Cleveland Real Estate And More

If we polled 100 real estate agents, I bet over 95% would say they give great customer service. But are we really as good as we think we are?

What prompted this post was a bad experience I had recently as a consumer. It even made me evaluate whether we were really doing everything possible to provide legendary service to our clients.

WHAT WENT WRONG

I was never asked questions up front regarding what I wanted in terms of service. 

To make matters worse, when I told the owner I was unhappy, he was shocked and a little defensive.  He truly felt that his company was giving me great service. The main problem was that he confused giving a great price as providing great service. They are not always one and the same.

COMMON MISTAKES THAT COST US BUSINESS

I noticed several mistakes that were made by this particular company when dealing with me. They:

1. Failed to ask up front what was important to me.

2. Committed the mortal sin - Told me how swamped they were every time I called, making me feel that my business wasn't important.

3. Didn't communicate with me proactively. I always had to call them for a status.

4. Didn't offer to correct the problem.

5. Failed to recognize that they gave me a bad experience.

Let's face it, all of these mistakes could have been avoided and it wouldn't have cost a dime, just a little effort. Too many people are simply so pre-occupied with building their business that customer service often gets put on the back burner.

IN ORDER TO EXCEED SOMEONE'S EXPECTATIONS, YOU MUST FIRST DEFINE WHAT THEY WANT

It all starts with communication. Ask your clients in what manner and how often they would like to hear from you. Do they prefer email, text, or face to face interaction? Do they want to speak daily, weekly, or as needed? Don't assume to know the answers, you must ask!

Be proactive. Always stay one step ahead. If a client has to call you for a status before you call them, you failed.

Remember, just because you work hard for your clients doesn't mean you are giving them great service. By asking the right questions up front and communicating effectively throughout the process, you can avoid the mistakes that many business people make.

The ability to provide excellent service will make a huge difference to your business.

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Here are some of our others posts that may interest you as well:

One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman are agents with Howard Hanna, the area's largest real estate company. They live in Solon Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

LET'S CONNECT:

Is Your Customer Service Really That Good is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©February 2012

Stop Negotiating Like A 5 Year Old - Originally Posted at Cleveland Real Estate Blog

Bringing buyers and sellers together is more difficult today than ever before. Buyers want it all and sellers are sick and tired of seeing their equity disappear. Negotiating in this market can be especially challenging when one of the parties or even the other agent negotiates like a child.

Don't get me wrong, children can be great negotiators, especially when it comes to wanting an extra dessert or staying up past their bedtime. However, when adults start acting illogical and downright child-like, well, it's just not good.

THE PROBLEM WHEN EMOTIONS RULE

At the end of the day, negotiations are about money and to some extent winning. This alone can make even the most level headed person become emotional. When you let your emotions and ego overtake your logic and decision making ability, that's when you get into trouble.

I couldn't tell you how many times I've seen someone let their emotions get the best of them. They become  so wrapped up in the personal side of the transaction that they lose sight of what they are really trying to accomplish.  They end up spending more time and energy discussing the other party than the actual transaction itself.

Some folks get so emotional that their behavoir actually becomes child-like, minus the kicking and screaming    ( well sometimes they do scream ). If I could record their conversations and play them back to them, I'm convinced they would be quite ashamed at their behavior.

STAY CALM AND GET WHAT YOU WANT

No matter how riled up someone gets, we believe that camler heads prevail. Professionals need to  detach themselves emotionally so they can help bring people together.

I realize that our clients want us to fight hard for them, but that doesn't mean we have to take on their emotions to accomplish their goals.

Making demands of the other party or idle threats that "we want this or else" just aren't effective.  Those tactics may have worked in the past, but there is no place for them in today's business environment.

If you want to be angry because the buyer or seller isn't cooperating, take it out on punching bag, but not other people. In the end, take a step back, look at the big picture and stop acting like a child. If you don't, you'll end up doing more harm than good.

After all, winning the battle but losing the war is not an effective strategy for home negotiations.

Have you had a client who acted like a child? Please share your experience as we'd love to hear from you.

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Also, if you think your readers would enjoy this article, please feel free to re-blog by hitting the green button at the top of the post.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live in Cleveland Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Cleveland Oh real estate and homes see Cleveland OH real estate

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

Stop Negotiating Like A 5 Year Old is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©November 2011

Letters Mean Nothing, You Need To SPELL It Out

Many of us have designations we have earned, as indicated by letters next to our names. They are a great thing to have, but the problem is that besides people in our industry, no one knows what the heck they mean.

Does anyone besides a real estate agent know what an ABR is? How about a CRS, or GRI? That's why we should all go out of our way and spell things out whenever possible. And for those of you who want to learn more about the benefits of earning a designation, I wrote a post a few years ago that should be helpful.

WHICH IS BETTER?

Dan Schuman, AHLS     or   Dan Schuman, Accredited Luxury Home Specialist 

Dan Schuman, E-Pro     or   Dan Schuman, E-Pro - Certified Internet Professional

Amy Schuman, ASP      or    Amy Schuman, Accredited Staging Professional

Think about it, these letters mean nothing unless the person reading understands their significance. When used properly, they can be an effective way to promote yourself and can be put in a ton of places, such as:

1. Our personal email signature

2. AR Signature / footer at bottom of the post

3. Signature when listings are sent to clients from our local MLS

4. Website

5. Business cards

Basically, wherever your name appears, you have an opportunity to highlight your designation.

In addition to spelling things out, many designations offer their own logo as well. Consider getting a copy and using it, especially in places where you have a lot of space, like on your website.

Showcasing our specializations is a good thing. It shows our commitment to education and may also be important to a consumer who is searching for an agent with a specific niche. We worked hard to earn our designations, so there's no reason to be shy about advertising them.

Overall, agents are great marketers, but when it comes to promoting ourselves we sometimes miss the boat.  If you want people to know about your area of specialty and differentiate yourself from your competition at the same time, all you have to do is spell it out.

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Also, if you think your readers would enjoy this article, please feel free to re-blog by hitting the green button at the top of the post.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live in Cleveland Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Cleveland Oh real estate and homes see Cleveland OH real estate

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

Letters Mean Nothing, You Need To Spell It Out is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©October 2011

It's Not The Market, It's Your Agent

All agents are not created equal. Selling real estate is more than just marketing a home and showing people houses. It takes an agent with a specific skill set to get the job done right, especially in today's challenging market.

The wrong agent will cause havoc throughout the entire process. They give bad advice, alienate other agents, and can end up becoming a major liability. Sometimes they are the main cause for a deal to fail.

While there are a lot of great agents in every market, there are a few bad apples that can make things difficult for everybody. Consumers need to choose wisely.

IS YOUR AGENT AN ASSET OR A LIABILITY

An agent who gets along well with others can greatly increase your probability of success. This type of agent is often well respected amongst their peers and has an innate ability to put aside their ego for the best interests of everyone involved. Some agents simply are more diplomatic than others.

An agent who "doesn't play nice in the sandbox" can do just the opposite and ruin a transaction.  They may have the reputation locally of being a "bulldog", or "ruthless negotiator", a trait you think is important, but that doesn't mean other agents enjoy working with them. This type of agent can actually alienate others and end up being a huge liability.  

A GOOD AGENT IS PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM

A successful agent provides valuable guidance throughout the entire transaction. They are the rudder of the boat, keeping things focused and on course at all times. They communicate well with everyone and bring solutions to problems. Failure is not an option to these folks.

On the flip side, some agents are truly the problem. They are combative, poor communicators, and can be highly emotional as well. These are traits that perhaps only others will experience while working with your agent, as you may never see this side of them.

Overall, some agents get in their own way, yet don't realize they are doing it. Maybe these tactics served them well in the past when the market was good, but this style isn't best suited for today's challenging market

It'S NOT ALWAYS THE MARKET

While the market is tough, opportunities still exist to achieve your real estate goals, but you need the right agent by your side to make this happen.

When interviewing agents, understand that a good agent brings a lot more to the table than just the basics. They are market experts,  have excellent leadership and communication skills,  and have good relationships within the local real estate community.

Remember, buying and selling real estate is a large financial transaction and should not be taken lightly. Make sure you hire an agent who will be a tremendous asset and not a liability to you. It's a rough market out there and you need all the help you can get.

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Also, if you think your readers would enjoy this article, please feel free to re-blog by hitting the green button at the top of the post.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live in Cleveland Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Cleveland Oh real estate and homes see Cleveland OH real estate

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

Is Your Agent An Asset Or Liability is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©September 2011

 One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients

We all ask our clients a lot of questions. The more questions we ask, the better we can hone in on what they want and how we can make that happen.  One specific question we ask actually has nothing to do with real estate but is sure to make your life easier and help elevate your levels of service.

Today, I'm going to share it with you in hopes that it will make a difference in your business. Here it is:

"WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED METHOD OF COMMUNICATION?"

Let's face it. what you say, when you say it, and the method in which you communicate are all important.  Knowing how your clients want to communicate can be incredibly helpful.

MORE OPTIONS TODAY

In today's high-tech world, there are a lot more options in which to communicate than there were 10 - 20 years ago. Everyone has their personal preference too and we acknowledge and respect that.  Some people love email, while others rather text. There are also many folks that still prefer speaking by phone.   And if your clients are real old school, face to face interaction still has its place.

With all these ways to interact, we feel that it's important to find out which methods our clients prefer and act accordingly. If our hip tech savvy clients prefer texting, then we text. The ones that prefer to talk on the phone, we call them. We have notes in our files and know how everyone wants us to communicate to them.

Remember, this isn't YOUR preferred method, it's about what YOUR CLIENTS want. By asking this one simple question, it could really make a difference in helping you communicate more effectively and in the end, lead to happier clients. 

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

When In Doubt, Do You Refer Out?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live in Solon Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and homes see Solon OH real estate

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©September 2011

When In Doubt, Do You Refer Out? - Originally posted at Cleveland Real Estate Blog

Most business professionals, especially those of us in sales, are faced with this dilemma at some point. Do we take on a client that we may not be able to properly service, or refer it to another professional?

Sometimes it's very cut and dry, while other times it can be an agonizing decision. After all, business is tougher than ever, plus people in sales are competitive by nature and don't like to give things up. Given the state of today's economy it can be especially tough to pass up on a nice piece of business. So, what should you do?

KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS

The key thing here is to know what your strengths are, understand what you cannot do and be consistent. No one can be everything to everyone. A foot doctor won't do open heart surgery, a real estate attorney won't represent someone in a criminal case and a real estate agent shouldn't take on a client they can't properly service either.  While these examples are fairly simple, the scenarios do get tougher. 

IT'S NOT ALWAYS THAT SIMPLE

Referring a $100,000 buyer is one thing, but would you be so quick to turn your back on a $1,000,0000 buyer that wants to buy in an area you don't service? Many people struggle with these types of decisions, especially when money becomes part of the equation. I do see a lot of agents take business that perhaps they shouldn't.

People will take any business, for a variety of reasons. Some are simply very competitive and want all the business they can get their hands on. Others really need the business, especially in today's tough economy, and then there are those that feel obligated and don't like to say "no".

A RECENT STORY

A friend of ours referred someone to us who wanted to buy a home in an area that we didn't service. With the buyer's permission, we referred them to a great agent who knew that area like the back of her hand. They ended up finding a home in just a few weeks and are thrilled. The person who referred the buyer to us was happy too, because we took care of her friend. Although we didn't personally work with the buyers, we did put them in very good hands, and everyone ended up winning.

At the end of the day, every business professional has to make their own decisions and I'm certainly not here to tell you what to do. However, I will say this, if you ever come across someone who wants to buy in an area that you don't even know how to pronounce, or you can't locate on a map, do everyone a favor and refer it out. As for the more difficult choices, I'll leave that up to you to decide.

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Is Your Message Being Tuned Out?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live in Solon Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and homes see Solon OH real estate

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

When In Doubt, Do You Refer Out? is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©September 2011

Solon Ohio Home For Sale - 38105 McDowell Drive, Solon, OH 44139

JUST LISTED

IMPRESSIVE IN EVERY WAY!

OFFERED AT $625,000

This is the home you have been waiting for! Impressive from the moment you pull up with stone exterior and lush manicured landscaping. Talk about features - this luxury home has an ideal floor plan and luxurious quality upgrades at every turn as well as great outdoor living space which is perfect for entertaining. Each of the four large bedrooms have walk in closets and there is a bonus room on the 1st floor with closets that could be a perfect 5th bedroom. There is even a bathroom right next to it.  Thornbury is one of Solon's premiere newer luxury home developments, complete with sidewalks and a walking path. This fine home is situated on a gorgeous lot on one of Thornbury's most desirable streets and right near the neighborhood private play ground.The city of Solon was just recently rated #3 on Money Magazine's list of best places to live and is home to the top rated Solon Schools. Close in proximity to downtown and the airport.

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman specialize in Solon Oh Luxury Homes and both have designations pertaining to their expertise in selling luxury homes. Dan is an Accredited Luxury Home Specialist and Amy holds the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation.

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and luxury homes see Solon OH Real Estate

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

Solon Ohio Luxury Home For Sale - Thornbury is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©August, 2011

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better

Local agents know their towns better than anyone else. We firmly believe that using a local Realtor® is in your best interests and in this post we will give you reasons why local is the only way to go.

5 REASONS WHY USING A LOCAL AGENT IS BETTER

1.     Superior Market Knowledge - A good local agent knows the inventory inside and out and will be able to more easily pick out homes that are a good fit for you.

2.     They Know The Schools -  A local agent will have personal experience with the school system and be able to share valuable information with you.

3.     Neighborhood Experts - A local agent not only knows all the specific neighborhoods, but often has friends and clients in each one that can be made available to you if needed. Our clients always appreciate hearing from people who live in the neighborhoods in which they are considering.

4.     Strong Relationships With Other Agents - A good local agent will network with other local agents to get information that you will never find on line. We will know about homes that may be coming on the market in the future or learn about a seller who has suddenly become "highly motivated" and is open to offers.  

5.     In The Know - Real estate gossip gets discussed in small circles in every community, like at PTA meetings and at the local softball field.  While most agents will never learn this "insider information", a local agent hears these things and will share them with their clients.

LOCAL IS SAFER

If you are ever looking to buy or sell a home, remember that a real estate transaction is very complicated,  involving a lot of money and risk.  A local agent is always the safest choice.

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

Home Sellers, Don't Let This Happen To You

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Is Your Message Being Tuned Out?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live in Solon Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and homes see Solon OH real estate

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©July, 2011

How To Choose A Neighborhood - Originally posted at Cleveland Real Estate Blog

In a recent article titled,  what’s more important the home or the neighborhood, there was critical discussion on how both were extremely important in their own ways. Today, we are focusing on how to choose the right neighborhood.

STEP ONE - DEFINE YOUR IDEAL NEIGHBORHOOD

There are a lot of things to think about when picking out a neighborhood. Here is a good exercise that should help out:

Think about all the things that are important to you and write them down.  Include a section titled "must haves". These are things that a neighborhood absolutely must have in order for you to buy there. You may also want to have a section titled "would like it to have", although these things wouldn't be nearly as important. 

One thing to remember is that sometimes the perfect neighborhood simply doesn't exist in your price range, so being a little flexible is important.

STEP TWO - CHECK THINGS OUT ---IN PERSON!

While the Internet is certainly an easy way to get a feel for a particular neighborhood, nothing can replace actually seeing it in person with a knowledgeable local real estate agent. Here are a few tips:

1.     Talk to people who live there. Neighbors are usually pretty open and will tell you all about their neighborhood.

2.     Is there pride of ownership? If the homes have good curb appeal and seem well maintained, it is usually a good sign that people there take care of their homes.

3.     Who lives there? Are there kids, dogs, other people your age? Driving around during the early evenings or weekends, when people are out and about will give you a good feel about your future neighbors. 

STEP THREE - OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER

1.     Location - This is viewed by many as being one of the most important things about an area. How far is it from your work? From schools and shopping?

2.     Costs - In addition to the price of homes in a given neighborhood, some developments, especially in the luxury market, require membership to a club or possibly associations. Find out if there are any additional costs on homes you are considering.

3.    Adverse Factors - Are there any negative features of a neighborhood? Is the area located next to a highway, railroad tracks, or power lines? While these may or may not matter to you, these factors could affect value and resale, so you should at least know about them.

While the actual house you buy is important, you are also buying the neighborhood and the lifestyle that comes with it. Don’t discount the importance of a neighborhood when it comes to buying a home as it is often viewed as just important as the home itself.

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

Home Sellers, Don't Let This Happen To You

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Is Your Message Being Tuned Out?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman service the Cleveland, Oh metropolitan area and specialize in Cleveland luxury homes and working with buyers relocating to Cleveland.

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

How To Choose A Neighborhood is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©June, 2011 

Chagrin Highlands - Solon Ohio Just Sold 6112 Penfield Lane

By The Schuman Team, Amy and Dan Schuman - Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland

List Price - $685,000  Sales Price - $655,000

Sales Price was 96% of list price!

This wonderful home was in high demand from the moment it went on the market. The home itself was magnificent and impeccably maintained. It all started with fantastic curb appeal as the home is professionally landscaped and sits on a picturesque wooded lot. From the moment you walk in, it is obvious you are in a fine luxury home. The impressive foyer, dramatic curved staircase, and 2 story living room leave you wanting to see more of this home. It really had everything a buyer would want. The Chagrin Highlands neighborhood is also a big draw as homes here are all situated on at least 1 acre, a rarity for luxury homes in Solon.

We wish the new buyers the very best in their beautiful new home. We are sure they will be very happy.

Solon Schools had the State's top rated report card in 2010 and is considered one of the top schools in the country. Solon is also consistently rated among the most popular suburbs in Cleveland and has been featured in many national and local publications. Solon was recently ranked by Money Magazine as one of the best places to live.

Parkside Elementary

Orchard Middle School

Solon Middle School

Solon High School

Here is a video of Chagrin Highlands, one of Solon's most exclusive luxury home neighborhoods:

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman are Solon residents and specialize in Solon Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and homes see  Solon OH Real Estate

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

 LET'S CONNECT:

Chagrin Highlands Solon Ohio - Just Sold 6112 Penfield Lane is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©June, 2011