Building Relationships To Establish Rapport

There’s no question that people do business with people they like, and the key to having someone like you is to build rapport with them. But sometimes, that’s easier said than done. One of the challenges to building rapport is simply understanding what “rapport” really is.
Rapport is a process of building a sustaining relationship of mutual trust, harmony and understanding. It is essentially meeting individuals in their model of the world and this happens through matching the accessing cues from words, eye movements and body language. Rapport is the ability to be on the same wavelength and to connect mentally and emotionally with an individual. It is the ability to join people where they are in order to build a climate of trust and respect. Having rapport does not mean that you have to agree, but that you understand where the other person or people are coming from.
The secret to acquiring this skill? Quite simple really. Pay attention! People give you so many non-verbal clues that you are doing yourself a disservice by ignoring them. Therefore, always listen to how you're prospects describe what their looking for to pick up on the hotspots that you can relate to. Note their subconscious movements when describing features about the perfect apartment they're looking for to determine what's important to them. In doing so, you will be able to establish a much better relationship with your prospect and make them feel welcome as a potential new neighbor in your community!

Enjoy!

The Importance Of Rapport
Rapport Building And Sales
Customer Satisfaction

Low Marketing Budget...Go The Guerrilla Route

Guerrilla Marketing is often times a loosely used phrase and by loosely used, I mean that many people use the phrase having no clue as to what exactly it means. Wikipedia defines Guerrilla Marketing as,

"...an unconventional system of promotions that relies on time, energy and imagination rather than a big marketing budget. Typically, guerrilla marketing campaigns are unexpected and unconventional; potentially interactive; and consumers are targeted in unexpected places. The objective of guerrilla marketing is to create a unique, engaging and thought-provoking concept to generate buzz, and consequently turn viral. The term was coined and defined by Jay Conrad Levinson in his book Guerrilla Marketing. The term has since entered the popular vocabulary and marketing textbooks. Guerrilla marketing involves unusual approaches such as intercept encounters in public places, street giveaways of products, PR stunts, any unconventional marketing intended to get maximum results from minimal resources. More innovative approaches to Guerrilla marketing now utilize cutting edge mobile digital technologies to really engage the consumer and create a memorable brand experience..."

Guerrilla Marketing is often times intended to be an out-of-the-box way of marketing, but is usually extremely effective, due to the fact that it is meant to be directly in the foresight of the consumer. It is actually getting out into the community, flyering in parking lots, cross marketing with local shops and spreading your businesses name with everyone you meet in an often creative way, that is the basis for Guerrilla Marketing. When property budget doesn't allot you enough funds to do mainstream commercials, eye catching billboards, radio feeds, or other expensive marketing techniques, guerrilla marketing can be a very useful, inexpensive and successful alternative.

Guerrilla Marketing is a tried and true means of marketing that allows you to be creative with how you get your businesses name out into the public, so have fun with it. Think outside the box, get out into the community and feel free to share your success stories of using the guerilla route to marketing prosperity.

Enjoy!

2010 Communication

Technology has quickly made means of communication much more advanced, while at times making it much more impersonal and often, disconnected. Texting, Facebook, Twitter and Email have taken over the, what seems like, lost art of talking to actual individuals on the phone, or in person. Knowing this, we have to adapt to the ever evolving technological language and treat every online lead as if it were a prospect actually calling the community, or walking through your office door. Just as the sale can be made via phone call through learning of the prospects hotspots and building extensive prospect rapport, the same outcome can be made with the right kind of follow-up Email. Always keep in mind that any lead, regardless of where it comes from, is a potential new resident. Enjoy!

Mini-Models: The Extra Flare You May Need

Mini-models are often very crucial in helping portray the most important feeling upon a prospect...a sense of home. Even the smallest things from dishes on the kitchen counter to towels on the restroom towel rack can allow the prospect to envision themselves coming home to that apartment. If you're having specific objections about aspects of your apartments, spice things up a little and setup a vacant apartment as a mini-model. It is a very inexpensive task, can be transferred from apartment to apartment after one is leased and the pay off of leasing those vacant apartments will make it all well worthwhile. Have fun decorating your apartments and here are a few websites if you need some pointers. Enjoy!

Apartment Staging Works
How To On Mini-Models
Tips And Trends
Summer Mini-Models

No "M.O.'s"

A good friend of mine from college is involved in one of the most challenging occupational fields I can think of. He is neither a surgeon, a fireman, lawyer, nor is he a police officer. My friend works anywhere from 12 to 15 hours a day and usually tips the weekly hour scale somewhere around 90 hours of work per week. What is it he does....he's a Division 1 college football coach. Bear with me through the football tangent, because college football starts in eight days and the background story is needed to explain where the title comes from. My friend has worked with many prominent coaches of the game and there has been one saying that he's picked up along the way that resounds not only in the game of football, but with life in general. "No M.O.'s." M.O.'s stands for Missed Opportunities. This saying can relate not just to the major life opportunities, but also to the everyday events that transpire in the work environment.

Now, in the apartment world, these opportunities are going to refer to any prospect that comes through the door, any phone call from a prospective resident and even any Email lead that is delivered to your computer. Make it a point, not just today, but everyday, to put forth all of your effort to treat every contact you make with a prospect as another potential opportunity to lease to these individuals. Having this outlook will avoid you having to wonder the bothersome question of "what if" after your tours/phone calls/Emails and more importantly, it will reduce the amount of "M.O.'s" in your everyday work life.

Enjoy and have a great Wednesday!

"Good Night, Sleep Tight. Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite."

What used to be a childhood admonition has all but turned into a stark reality for many of todays consumers throughout the country. Bed bugs are increasingly becoming a problem within residences of all kinds, including homes, apartments, hotels, cruise ships, dormitories and shelters.
In contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are not the result of poor hygiene – bed bugs can affect anyone, anywhere, anytime. In addition to causing much traumatic stress and turmoil to the unfortunate recipients of bed bugs, the owners of these properties also suffer at the cost of their public reputations. Treating the host homes of these nighttime feeders is equally as important as treating the reputation of the properties name and both must be done immediately to the calm the fears of not only the current residents, but also the prospective residents.
Bed bugs had been shown the “no vacancy” sign in the U.S. for nearly 50 years— they've been virtually eradicated. But now that’s all changed. They’re back. Therefore, to ensure the properity of your community name and your residents sleep, know the precautions to take when dealing with these bed-dwelling vampires.