How effective are you when you are face-to-face with your clients on a listing presentation? Do you get the signature quickly and efficiently at your desired price? What do you really sound like to your clients?

These are all valid thoughts regarding your presentation. Do you know of any sports teams that don’t watch films of themselves and their opponents? Athletic teams and individuals are constantly evaluating their performance by viewing videotapes of the game. Have you ever videotaped your presentation? If you want to be truly professional, you need to take the step to record at least an audio version of your presentation.

1. Make the commitment to record your listing presentations.

2. Buy a small digital recorder that you can use to create a CD, so you can listen to it in your car.

3. Prepare a statement to inform your clients why you are recording the conversation and how it benefits them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Seller, I am taping our conversation today for two reasons. The first is to help my team members and me follow through on each and every thing we discuss regarding your desires and our commitments to you regarding the sale of your home. The second is that I am constantly working to improve my skill in selling real estate, just as a golf professional at the top of his game continues to study his swing. My speaking and selling skills are like my golf swing. By working to be the best, I become even better able to serve you, my client."

4. Listen to the recordings! This is truly the most difficult part. For some of you, it will be one of the most painful experiences you have had in some time. The value to your career, however, will be immeasurable. You will find out a lot of things that you are doing right. You will find out a few things that you are doing wrong.

By listening to the audio, you will increase your confidence because you will know what your strengths are. You will build stronger rapport with your clients because you will know the areas in which you need improvement.

The recording will also reveal where you are wasting time in your presentation. The listing presentation can almost always be more effective if done in less time. No matter how good you are at the listing presentation, you will find that you talk too much and don’t ask enough questions.

5. Evaluate yourself. The key is to ask questions:

• What are two or three things I did well?

• Did I listen to my client’s concerns?

• How much time did I talk?

• How much time did my client talk?

• Did I stay on track during the presentation?

• What is one area I could improve on?

• What did my client get most excited about?

• What steps do I need to take to stay on track better?

6. Give the tape to a mentor or associate who will listen to and review it. Ask for an honest evaluation. Tell your reviewer what to evaluate. Receive the feedback and make the adjustments that are necessary.

It takes a courageous person to record presentations and review them. There is always a difference between the truth and our perception of the truth. It takes courage to look the truth in the eye and look for ways to improve.

The old saying that we always make three presentations is a valid one. The first presentation is the one we make on the way to the appointment. Then there is the actual one that counts. Finally, we make the best one on the way home, when we replay the presentation and get a chance to answer the questions we missed and to make the best responses. If you record your presentations, soon your best ones will be made in the moment that counts – in front of the client.

Published: August 6, 2008

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Dirk Zeller is a sought out speaker, celebrated author and CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 350,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. The Real Estate community has embraced and praised his six best-selling books; Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, The Champion Real Estate Team, Telephone Sales for Dummies®, Successful Time Management for Dummies®, and over 300 articles in print. To learn more regarding this article, please visit www.realestatechampions.com.