Last week I was face to face with an interesting dichotomy involving two banks with whom I do business. One I’ve had a relationship with for a few years. The other relationship began fairly recently.
Although the former is more convenient, I was beginning to think that the latter might actually be my preferred bank, largely because of the service that they’ve been providing. I’m pleasantly greeted by the branch manager each time that I’m there, and he always takes a personal interest in meeting my needs.
Change of Heart
No sooner did I begin to consider expanding our relationship, I was give a reason to pause. One of the convenience factors that I alluded to with my first bank centers around the capabilities of their ATM machine. I can deposit checks directly into the machine without an envelope. When I first learned of that feature I thought that it was great, really “cool” and convenient. I soon surmised that it must be offered by all banks.
Not So Fast
That was until last week when I tried to similarly make a deposit into bank number two. “Oh no, we don’t offer that with our ATM’s yet, the teller explained. Hopefully we will very soon.”
The After Affects
While to some this might not seem to be very significant, it has affected my perception about the bank. For me, it wasn’t simply about the convenience factor, but more about the message sent by their lack of technology. “If this bank lags behind the other in the options available via it’s ATM machines,” I thought, “What else are they behind on?”
The Lesson For Realtors
The consequences of this experience should be considered by all Realtors. Are you offering many of the technological resources that are available to your clients? Is the company for whom you work providing them for you? Service is, and certainly always will be, crucial to the success of your business. Some, however, make the mistake of separating the idea of service from technology as if they were two different entities. This is certainly not the case, and we have reached the time in our universal life where convenience, service and technology should be looked at as one. Each is interdependent upon the other.
What do you offer your clients that makes their real estate experience more convenient?
What about from a technological perspective?
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