of buyers or sellers? Use our mailing list tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy) or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!

PLUS: When you have time…here are 4 free ways we can help you have an INVINCIBLE 2019!

1. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

2. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan

3. The 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Listing Inventory, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence – Click Here

4. The Free Online ROI Calculator

Also…check out these game-changing tools!

Three Click Postcards – Just snap a home photo & create a postcard all from your mobile phone

MLSmailings.com – Automated Just Listed, Just Sold Postcards

Market Dominator System – Become a neighborhood brand & achieve 20% market share

Want to Refer a friend or colleague? Refer them, Here. THEY get a Free $25 Gift Card and YOU become their hero. BTW, you also get a $25 Gift Card too (now that’s what I’m talking about)!

Our business flourishes from recommendations (similar to yours). We truly appreciate when you leave a review – Review us here

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