(Retweet this article!) In honor of Valentine’s Day, we wanted to discuss the many ways to nurture the relationship we have with our customers because let’s face it; our customers want to feel special and appreciated – and not just today. The best way to make your relationships last from initial contact to closing is by following these steps for romancing your customers.

1. Be responsive. Your customers are not going to wait around for you forever. If someone comes along that is more responsive to their needs, you may lose them forever (to the competition). Our advice is to never leave them waiting more than five minutes.
2. Make them feel special. You don’t want your customers to feel like you don’t appreciate them. While tone may be difficult to portray through electronic communications, be sure you come off as friendly. For a more positive experience, try experimenting with different auto-responders for different forms that are more personalized to them.
3. Sometimes you have to take it slow. At the beginning of the relationship, be sure to move at a pace comfortable for your customer. If you try to make things happen too quickly or contact them too often, you may scare them off. Be aware that most customers want to wait an average of two weeks before ever speaking to a realtor after beginning their quest to find the perfect house.
4. Be reliable. When entering a relationship, people want to know what they are getting themselves in to, so it’s very important to give your customers a consistent experience. It may make them weary of continuing the relationship if you’re not reliable. By standardizing the process, it shows that you can be trusted.
5. 5. Be thoughtful and attentive. As in any relationship, fear of the unknown can be overwhelming. Be sure to supply them with the information they requested and any additional information that may be beneficial. Buying a home is a big decision, so be sure to answer any questions and address their concerns to make them feel more at ease with where this relationship is going.

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