Last week I was showing big, pretty houses to a couple who are considering a move to Washington. They were interviewing several agents, and we really seemed to hit it off. By the third of forth house, I was confident that we'd be working together.
Then I made a really, really bad mistake.
We met the listing agent at the last house, and I had an extreme "senior moment". I totally blanked out on their names!
Was it Tim? Ted? Any "T" name? Not even close! And I couldn't cover it up, because I'd started to make the introductions.
It was not my best move. It may have been one of my worst!
They've decided to work with a colleague who came highly recommended by some close friends, and she is a fabulous agent. She might have beaten me out even if I had remembered their names, but I sort of don't think so.
So, on the advice of my sweetie (who has occassional memory lapses himself), I'm getting one of those nice leather Coach portfolios with room for a pad of forms that include the buyers' NAMES IN BOLD PRINT at the top of the page!
Patricia- I am taking a memory course by Ron White that is absolutely fabulous about remembering names or anything for that matter. It is fun too. You file their face because we see words in Pictures under a file with something funny attached to it, like a big nose for someone who has a big nose. Anyways, there are a few more steps than that but it is really fast. This is one of my weaknesses I am trying to overcome.
Patricia not to worry we all have those senoir moments and they seem to happen more and more as time goes on.
Patricia,
This is my big problem. At the introduction, it is a bit intense for me, and I forget the name. I need to hear it second time, and then I am OK.
It is quite awkward
Hi Patricia~ Don't you just hate it when you do that? It seems like it happens more and more and I don't like it one little bit, LOL! I HAVE to use a mnemonic devise in order to remember sometimes!
Pat having done this I make a point to write down the name, calling Charles, James is not a good idea. Yes we have all had one of those moment.
Sorry to hear about that! For the future, another option would be to remember their last name and introduce them as Mr and Mrs xxxx. Unless they are not married. I have had some senior moments also that have made me seem less credible. For some reason I can't remember them now....
I've had moments like that, and it's been regarding people that I know well! My mind just goes blank.
Pat... so sorry to hear..... it happens. I don't think I lost a client over it though. And would I change if I liked someone's service? Maybe, maybe not... I would have to weigh everything....
Dear Patricia,
I NEVER show houses without an exclusive business relationship agreement - that way you will never lose a client. You are worth it. If they do not want to sign anything, they are playing games with you because all you have to say is - "Real Estate is ALL about signing things, and this document(business relationship) is how I get paid". If they do not like that, say goodbye, I sometimes make that mistake (not getting one signed) and you will get BURNED EVERY TIME!
Hey Pat,
You're not alone. I'm very bad with names, but I never forget a face.
Oh well. At least you now have a good excuse to buy Coach! :)
Hi Patricia. Ouch! We have all done this before. :)
Pat, why don't you buy some 50 cent nametags and make all your clients wear them on the first appointment. It could be kinda fun.
Ouch, I agree but it happens. We can't remember everything all the time! ! I had a boyfriend once who said he went to call and girl and forgot her name when she answered so he hung up and never called again. KM
Don't worry, we have all done it at least one and the ones that say they haven't clearly have just blocked it out of their memory because they are so embarrassed by what they did.
Patricia, that has happened too me except I forgot the buyer's names. Worst yet, the buyers were related to a good client. After that I started writing the buyer's names on my showing sheet.
Pat - When I was a high school teacher I used to cheat - on the first day of class I made up a seating chart for each class period - I am HORRIBLE with names! When I see x-students it is 'HI HON' for most of them - I just can't remember most of their names - with clients I try to put it on a little stickie note on the counsol in the car - where I can see it and they probably can't - and just incase they can, I have the time we are meeting on there, so it looks like a meeting reminder, not a name reminder - try it, it works great for all of us that have trouble with names (by the way, I always remembered a husband's name by the time I filed for divorce)
the last part was a joke, by the way-
...still laughing from Barbara Jo's comment about ex-husbands.... I have the same problem with names - I always write them down on the top of my notepad where I take notes for the houses we look at. It helps!
Ouch. I liked the idea of the sticky with the time and names on it.
That's a great idea. Fortunately, most of my work is done on the phone. I keep a notebook and write notes as I talk on the phone. I always start with being sure I have their names spelled correctly. If I'm talking with a client or previous prospect I have the information in my database program. It's helpful because I can go back 6 months, a year of more and pick up where the conversation ended.
I do have the same problem with names when I meet people in person for the first time. I've done it for a long time. Now that I've been around for a while I can call them senior moments even though I know it's just a lack of concentration.
Oh Pat - I know how badly you want to beat yourself up but i can assure you that this happens to me too, and byt the looks of the previous comments before me, I am pleasantly surprised to see that others have this problem from time to time too. In fact, your post might be reassurance to the rest of us.
Gretchen.............these things happen............I don't know why. I do know that the same brain cells that create those faux pas seem to generate a void when trying to remember what you forgot in the first place. I was hoping to share some pragmatic tips on how to avoid the problem but I have forgotten what I was going to say.
Let me just add that I hope you have a nice Thanksgiving, Christmas New Years. I know one of them is coming up. by the way...don't bother watching the redskins..i don't think they will do much this year.
kiss kiss
jmac
Hi Patricia...My last settlement was with a very nice couple from Northern Virginia. They were looking for a second home here at Lake Anna. I met with the wife the first time. She had been in contact with me by e-mail and spoke on the phone. Her name is Mary but I changed it to Pat. Even in my Blackberry I had Pat so when she called me I responded with the wrong name.
This continued for at least 4-5 times even after I changed my Blackberry. The darn name of Pat stuck in my head. Finally I got it right.
At settlement I asked her husband if she ever mentioned my fumble-stumble to him and he said yes.
Can you believe she stuck with me. In fact they bought a lovely waterfront house I showed her the first day. We waited for her husband to see it and then it was a go.
Kate
P.S. Mary even laughed when I requested that she change her name to Pat because it would make much easier for me.
I carry a padfolio and write everything in it also I've started using a buyer analysis form it gives me all kinds of information about them, their life, the current situation, and what kind of house they want ( and of course what kind of house they will buy, because it's never the same.)