There is something special about when you find a great Concierge and like the first time you fall in love, you’ll know exactly when it happens. First, let us clarify the difference between a real estate ‘Agent’ and a real estate ‘Concierge’. A real estate agent will be able to deal with the run-of-the-mill scheduling of property showings, and making recommendations, and will have decent interpersonal and customer service skills. This real estate agent you will forget almost immediately after you’ve met them.
A real estate concierge will make life easy. From recommending great neighborhoods based on lifestyle, family, or investment goals, to addressing your deepest fears when it comes to homeownership. A real estate concierge will become your best friend; from always being able to answer any question no matter how obscure, to referring a trusted handyman when a door needs fixing. “I can’t” or “I don’t know” are not words any real estate concierge should use in any professional capacity. A real estate concierge will make you feel like you’re family, and when you’re ready to make the biggest purchase of your life you’ll know that you are not alone.
This differentiation should not be surprising. A real estate agent has only the sale in mind with an ”always be closing” mentality. A real estate concierge places the client’s needs above all else.
These are some of the things a real estate agent can do for you:
- Recommend a few properties that fit the basic criteria of location, budget, and number of bedrooms.
- Book a showing for you based on what he thinks would satisfy.
- Try his/her best to find what’s available on the local MLS.
- Respond to messages, calls, and/or e-mails when time allows.
Compare this to what a real estate concierge can do for you:
- Discuss what type of schools, parks, and shops you prefer when recommending a neighborhood.
- Will show you reports on crime, demographics, and historical sales in the communities you are considering living in.
- Will leave no stone unturned, will not take ‘no’ for an answer, and will use every contact, friend, and resource at their disposal to find that perfect home just for you.
- Make himself/herself available at all times and respond to any request or inquiry as soon as possible. The job of being a real estate Concierge is to always appear available even when this may not in fact be the case.
The thing that differentiates one from the other is a complete willingness to meet the needs of the consumer. The sad truth about the real estate industry is that it is full of too many people who don’t have the passion to help others realize their dreams of home ownership. Passion is a hugely important ingredient in making yourself successful in your job and indeed in all aspects of your life. Whether you are a part/full-time real estate professional, you play a part in shaping not only your own success in the industry but also the future of the industry as a whole.
Mark Lomas and Kirsten Wolfe are dedicated to the future of the real estate industry, and truly believe it is time to change the public’s perception of the real estate ‘Agent’ to ‘Concierge’.
The source for this post is AskAvenue.com
