Geoffrey Vernimmen may not call himself a champion in house sales, but his impressive figures at Realo speak volumes. We asked him for his tips & tricks for purchasing houses and apartments.
Geoffrey works at Era Thuis in the Meetjesland region and since 2021 they have been using Realo's Seller Leads to approach potential sellers. "There's no certainty that people will sell, but they have shown interest via Realo's website", he explains.
Geoffrey springs into action. "I immediately call the potential seller, and if I can't reach them, I send an email. I try again that evening outside office hours." He adopts a driven but calm approach. "Calling too often is pushy and counterproductive. If I can't reach them in the evening, I send a text."
If Geoffrey hasn't heard anything the next day, he adjusts his approach. "Usually, I get phone contact seven out of ten times. If that doesn't work, I make a personal visit." Potential sellers are not surprised when Geoffrey shows up on their driveway. "They just signed up with Realo, so they expect it. I make small talk, say I was in the neighbourhood, and try to set up an appointment."
If they still don't want to sell or don't want to use his services, Geoffrey accepts that. But he keeps in touch. "I call after a few weeks or months to see if their perspective has changed."
Never giving up is the central theme in his story. "As a buyer, you often hear no, but keep in touch and build trust. Listen to their needs and expectations, and explain how you can help them."
His approach works. Of the many leads he received, 27 came online. He purchased seven of them, a success ratio of 26%. "I wasn't aware of it, but I just try to do my job as well as possible."
Geoffrey is convinced of the added value of Realo. "I receive high-quality leads. Potential sellers get a lot of information through the site, such as an estimated price for their property. Realo makes my job easier, as there's already a better connection. Of course, I do my own valuation, but it usually doesn’t differ much from Realo’s."
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