Herb's Portland Oregon Real Estate Blog your RE/MAX Agent

I have been spending a lot of time lately at the Golf Course. In fact I can not remember the last day that I was not there. At least since the first of January that is.

We have really had some adverse weather here but that has not deterred me at all. Hour after hour in fact sometimes several times a day. I just can't seem to get enough. Even on those days when the wind just howls you will find right there braving the elements and pushing myself to the limits.

Best score ever the other day was -10. Wow I just could not miss. Even when those pin placements were on the trick side hills. That tough shot over narrow land bridge when winds were up around 30 did not even slow me down.

I am getting a little tired though of playing the same old course. Wish it had another 9 holes. Perhaps I will begin to reach out and play with others a little bit more. Even as much fun as I am having right now it can get to be routine if you don't introduce a little variety now and then.

First thing to do is find that box and bring out the old rule book. I know I read something about setting this up on the Internet to be able to play with friends.

What's that you say? What am I talking about? Why the Wii of course silly. Who could possibly be playing that much outdoors golf in the dead of winter in Portland Oregon.

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See you on the links.

One of the wonders of life is living through challenging times. In my own life the times of plenty and success have gone by like a blurr. Each and every year of prosperity virtually indistinguishable from one another.

Yet I can remember the years of hardships and adversity as if they were yesterday. Even in family gatherings more often than not those trying times will make for more reminiscence than the trips abroad.

The current troubling times of our country will make you stronger and closer to those who you know and love. The trials and tribulations that you go through yesterday, today, and tomorrow will be fodder for future reminisces at your family gatherings.

As I look back over my own trials of the past, even in those darkest days there was always something that stood out as an achievement. A sort of badge or courage in the dimmest of light.

Like back in 1986 when the unemployment rate in my small town became so severe that people were unable to pay there bills. I owned a metal fabrication shop at the time and a client who could not pay had to much pride to skip out. He paid his bill with a winters worth of firewood, a mini motor bike for my 10 year old son, and small aluminum fishing boat with a 7hp outboard motor that my wife and I enjoyed for many summers at the lake.

In the bleakest of times there are always opportunities. In years to come will you look back and say we bought our home in 2009? Let this be your year of opportunity. Create a memory today.

Yesterday I had just one of many memorable momentsas I passed the keys to a Young Fellow to his new home. Of course this home was built in 1908 but it was new to him and all his. I could see the pride of new ownership and promise in his eyes. I wish for all of you that same feeling.

To check out other Homes_Sold_by_Herb_Hamilton_in_Portland_Oregon  please take a look at this really cool map. Zoom in or change the view . House_hunt_Portland where your next home will find you! 

Have a wonderful and prosperous memory filled 2009.

Customer Service Vs Real Estate Agents. Or more commonly thought of as The Battle over expectations of Service

What are the guiding principles to Customer Service?

Lets look at retail stores.

Most customers, if not all, have an agenda before they arrive. That is they probably already know what they want or what they expect to find before they arrive. Most of the clerks as well know what to expect before they open the doors for business.

What do you expect from the clerks when you walk into a hardware store? In most cases you will be either totally left alone to search on your own or from better managed stores roving clerks will casually ask if they can be of help.

In the event that you have to ask a clerk for help they will either give you directions to the item you seek or take you there personally and point it out. Need more help? Clerks are often trained to explain what the item is and how it is used and even to offer alternatives if you request. There job is to be informative, helpful, and most importantly NOT to be pushy. Give the Customer enough help then allow them to make a purchase.

The entire focus is generally looked at trying to make your visit hassle free so that you can choose a product of your choice, purchase it and leave without being pressured to buy other products. When the purchase expectations are met or exceeded you most likely will return to the store for future purchases.

Let's look at Real Estate.

What are the expectations of the consumer? More likely than not they rival the same expectations of the car salesmen. A pushy individual who's only goal it seems is to make a sale. One who takes control from step one.

The moment you begin to tell the sales person what you are looking for be it a Home or a Car the agent is processing his or her memory for the product that might fit your needs. If potential matches are found the push is on. Even if the agent can't come up with anything on the spur of the moment the push is still on.

How long have you been looking?

Are you working with another agent?

Have you been pre-qualified?

When can you look at property?

If I showed you the perfect house tonight would you be prepared to buy?

On and on the list goes designed for the Agent to take control.

The advent of the Internet has given Buyers more options. Consumers who have long looked for ways to side step the big pushand protect their anonymity have taken the Internet to heart in a big way. Some 80 to 90 percentof all home buyers and sellers today begin that search on the Internet. Choosing to search on their own and only talk to an agent when they have seen something they wish to take a closer look at.

The marriage of both of these worlds retail and real estatecan be accomplished, specifically when it comes to the Internet Buyer. Tread lightly offering content rich services. Allow them to browse occasionally offering additional info and tools. It is true that you can give the consumer a lot of choices and not bother them.

Your lead conversion rate however will be very poor if you leave them un-attended for too long. Do not interpret client questions as a green light. Become too pushy and they will move along quickly as well. It is a delicate balancing act that takes time and practice. But like all things worth pesuing Internet Buyer's are worth pursuing the right way.

The best system seems to be a quick response to the lead by offering a non threatening welcome. " Welcome and Thank you for visiting House_Hunt_Portland where your next home will find you . If I can be of service please do not hesitate to call or email. "

Semi regular visits there after offering information about community events in the neighborhood of their choice or a Twitter update or Video that you have created etc are non-pushy ways to stay in touch. The goal of lead conversion on the Internet is to convert the casual browser to a client who purchases without pushing them into it. Familiarity and trust are built through non-threatening gestures in a consistent manner.

Perhaps I can be of service to you? Come to House_Hunt_Portland  and let your next home find you. Looking for Portland_Oregon_Information  stop by for a visit Portland Oregon The City of Roses.

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