Portrait of a Real Estate Professional

In every industry there is often a lot of talk about 'image'. Every professional decides for themselves what is most important about their persona.  For some, it is the kind of car they drive.  For others it's attire, or the amount of money they have made; or the amount of money they want to appear to have made.  It seems to be a never ending quest to tell everyone that you are the best choice... but in a matter of seconds.

We've talked previously about your website and how the content, loading time, and more can have a bearing on your image for potential clients.  But what are your priorities when it comes to your professional image?  Have you ever thought about it?  We don't profess to know what every buyer or seller wants to see when they consider their choices for a real estate professional, however, there are some common image pros and cons that you should consider in the context of your real estate practice.

A professional image consultant has assisted REALTOR.org in creating a quiz to increase your image awareness.  The quiz covers topics ranging from dining with clients to appropriate client gifts, and what to do should you forget an appointment.

Beyond your image is how you cultivate and continue your client relationships.  Relationships are an extension of your image as it is refined and reshaped over time.  On the most basic level, you should be wholly committed to an open transaction with a client.  But should you want more than just one-time clients, the before and after of each transaction should be a priority.

Do you have a plan for keeping clients "for life"?  What sorts of things do you do to create a client base that is more than a contact list, but one that becomes a captive audience?  REALTOR^® MAGAZINE ONLINE reports "only 11 percent of buyers and 28 percent of sellers choose a real estate practitioner based on their previous experience with that person, according to research by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®. Those numbers show that there’s plenty of room for improvement when it comes to garnering repeat business."  Another helpful quiz is available at REALTOR.org to see if you are in the know about keeping your clients loyal.

We would love to hear your success stories, and any strategies you have implemented to maintain a positive relationship with your clients from beginning to never ending.  If you are interested in sharing, please email your story and/or strategy to us at MarketingTips@AdvancedAccess.com.  Please be sure to include your name and Advanced Access provided website address.  We will choose some of the best stories and suggestions for a feature on our blAAwg.  Any submissions featured will include a link to the contributor's website.