So I am feeling humble. And sheepish. Let’s not forget the sheepish. I am probably feeling more sheepish than humble … Though what sheep have to do with feeling embarrassed (definition of sheepish) I have NO idea … and this from a sheep farmers daughter. Yes yes, back to the big why I’m feeling sheepish.
As you know we have had a huge change here and we have been lucky enough to have Vanessa in here. (Vanessa being one of our business owners and Company Directors). Well I heard her talking to a sweet elderly tenant of ours the other day. This lady has the beginnings of dementia and I have had the pleasure of dealing with her before regarding a maintenance issue. An element on her stove needed replacing and I wanted her to tell me the brand of the oven so I could inform our sparky. (Yes for all you PM’s out there, I should have simply looked at a photo!)
Now in the phone conversation with her I was polite, patient and what I considered to be suitably professional. I got the result we all wanted and I hung up happy – and apparently oblivious!
During Ness’s conversation with her, she asked Ness if “that Diane” was still employed here. Ness, very proudly, said yes, yes she is. “Oh” came the reply … “that woman is so rude! She made me get up and go and look at my stove there and then”.
This for me was a gentle reminder, well, not really so gentle actually! That not everyone’s experience of me is what I would like it to be despite me delivering what I think at the time is professional service Some people experience me as strong, forceful, and sometimes what I think is obvious is in fact, far from it … And I can’t really control that. Which for a control freak produces some serious soul searching and some very indignant self talk!
So I took this on board and tried buttoning back the ‘professional’ speak to be more friendly, and had a tenant come back and say my standard wasn’t high enough!!! Ahhhhh!!!!
So the point, I guess, is that I continue to work on my self awareness everyday. I don’t always get it right, but I do care, and I do shift my behaviour to always try to be better. Allens has an underlying motto, an ethos, of ‘Better Than Before’. If I take that motto, and one from the delightful movie The Robinsons ‘Keep Moving Forward’, then I may, just may, stay sane.
September 22 2011 | Customer Service and landlords and Management and Relationships and Uncategorized | No Comments »
We are turning yellow and grey!!! Can’t wait to zap around in a bright yellow mini! The energy here is palpable. Everyone is buzzing with excitement. We are coming out of winter in to spring… Ha! How appropriate we are turning yellow!
Oh … sorry … you want to know why we are turning yellow and grey??? Well! Exciting stuff … as of early October this year we will become Ray White Allens! Yep, we have gone international and all that that implies.
New IT systems, new marketing, access to wonderfully up to the minute information and resources – including a few new staff from the existing Ray White business here in Whangarei who have been invited to join us. And some new business cards that’ll show every freckle (read wrinkle!) on my face!!! Oh well, you can’t control everything … (not for lack of trying …)
For us in Property Management it also means new properties, new owners, new tenants, and new staff. We have two more very experienced property managers coming to us, and I’ll introduce them in weeks to come, but suffice to say I am fair vibrating with excitement! The only down side is we loose Vanessa out of our office … *sigh* … it’s been fun. Oh well, our loss is the sales team’s gain.
Click here for Monty’s (Our Company Directors’) blog … It will be much more information than my scattered thoughts … Catch up again soon, when I can catch my breath …
Here’s a sneak peek at the official release hitting papers this week!
Exciting changes ahead here at Allens
As part of our commitment to building a stronger real estate agency able to better serve Northlanders we have made the decision to take another step forward. Currently operating as Allens Real Estate, as of 1 October 2011 we will be joining forces to partner with the Ray White Group – offering our customers even greater value through our collective expertise – and will be known as Ray White Allens. Still locally owned and operated, the company will now be backed by one of New Zealand’s and Australasia’s largest real estate brand, and we remain as committed to upholding our traditional family values and community involvement as we are to progress and innovate.
Other than a name change it will be business as usual. We’ll be based in the same locations, with the same friendly team and culture. Becoming part of the international Ray White Group simply means we can provide you with cutting edge technology which will result in far superior marketing and greater local, national and international exposure for our customers properties.
Over the next few weeks you will start to see some dramatic visual changes take place as we rebrand our three offices at Whangarei, Tutukaka Coast and Bream Bay. Also undergoing a makeover will be the Allens Minis, website, stationery, flyers and marketing – as we take steps to become ‘Ray White Allens’. (Our Company name ‘Goode Leith Realty Ltd’ stays the same – simply our trading name and external look will undergo a change.)
Although we may be taking on a new name (and some bright new colours), of course, as we build a stronger real estate company – some things will never change – and we’re proud to have the same friendly faces and community spirit that make us who we are. We will always be proudly Northland owned and operated. The new Ray White Allens will take on our national and international competitors with a spirit to make Northland proud.
September 12 2011 | Community and Management and Marketing and Media and Relationships | No Comments »
