We, as business professionals have different opinions, ideas and other creative techniques for targeting specific niche markets.
In my “real estate world” I have the ability to change like a chameleon for each relationship and corner of our real estate industry. Maybe it’s because of my belief that having an open mind that every individual is unique and will have different ideas and opinions as well is what allows me to do so.
Change with an every changing market.
For ever changing times…
For ever changing relationships….
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Business relationships can mean one thing to one person and another to the next. Bottom line is that any relationship is a give and take situation. Listening is the key to communicating in ANY relationship and in business we allow each and every client to be themselves and voice their opinions. Without that ability we have no relationship at all.
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Personal relationships will grow with clients we connect with on a more personal level during a transaction. Pushing oneself on clients for years and years later who clearly only want to ‘know me’ when doing business will clearly push them away to seek another agent the next time around. The rest of my clients share their experiences outside of ‘business’ and know I am there to share with them with their trials and tribulations.
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Professional relationships are a part of the ‘team work’ attitude that allowed me to continue on with my relationships with all that have surrounded me (loan and escrow officers, home and termite inspectors and all in the real estate industry) and those I’ve felt comfortable with are the ones that were there as a team for everyone involved. These are the professionals I will love to work with in the future.
I have clients that have remained friends…. years after the transaction closed because we just had that kind of connection. Some have moved to another state, country or plan to come back to Hawaii at a later time and they continue to read my blogs and continue to connect with me on a personal level on Facebook too. It allows us all to ‘keep in touch’ for those that want to keep in touch. 
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One is having a baby any day (so is my daughter and they just could be at the same hospital at the same time!)
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One just had major surgery and called me to thank me for caring and sending a card.
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One just celebrated their son’s 11th birthday….and so did I J
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One just moved to North Carolina (and is waiting for my daughter and her husband to arrive at the same base!)
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Another is in Japan and shares stories and pictures with me through Facebook.
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Many have come back as repeat clients because they value me as their agent and KNOW they will get good results.
There are real estate industry professional off AND online that have become friends…..and some that remain ‘associates’. Those that I have come to know on a more personal level and appreciate them for their experience as a professional as well as their demeanor and attitude towards life as well. They will be a perfect ‘fit’ for the clients that I am referring to them and I believe they will take care of them as I have. It makes all the difference in the world to know someone on a personal level.
I’ve shared the personal side of me with face to face contact as well as through online connections. TRANSPARENCY. The personal side of me is how they get to know me as a person as well as a real estate professional. If I were in the shoes of a consumer I would want to know a little about the person I am trusting with one of the most important decisions for investment in a property that I will be making now and in the future.
Without the transparency……
In my relationships with others….
What is this professional person worth?
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
Suggested. Couldn't agree more. Transparency is what every good relationship begs for! You know it.... others don't! Good stuff!
It is definetly a well done thoughtful blog. Very good stuff.
Cute video, Sally! Yes, some clients do become good friends. Yes, I like to know the people I do business with.
Good morning, Sally. Yes. I have to agree whole heartedly. I like the video too...
Sally, I agree. I have some clients who have remained friends and there are some with whom I just had a professional relationship.
Sally, you have a well thought out post here. I wrote a post yesterday called, "I collect people . . ." which said similar things. For me, I enjoy develping relationships with my clients. It's not going to be all of them, but there is always that one here and one there that just clicks. Thanks for the excellent blog!!
Great post Sally and you are so right. There are many that we click with and if we take the time to stay in touch become more than just another deal and the client feels it. Transparancy is so important when used wisely
Very insightful. Each relationship is different and listening is always better than talking - that's how you find out when that birthday or surgery is, and which base someone's son or daughter is on...it's usually apparent to clients when you've taken the time to listen to them and that's where true relationship building begins.
Sally, I agree! The beginning of all relationships starts with trust. Thanks.
Excellent Sally, I think being very transparent can be scary but I also found sharing personal life with clients, we have built stronger bonds and relationship. Some of my past clients have become my daily friends too.
Great post, Sally. Once the transaction is complete, there are indeed people that we form a relationship with.
Very well said Sally, thanks for the great blog post.
Larry, Elite, Maria, Mike: Thanks!
CJGEO: Repoerted Spam
Gita: It's all in the manner of how we handle our clients and what they prefer :)
Mike: Read your post...good stuff too! Some are just people people and some are not. It doesn't mean we have to socialize in bars after the day is done....or their our bestest friends but nevertheless many do become friends....
Martha: No kidding. There are stuff we share with some and not others anyway. Everything I've shared on AR are things I share with others. Besides, it's a 'feel it out' kind of situation with any relationship we form anyway.
Charlie: Good add on. It is important to just not kick people to the curb just because the deal is over. We don't do that in real life unless we really feel the relationship could be detrimental to our well being (serial killer or something :)
Thank you for this post! Well said and well written! I too have found great friends in some of my clients while others are more interested in that professional relationship only.
Nice post. I enjoy building relationships with new clients, always looking for mutual interests, hobbies etc. Congratulations on the feature.
Nice to hear you have befriended may clients. We spend more time with our work than we do with our family. Nice when others appreciate our efforts and time.
i'm the same way, Sally! Some WANT that personal relationship and others only want the business discussion. I have had one repeat client of recent who was originally ALL business; I gave him ALL business! A couple of months back I was delivering their Due Diligence check to them and he invited me in--wanted me to have a glass of wine with them and began asking ALL sorts of personal questions! He then told me that he has a friend who is all about the 'relationships' and wanted to see if we would be a good fit for him--he referred me a fantastic client--but, again, he was all about business and finding out if I was, indeed, the right person for the 'job!' It was rather funny and certainly unexpected but, thankfully i passed the Litmus test!
I love the way that you operate and I believe that is why you're so successful--you can read whether or not you need to be all biz...or if a little 'Special Sally' can be added to the business relationship!!
Debe...and this is a classic example of why we treat everyone how we want to be treated :) You get what you put out and bottom line....I look at people (no matter if in what profession) as people. If they want to have a more personal relationship or not....it's up to both of us :)
Hi Sally--I couldn't agree with you more. I think most people want to deal with people and not feel like it is simply a business transaction. I think staying connected is important.
What a wonderful post. You certainly have found the secret to happy clients and a successful business.
Video's say it all. Its important to keep those strong relationships! Keep it up.
An interesting blog post that I enjoyed reading! Thank you for sharing it!
Sally - I agree, at the very least, we need to treat everyone professionally, but sometimes the relationship becomes more personal and friendships develop. It's one of the more interesting aspects of real estate.
Having good vendors is like having a foundation under a building. They are the reason we are able to service our clients so well.