Things that make me go hmmmm …
Or is it, perhaps, a bit more subtle? Maybe some agents are simply better than others; they provide a better service, a better “product”, if you will. None of us appear to be able to define what “better” means (and believe me, I’ve asked a whole bunch of times), but could it be that in some inchoate way, the consumers know when they’re getting a superior service?
At first blush, this is easy. A “Better” real estate agent is one who is better at what he or she does than others. But what does being a “better” real estate agent mean? (how a consumer can evaluate this is the subject of a future post)
“Better” means:
- Being able to assemble an A-Team.
- Knowing more than your competition.
- Knowing your competition.
- Having an excellent reputation.
- Having experience – time and time again, consistently.
- Making mistakes and learning from them.
- Not being able to share your experiences to make those around you better.
- Knowing what questions your clients should ask, need to ask and being able to guide them appropriately.
- Knowing the damn market.
- Knowing how to write a contract.
- Knowing which tools to use, which to not use, and which ones you may need to use soon.
- Knowing what you know, what your clients need to know and being able to convey and guide and advise.
- Acknowledging that you don’t know everything, having the humility and confidence to be aware of this and taking steps to remedy.
- Surrounding yourself with access to the answers.
And many, many more ways that don’t present themselves until I’m in the thick of it – it being the transaction, the relationship, the process …
What does “better” mean to you?
“Expertise is a posture as much as it is a volume of knowledge.”
Very well said.
Also: Merlin Mann’s “Better” essay, the subject of the above photo is very worth reading.
