“Know, like and trust” is a three-step process that agents need to master in order to convert more of their own lead database. Most leads start out as strangers who transition into a warm lead and then evolve to someone that “knows” you as their sales person. Getting to the “know” stage is essential in the lead conversion process. Prospects must know you because, when they do, they’re more likely to like you and refer you to other buyers and sellers. Trust is also an important part of the equation. When your clients trust you, your advice has greater weight and the sales process goes more smoothly. There are many ways to build “know, like and trust,” and they all begin with building rapport with your leads. Here are 10 tips to start your relationships off right!
- Make a good first impression. Whether your first meeting is over the phone or in-person, you have to make the best impression possible. Speak with confidence and greet them with a smile. Make sure you present the image of a relatable professional. If you dress too nice, you could ostracize your more casual leads. If you dress too shabby, however, they won’t see you as a pro.
- Small talk. Don’t dive straight into questions about income, savings and credit score. Break the ice with some safe, comfortable small talk so they can get comfortable with you.
- Call them by their name. Start using your lead’s name right away. Not only will this help you remember it; it will also give you a psychological foot in the door. People love hearing their names. Using it can help endear you to your lead.
- Open-ended questions go a long way. People love to talk about themselves. Let your prospects share information about themselves by asking open-ended questions like, “What’s the most important thing you must have in your house?”
- Find common ground. Finding out what you have in common can help you bridge the gap between you and your lead. Do they like basketball? Do they enjoy cooking? Have they been to that coffee shop downtown with the really great biscotti?
- Offer a compliment. Make sure any compliments you give are honest and sincere. Otherwise, they may come across as condescending and damage your relationship with your lead.
- Model your body language. Observe your lead to determine how loud your body language is. This will help ensure you don’t intimidate them.
- Adjust your tone of voice. People typically like people who are similar to themselves. Try to adjust your pace, volume and tone to be closer to that of your lead.
- Be genuine. If you don’t like football, don’t pretend you do. If you aren’t feeling bright and bubbly today, don’t force it. Real estate relationships aren’t about acting. Let your leads like you for you. Be yourself.
- Be empathetic. People buy and sell homes for a variety of reasons. They could be going through a divorce or having a new baby. They may need a larger home to take care of an aging family member. Whatever is going on, there is an innate desire in most people to be understood. Give your leads that understanding by acknowledging their hardships, triumphs, and other driving emotions.
Now that you have the “know, like and trust” process to convert your leads, if you are looking for ways to attract first-time millennial homebuyers, Homes.com can help. With over 13 million monthly visitors, Homes.com can connect you with quality leads in your area by giving you the ability to target consumers during the initial stages of their home search process. Don’t let any more of your local millennial homebuyers slip away to your competitor. Start connecting with them today.
For more information, please visit connect.homes.com.
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