The only way to gain client trust is truth and transparency
Marc Davison of 1000Watt Consulting wrote an excellent opinion piece last year (March 2008) on Inman News. Unfortunately, you may only access the article at this time if you pony up $150/year for the Inman News Premium Membership subscription, but I can give you some highlights.
In the article, Marc explains why real estate agents are in the least trusted profession and what they can do about it.
He offers that some of the distrust stems from the fact that consumers “don’t trust what they don’t know,” but for much of it, agents have no one to blame but themselves.
Are you a trustworthy agent or an untrustworthy one? I dare say, you should already know the answer, but Marc Davison offers a little help.
Where do you fall?
Untrustworthy agents hear what their clients say. Trustworthy agents listen.
Untrustworthy agents make deals happen. Trusted agents help people buy and sell homes.
Untrustworthy agents work hard and make a case for it. Trusted agents work smart. They perform magic and do it quietly, with grace.
Untrustworthy agents stress about deals. Trusted agents never lose their cool.
Untrustworthy agents are about me and I across all their brand touch points. Trusted agents place their entire emphasis on “we” on “you.”
Untrustworthy agents claim they got into real estate to help people. Trusted agents got into real estate to make a living. They are transparent about that.Untrustworthy agents say what the consumer wants to hear. Trusted agents tell it like it is.
Untrustworthy agents work with anyone. Trusted agents hand-pick clients.
Untrustworthy agents hide behind templates. Trusted agents speak in their own voice.
Untrustworthy agents use platitudes to market themselves. Trusted agents have stopped marketing themselves in the conventional sense altogether.
It can be discouraging to find yourself lumped in with a group with such low numbers in the trust department.
Tim O’Keefe over at his Real Estate Marketing Blog also took note of Marc Davison’s comments and offers a great answer to the less-than-heartening statistics: “First of all do not worry about the crowd and the low public numbers of the industry. And worry about your numbers.”
Be truthful and transparent, and keep plugging away offering great value regardless of the perceived state of the economy. As you differientiate yourself in this way, the trust will naturally come.
That article is easily accessed on our blog at 1000wattblog.com. Here it is for your readers – http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2008/03/real-estate-its.html
Thanks, Marc. This is great news!