PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE An Opportunity to Blossom Respect 101 A Primer for REALTORS® • Respond promptly and courteously to showing inquiries and requests for information. • Identify yourself as a REALTOR® in contacts with other REALTORS®. • Call if you are delayed or must cancel an appointment or showing. • Never allow a buyer to enter a listed property unaccompanied. • Enter a property only with permission, even if you have a lockbox key. • Leave a property exactly as you found it. • Fulfill all instructions for completing and submitting a contract. • Communicate with each person involved a transaction in a professional and timely manner. • Meet all deadlines specified in contracts and addendums, and notify all parties immediately if there is a delay. Source: Excellence in Professionalism – Gold Key Certification manual Spring has sprung, and with it our traditional spring/summer selling season. Are you ready to wow current and potential clients? Professionalism and quality service are the keys to success in the real estate industry. ORRA can help you improve your level of professionalism across the board with its own Excellence in Professionalism – Gold Key Certification program. Of course, there are many steps that you can take on your own to address your professionalism. Start with a personal inventory of yourself — your look and your dress. And while you’re at it, consider your car! The make, model, and year are not nearly as important as cleanliness and tidiness, inside and out. Next, evaluate your online profile. Does your social media include images of you that are less-than-ideal for client consumption? Be sure to take stock of your marketing materials as well. Make sure that the portrait you use on your website, business card, and listing marketing materials is recent and professional (alternatively, some safety experts recommend NOT placing your photo on any of these items). Speaking of business cards, now’s the time to stock up! Any encounter with any person in any setting has the potential to lead to a new client. Then consider your immediate farming area or niche. Do you know what’s new and what’s coming up regarding construction projects; proposed changes to the school system; local issues under discussion; and, of course, current Orlando-area and hyper-local market conditions? I recommend that you prepare and memorize a brief (two-minute max) elevator speech that touches on inventory, buyer and seller trends, and appraisal factors. Positive yet realistic is the best approach. If your clients are prospective relocators to Orlando (Gov. Scott reports 100 people a day move to our city), now’s the time to do your research so you can tout its economic health and all the benefits of living here. Finally, take heed of the Golden Rule and do your part in elevating the perception of our profession. It’s as simple as resolving to show respect to all involved in the real estate transaction: clients, colleagues, service providers, and property itself. Now you’re ready. Don’t be afraid to get out and meet people. You are prepared and you have something good to share, and don’t forget that sharing good things will lead to “What do you do?” questions from prospects. Someone always knows someone who is thinking about buying or selling a house – here’s your chance! Don’t wait for someone to call you, go out and make something happen. 4 Orlando REALTOR® May / June 2017
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