56 Tips for an Awesome Real Estate Listing Presentation

May 7, 2013 Luke Montgomery Meeting with Clients
listing presententation ipad

Seven seconds.

That’s how much time it takes to make a first impression. As an agent, your first impression has to be fantastic in order to convince a seller to list with you. Proper planning and preparation will gain you an edge over the competition and earn your potential seller’s business.

In this post, you will find an extensive list of listing presentation tips to help you stand out, look great and increase your chances of winning the real estate listing.



Do Your Research


listing presentation research

1. Learn everything relevant that you can about the listing property and seller. Check tax records for details on the property. You should also try a simple Google search to see if your potential client maintains an online presence on sites like LinkedIn or Facebook.

2. Drive by the property to get a sense of the neighborhood and snap an image for the listing presentation. Unless the property has been listed in the MLS before, you will need a subject property photo to enhance your CMA.

3. Check and see if the property has sold and in past MLS records. Make a mental note of previous pricing trends.

4. Bring along a list of basic repairs and checks that will improve the prospects of a listing. These should apply to any home and should be easy to fix or implement, with a good return on investment. For example:

Raising blinds and shades to open a room and bring in more light
Painting, especially over flaws in the current paint
Updating the landscaping
Staging the main living areas—placing patio furniture, dressing up the spare room, etc.
Cleaning out cluttered storage areas
Simplifying over-complicated decorations
Fixing and replacing broken or burned-out light fixtures
5. Understand the client’s reasons for selling. A seller reacting to a life-changing event such as a new job or a child’s departure for college may need different guidance than an investor ready to flip a valuable property.



Scheduling Listing Presentations


6. At open houses you host, soft sell to possible clients who come through the door. Master active listening and be specific about how you express interest in helping them to show that you understand their unique situation.

7. Always keep a stack of your professional marketing materials on hand to give out. Keep a spare stash in your car as well as on your person.

8. When meeting a potential client, ask the Five Ws (and one H):

Who makes up the family (how many adults, children, and pets)
What they are looking for (from the number of bedrooms and bathrooms down to the style of home they prefer)
When they are interested in moving or selling
Where they would like to live
Why now is the time to make a change
How they plan to proceed (what is the first/next step? Do they have an agent yet?)
9. If a potential client expresses interest in sitting down with you, ask to set an appointment after they have spoken with any other agents they are considering. Being the last to interview can give you a huge advantage, since you will be fresh in their minds.



Come Prepared for Success


average of comps

10. Whether you have crafted them into a CMA or just printed a copy off your MLS, bring along the latest market statistics and trends to back up your statements.

11. Make sure you have appropriate marketing sheets with you.

12. A beautiful, full-color market analysis and presentation will go a long way towards snagging and keeping the attention of any client.

13. Clients want to see where their home sits on the market. Show them with graphs and other visual methods of interpreting data.

14. Put together a pitch for why you are the best agent for this specific client. Cite area expertise, previous similar transactions, your personal ties to their reasons for moving, and more.

15. Bright, gorgeous brochures are great for leaving behind with an interested client.

16. Know who you will use to take the professional photos of the home and bring along a sample of their work.

17. Offer to craft a visual walkthrough of the home, if possible. Again, bringing samples of the work you can provide—whether you do the walkthroughs yourself or hire a professional—will go a long way towards convincing a client you are prepared to be their agent.

18. Know your strengths as an agent. Be confident in the value of your knowledge, expertise and resources.



Stand Out from the Competition


real estate agent collateral

19. Never speak ill of your competition. Talk respectfully about your fellow agents, and you’re more likely to receive the same courtesy in return.

20. Provide the same high level of service, no matter the value of your client’s property.

21. Encourage sellers to interview multiple agents to ensure they are working with the right person.

22. Never put pressure on potential clients. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want, but pestering will not win you business.

23. Be informative without being aggressive or pushy.

24. Be honest. Share the good and the bad and be constructive with your advice, but don’t sugarcoat the situation.

25. Dress well and appropriately for the client and situation. For example, if you are meeting at a coffee shop, you may dress more casually than if you are meeting over dinner on the waterfront.

26. Smile and make eye contact. It will increase your likeability and make you seem more accessible.

27. Speak clearly and with confidence.



Following Up


writing a personal thank you note

28. Always follow up with a personal note. Don’t use a form letter. Try to send a handwritten note if you can.

29. With their permission, add the potential client to your mailing lists so you can keep in contact with them even if they choose a different agent or decide to wait to list their property.

30. Send potential clients a monthly market update via email –whether a newsletter, statistics or just some helpful information they can use. When they are ready to sell, your name will be stuck in their minds.

31. Send a small, thoughtful gift, and personalize it if you can, to show you are willing to go above and beyond what is expected.

32. Follow the two-day rule: wait at least 48 hours after the presentation to follow up. Have a very specific question ready when you do follow up: “Are you ready to list your property?” or “What are your concerns about listing at this time?”



More Tips


33. When crafting marketing language, try to avoid the word “sales” to describe yourself or your business. Unfortunately, the term “salesperson” is perceived to be dishonest in a marketing-heavy world. Instead, portray yourself as a trusted consultant, pledged to provide the highest quality service and reach the client’s desired outcome.

34. Always focus on the prospect’s needs as the foundation of your discussion. Demonstrate that you are the best person to represent them and show your understanding of their needs as your starting point.

35. Guide the prospect to the answers. Instead of reading off your slides or drawing your own conclusions, allow them to interject in what will feel like a “Eureka!” moment for them. If you can get a prospect to speak the key points you are trying to make, they will feel like they have arrived at the answer themselves and it will be stronger for that.

36. Keep the presentation focused on the client. Talk about yourself, but put it in the context of how you can help them.



The Don’ts


37. Don’t show up late. Make a great impression and show up a few minutes early. You should treat it like a job interview–after all, it is!

38. Don’t carry strong smells on your person. Pets, cigar or cigarette smoke, alcohol, strong cologne or perfume, garlic–these can be immediate turn-offs and make up someone’s mind before you even have a chance to speak.

39. Don’t neglect your homework. Know the seller’s motivations for their life change, the general condition of their home and how much work they are willing to do to get their house ready for the market.

40. Don’t overlook the seller’s financial situation. Finances are a touchy subject, so you may not want to ask directly, but infer what you can from what they say.

41. Don’t treat the real estate listing appointment too casually. Take your clients (or prospective clients) seriously!

42. Don’t try to hard-sell yourself in an area you know little about. Keep a list of experts you trust and refer your clients to them if you aren’t sure of an answer.

43. Don’t display architectural ignorance. If you aren’t familiar with the type of home your clients have, do a little reading beforehand.

44. Don’t move too quickly through your presentation. Speak slowly and clearly and stop for questions.

45. Don’t forget to tailor your presentation to the specific audience. You may have a standard set of marketing materials, but some may not be appropriate for every situation.

46. Don’t talk more than you listen.

47. Don’t ignore anyone at the presentation. When a couple or family is present, it isn’t always easy to tell who the real decision maker is, so it is best to assume that if they are at the listing presentation, they have some weight in the final decision. Address the needs of all present.

48. Don’t ignore the client’s pet(s). If you are uncomfortable with an animal, politely request that it be removed from the room, but otherwise be friendly.

49. Don’t be ignorant of the surrounding neighborhoods.

50. Don’t forget to explain your personal system of success. Be up front with how you market and negotiate.

51. Don’t appear disorganized.

52. Don’t fail to recommend improvements that you truly believe would raise the home’s value.

53. Don’t let your cell phone interrupt the conversation.

54. Don’t bring a bad mood to a meeting.

55. Don’t overlook the power of mirroring.

56. Don’t forget to thank the sellers for their time and for allowing you in their home.

The tips on this list are meant to be a reminder and a set of guidelines–not every suggestion will apply to every situation, and you may have your own protocol for winning listings.

Good luck on your listing presentations!

If you found this post useful, your friends might too. Please consider sharing. Thank you!

Out of Executive Order

Apparently, President Obama misunderstands that the Executive Branch of the United States Government administers government programs, but does not dictate policy, The President expressly has the ability to veto an Act of Congress, but even that can be overturned by Congress..

Laws are initiated and passed by Congress, the Legislative Branch, they are administered by the President, the Executive Branch, and are interpreted and clarified by the Supreme Court, the Judicial Branch.  None of the three branches of government hold sway over the other.... this is what our system of checks and balances was designed to do.  It is a system that has blessed our country with exceptional stability and strength.

When Obama feels that he can circumvent Congress, or the Supreme Court.... he is acting contrary to the laws of this Republic.

So what's the deal with his Executive Orders, which are supposed to be for highly specialized situations????

Below is the current status of Executive Orders issued by modern US Presidents.

Eisenhower- 2 in 8 years
Kennedy - 4 in 3 years
LBJ - 4 in 5 years
Nixon - 1 in 6 years
Ford - 3 in 2 years
Carter - 3 in 4 years
Reagan - 5 in 8 years
Bush - 3 in 4 years
Clinton - 15 in 8 years
George W. Bush - 62 in 8 years

Obama - 923 in 3 1/2 years

Who is this man to unilaterally change the way our Government has been established????  There is a fundamental change occurring in this country.

I hope we are strong enough in our institutions to countermand it.

Time for Vacation

Does it seem to you like Obama is almost disintegrating?  That he is going through the motions, and wishes he has never left his Chi Town ideological thug cronies for this life in the fishbowl?

 He has scheduled his two week Martha's Vineyard August vacation and I'm jealous.
~
I can't take my hands off the steering wheel of Nanepashemet Telecom for more than a few days without getting my Ass kicked..... but here is a guy with arguably the most important job in the world.... who can kick back with the fam for multiple weeks at a time.
~
Maybe the Mountain of a Man should run for President, so that I finally can finagle a Vaca every few months or so.

Cat Poop

As I was emptying the contents of Henry the Cat's litterbox yesterday, I couldn't help but wonder how a little cat can have such massive dumps.   I'm talking about stools that are a quarter of the length of his body.
~
If we used that ratio to the average six foot man, we are talking a foot and a half per sitting.
~
That's a lot of poop.

Political Haymaker

Teleprompters R Us.

Need substance to be the Prez.   Hire good people, make them accountable, think strategically and not ideologically, lay out the groundwork for public policy and work with the Legislature.

Whatever...

O-Bla-Di, O-Bla-Da.....

Lots of political water under the Bridge since I've actively posted to this pathetic Blog.

Seems like the Obama administration is straining with its peculiar brand of logic that trades enemy Al-Queda Generals for an unstable alleged deserter American Private, and the absolute ineptitude of our immigration laws being ignored outright with a stream of illegal aliens coming in from the Mexican border.

At least we have solved the problem of all of those Americans defecting to Mexico.   One Marine screws up and ends in Mexican jail.

Although the Obama administration cleaned up Al-Queda just in time for the last political election - a la Benhghazi denials - it seems that the terrorists are having a great deal of success regaining Iraq as a stronghold to stage their Jihad agenda against the West.

And apparently, an American is rotting in Sudanese jail, sentenced to death and giving birth in the interim while in shackles.  Her offence?  Converting to Christianity.

But enough of this PAP.

Where are the Obama's going for their summer vacation this year?  Inquiring minds want to know.

"O-Bla-Di, O-Bla-Da, life goes on, bra!...
Lala how the life goes on."

Weak Leadership at the executive level has a price.   Not sure how long we will be paying.... 

Clam Pie

Frank Pepe's of New Haven - Clam Pizza
Worth the drive.

Squaw Sachem, Queen of Nanepashemet

Soil Sifter

Sweet Home Chicago.

My latest song that I'm learning to play is dedicated to President Obama... "Sweet Home Chicago", lately popularized by the Blues Brothers, but recorded by a lot of people.

So I bought a Bose Mini Bluetooth Speaker thinking that it would connect with the Amplitube iRig that links my iPhone5 with my Epiphone Les Paul.   You know... so I can rock out from time to time.

The iRig Amplitude application is an acceptable replacement for my Fender Amp that someone stole from me years ago.....But I'm having trouble connecting to the Bose with the Bluetooth, so I ordered a 3.5MM male to male audio cable from Amazon for a hard connection.
~

I like the lyrics.... "Come On..... Baby Won't You Please come HOME... Sweet Home.... Chicago."

Three years or so to go.

BTW, my guitar playing sucks... almost as much as this pathetic Blog.... but at least you don't have to listen to it.

Due Process of Law

The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides:

[N]or shall any person . . . be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law . . . .^[5]

Section One of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides:

[N]or shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law . . . .^[6]

Letting the Chips Fall

Peeps.... I've come to the conclusion the best that you can do is all you can do.  If you're doing your best and giving your all.... it's then time to let the chips fall where they may.
~
In the end, your real boss is the person who stares back at you in the mirror.
~
If that person, that image.... is satisfied with your effort.... then that is the best you can do.   Too many outside factors that are out of your control effect the eventual outcome of your strivings, so you cannot judge by the outcome, you have to judge by the quality and commitment of your own effort to the cause.
~
In my own career, I can't make a lessee sign a lease... all I can do is work to enable a situation where that is possible.   I can't make a zoning board vote in favor of my petition.... all I can do is prepare a comprehensive application and present the proposal in the best light possible.  I can't make a construction crew complete a site in a certain time period.... all I can do is make sure they have all of the resources and hope for suitable weather and coordination of concurring events.
~
My only constant... the only thing I can control is my own level of effort... and when I have satisfied myself that I have done everything possible within my sphere of influence, then I have freed myself from  being affected by the judgment of others based upon the outcome.

But it is a hell of a bonus when a lease gets signed, a permit gets issued and a site gets built.... plus Nanepashemet Telecom gets paid.

 It's also nice when the chips fall your way.