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Tips & Strategies for Working with Difficult Customers
How To Deal With Difficult Customers: A Complete Guide (Indeed, Feb. 3, 2023)
- Keep your communication professional.
- Remain calm and collected.
- Speak softly.
- Practice active listening.
- Give them time to talk.
- Understand the customer's point of view.
- Assess their needs.
- Seek a solution.
- Ask for support.
- Maintain a positive relationship.
How to Deal With a Difficult (or Angry) Customer: 16 Tips (HubSpot, Dec. 15, 2021)
- Practice reflective listening
- Consider their affect heuristic
- Tap into the beginner's mind
- Let go of fear
- Remember, anger is natural
- Use your support resources
10 Powerful Steps to Defuse Angry Customers (
Business Know-How, Sep. 11, 2020)
“Dissatisfied customers are, unfortunately, a fact of business life. How you respond will determine whether the customer goes on to tell all his friends and family how terrible your business is or instead rave about your unmatched customer service. Here are 10 things you can do to turn the situation around.”
Managing Client Expectations
The Role of Communication in Managing Expectations for Business Owners (Intuit MailChimp, Oct. 5, 2023)
- Managing expectations can lead to:
- Improved customer satisfaction
- Enhanced reputation
- Greater efficiency
- Better resource allocation
- Increased revenue
5 Steps to Follow for Successful Client Management (the ascent, Aug. 5, 2022)
- Set expectations
- Set up a line of communication
- Reach out
- Make recommendations
- Develop specific deliverables
13 Ways to Have Difficult Conversations with Clients (
Forbes, Jun. 17, 2021)
Prepare the conversation, be honest and address concerns, hold a strong Code of Ethics, converse via in-person or phone, be informed, empathetic and inclusive, build a track record for success, listen to client concerns and needs, consider the client’s expectations, leverage your experience and expertise, and maintain regular conversations with clients.
Stress Management for Buyers and Sellers
How to Overcome Rate Anxiety When Purchasing a House (NASB, Nov. 1, 2023)
- Educate Yourself
- Get Pre-Approved
- Shop Around
- Improve Your Credit Score
- Use Your Lender as a Resource
- Don't Let Fear Drive Your Decisions
How To Avoid Mortgage Stress (nerdwallet, Oct. 13, 2023)
Mortgage stress happens when more than 30% of gross household income goes to repayments. Typically, this means spending a disproportionate amount of income paying off a home loan at the expense of other necessities or financial goals.
Why You Have Moving Stress, and How to Make Moving to a New Home Easier (U.S. News, Jan. 26, 2023)
- Expect stress
- Plan in advance
- Welcome help, when possible
- Get excited about your new home
- Assert yourself
- Get out in the community early
Am I Annoying My Realtor? 7 Things Buyers Do That Real Estate Agents Hate (realtor.com®, Aug. 3, 2022)
Beyond annoying your REALTOR®, these traits could prevent the transaction. Aesthetics can be changed, discretion can avoid disaster, and procrastination, ignoring the seller’s preferences, or lowballing could lose the house.
How to Avoid Homebuyer's Remorse (the balance, Mar. 10, 2022)
Revisit your list of wants versus needs in a home, and make sure the house you're purchasing matches up. Well-meaning friends may question your decision, but your real estate agent has more knowledge about the market and can ease your concerns. Your homebuyer's remorse could be valid if you discover issues with the property's title, home inspection, appraisal value, or your financing.
Stress Management for REALTORS®
Dealing with Unreasonable Home Buyers and Sellers (
Real Estate Agent, Jan. 18, 2022)
Listen to your clients, set expectations moving forward, and communicate as often as possible.
5 Tips for Alleviating Clients’ Stress (REALTOR® Magazine, Feb. 7, 2020)
- Create a list
- Set up presale inspection
- Keep emotions to a minimum
- Work face-to-face
- Be upfront
Parting Ways with Difficult Customers
Difficult Real Estate Clients: How to Break Up with Them (McKissock Learning, Aug. 28, 2023)
“In most instances, it’s best to be honest, concise, and firm. Any conversations that you have verbally should be documented in writing as well.”
How To Fire a Real Estate Client Without Destroying Your Credibilitypdf (FitSmallBusiness, Apr. 4, 2023)
Use a downloadable professional breakup letter template.
10 Ways to Respectfully 'Break Up' with a Client (Forbes, Mar. 26, 2020)
“Like an interpersonal relationship, a client "breakup" can have severe repercussions on how the company is seen, both by their existing customers and any potential leads they might have. Ten members of Forbes Agency Council discuss the best way that a business can let a problematic client down easy so that the broken relationship doesn't impact its other prospects.”
Useful Websites
Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual
National Association of REALTORS®
Safety
Helping NAR members understand the risks they face through knowledge, awareness, and empowerment.
HelpGuide
A trusted non-profit guide to mental health and well-being.
The American Institute of Stress
The mission of AIS is to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence of stress management in education, research, clinical care and the workplace.
MindTools
Learn the leadership, management and personal effectiveness skills you need for a happy, successful career.
Active Rain
ActiveRain is a community of real estate professionals who exchange ideas to grow their business. It provides a way for agents and other real estate industry contributors to connect, share, and learn.
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Browse more titles here on working with difficult people.
Working with Difficult People (Audiobook)
How to Deal with Difficult Customers (eBook)
Hug Your Haters (eBook)
Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People (eBook)
Winning with the Customer from Hell (eBook)
Dealing with Difficult People: 24 Lessons for Bringing Out the Best in Everyone (eBook)
The Customer Service Survival Kit (eBook)
Advanced Facilitation Strategies: Tools & Techniques to Master Difficult Situations (eBook)
Conversations for Change: 12 Ways to Say It Right When It Matters Most (eBook)
Coping With Difficult People in Business and in Life (Audiobook)
De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less (Audiobook)
How People Tick: A Guide to Over 50 Types of Difficult People and How to Handle Them (eBook)
Perfect Phrases for Dealing with Difficult People (eBook)
Working with Difficult People (eBook)
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