RISMEDIA, May 17, 2010—Scheduling showings used to be a full-time job, but since Centralized Showing Service came on the scene in 1994, real estate professionals across the board have been using the program to streamline their efforts in order to spend their time prospecting for new business. While the name implies the company is all about showings, there is more to it than meets the eye. With a comprehensive website filled with tools for agents to manage multiple aspects of their showings and listings, CSS provides one central location for agents to set up listings, provide feedback to their sellers and maintain a pulse on today’s market.
Keeping Clients Happy
“With the real estate market the way it is today, you have to do something to keep people happy until something good happens,” says Judie Crockett, “and CSS does just that.” Having an average of 175-200 listings at any given time, CSS has allowed Crockett, an agent with Howard Hanna Real Estate in Mentor, Ohio, to better manage her listings and clients—taking the stress out of the situation and keeping her clients happy.
For Eloise Eriksson Martin with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas, Texas, CSS has been a huge benefit for both herself and her clients. After hearing other agents talk about their success with CSS, Martin decided to integrate the system into her company, and it is a decision she doesn’t regret.
“From the beginning, I took advantage of every feature CSS offers,” says Martin. “Not only does it allow me to streamline the time and energy I spend making showing appointments, it enables me to stay up-to-date with my clients by providing pertinent information about their home and the way it is perceived by prospective buyers.”
Keeping clients happy is just one way in which Burton Kennedy, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Greensboro, North Carolina, has leveraged his partnership with CSS—using the company to schedule his showing appointments has been an advantage for both his buyers and sellers.
More than Meets the Eye
While one of the biggest benefits CSS offers real estate professionals is the ability to schedule showings with ease, the advantages don’t stop there. “The CSS website provides numerous ways for me to stand above other real estate professionals in my area,” says Martin. “If one of my listings goes through a price reduction, or a listing detail changes, I can instantly send the updated information to any agents who have shown the property.”
“Keeping sellers up-to-date with their home’s status is a huge advantage, especially in today’s market,” adds Crockett. The journal feature provided by CSS gives Crockett’s clients the ability to log on to the website at any time and see the status of their home.
“My clients can go to the journal 24/7 and know where the process stands—whether the home has been advertised, if there has been an open house, if there has been a price reduction and whether there has been a showing,” she says.
Living in such a fast-paced world where details are constantly changing, Crockett, Kennedy and Martin know the importance of providing timely feedback to their clients in order to help their homes appeal to the widest range of prospective buyers.
“The automated feedback system that CSS provides is both a time saver and huge advantage,” says Kennedy. “As soon as the home is shown, the first of four e-mails is generated by CSS and sent to the showing agent. Once they input their feedback, an e-mail is sent to both the seller and me, allowing for constant communication between all the parties involved.” In addition, all the feedback for a specific property can then be found on the CSS website.
“The feedback is a great way for sellers to get real-time information as to whether their home is priced too high or if there are any improvements that need to be made,” adds Martin, who has also taken advantage of the statistical reports the company offers. “If I have three to four listings in one part of the city, I can provide my sellers feedback for the entire area so they can see what is happening within the area—rather than just with their home.”
Staying Ahead of the Competition
Having used CSS since 2005, Kennedy saw the difference it made in working with his clients from the beginning. “The company’s extended hours and ease of being able to call one number to schedule multiple showings has allowed me to work more effectively with my clients on a day-to-day basis.” Staying ahead of the competition is crucial in today’s market and CSS provides an easy way for Crockett, Kennedy and Martin to stay top of mind.
“CSS allows me to stay in front of my clients and to get a pulse on what the market is doing,” says Crockett. “The feedback that is gained through the listing agent gives an accurate view of what buyers are expecting in terms of price as well as popular features within a home.”
While communication will always be a key asset in being a successful Realtor, CSS provides Martin with an effective way to stay in touch with her clients. “Being able to customize my listing announcements helps me set my properties apart,” says Martin. “By adding my photo, company and contact information, I can keep my name in front of my clients and set my listings apart from others in my area.”
“Working with CSS has helped me keep pace with today’s market,” says Kennedy. “The entire team at CSS is professional and efficient and they always take the time to listen to your concerns and implement strategies to help you stay ahead.”
For more information, please visit www.showings.com.
