Is Your Definition of Success The Same As Your Clients?

And other lessons learned while being snowed in…
Today was Ryan’s fourth day without school this week. Tomorrow stars mid winter break, so he’s pretty much never going back to school.
The first few days were great. We took the boys to the gym each day where they spent about 4 hours playing basketball and having lunch with friends. As a parent, 4 hours without screen time on a snow day is a HUGE win. But today, Alex was back in school and I caved. Ryan spend most of the day melting his mind playing video games. #parentfail.
But then Ryan gave me the biggest smile and the sweetest hug and said “thanks for letting me have so much time to play video games today”.
One person’s fail is another person’s day of awesomeness.
It’s the same with our clients. Sometimes we think we nailed it, and they don’t.
Here are some examples of what I mean:
For Buyers:
You write an awesome contract and the Seller signs it without countering. You are super excited because it means your client has secured the home and doesn’t have to worry about another offer coming in during the counter offer timeframe and potentially bumping them out.
Your client, on the other hand, might feel let down. Like maybe they didn’t ask for as much as they could have.
For Sellers:
The house sells in less than a week for full price. You are doing a victory dance because it means they don’t have to deal with the hassle of having people come through their house. And it was a full price offer, so they got what they wanted, right?
But maybe your seller wonders if they could have gotten more. Maybe they wonder if they should have started higher, even if it meant a longer market time and doing a price reduction, because then they know they “tried”.
Not fun. You put your heart and soul into helping your clients, and want them to have a great experience. Which includes feeling good about the outcome as well as the process.
Granted, there are plenty of Buyers who are thrilled to have their offer signed as is, and Sellers who will do a victory dance with you when it sells right away.
But not all. Because we all have our own definition of success.
It’s important to get really clear with your client, from the beginning, about what they view as a successful transaction. You might have to dig a bit on this one. Talk through hypothetical scenarios in the offer negotiation process to find out what’s important to them.
It doesn’t mean that you can guarantee it will go that way, but at least your client will feel heard and know that you are working towards the same end result.
To your success!
Nicole
Signup to receive Nicole's blog posts via email weekly:
Other Posts
What Happens When You Don’t Take Action On Your Goals
Hint: Nothing is not the correct answer. Actual answer: The Universe takes over and decides to help. I’ve been meaning to ask for and hire more support in my business for a while now. I have a million reasons why I haven’t done it. Apparently the Universe got tired of it being on my to…
Read MoreIt’s Okay To Take Time Off
Tomorrow is the 4th. This is your reminder – it’s okay to take time off. Just because technology allows us to work anytime, anywhere doesn’t mean you should. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do, is to do nothing productive at all. Enjoy the day and be present. To your success! Nicole
Read MoreWarning! Comparison Monster Coming Your Way
July 1st is next Tuesday, and you know what that means… Your in box is about to be flooded with emails about being 1/2 way through the year asking if you’re on track with your goals. And right about the same time, you’ll see agents posting on social media about how they just closed another…
Read MoreBreathe – It’s a Contact Sport
Summer officially starts today! I live for the long days, spur of the moment dinners on the deck with friends, the warm weather, and relaxed vibe. Summer also brings its own special juggling act of navigating a shifting market, and clients that are not as focused on real estate. Side note – the market ALWAYS…
Read MoreWhat If Everything is An Experiment?
I’ll admit it, I’m not great at asking for help. Even when I know I need it. There are a variety of reason I struggle with asking: I’m busy and taking a step back to asses what I can outsource feels like one more task I don’t have time for. The task is something I’m…
Read MoreDon’t Believe The Hype
Does the market make you want to hide out? I’ve had SEVERAL calls from agents recently with clients that are putting them through the wringer. Whether it’s sellers not accepting offers, buyers taking forever to make decisions, or clients doing the exact opposite of what you thought they were going to do – managing your…
Read MoreThe #1 Reason Clients Don’t Choose You
Don Miguel Ruiz said it best in his book – The 4 Agreements: Don’t Make Assumptions Find the courage to ask questions Communicate with others as clearly as you can This one agreement can completely transform your life Beautifully said. Assumptions are the #1 reason your clients don’t choose you. As agents we assume many…
Read MoreLetter to My Younger Self
Today is my birthday. For me, birthdays are a beautiful mix of celebration, anticipation and reflection. This post is dedicated to reflections. Things I wish I could tell my younger self. Imposter syndrome is normal! You’ve spent so much time doubting yourself. Feeling like everyone else knows what they are doing while you’re still trying…
Read MoreManaging the Adrenaline / Emotional Roller Coaster of Real Estate
Closings, getting mutual on a contract, receiving a referral – there are lots of wins in real estate. Each one brings a shot of adrenaline that feels amazing. However, those moments are often short lived, with a lot of space in between. If you aren’t careful that space can fill with self doubt, insecurity or…
Read MoreWhy Proving Yourself Is A Bad Idea
I competed on a listing this week that I didn’t get. It was a great one too – awesome house, great clients. It was one I really wanted. When I got done pouting I took a few minutes to ask myself, ‘where did it go wrong’? Our first appointment was amazing! The second one, not…
Read More