Pre-game, Pre-game, Pre-game!
October 10, 2006 |
Most people have absolutely no idea the amount of preparation that sports officials go through. This preparation occurs in the off-season, during the season, in between games, and perhaps most importantly, before a game. The pre-game preparation comes in the form of the officials’ pre-game conference. In the same way that “location, location, location” is the mantra of real estate, “pre-game, pre-game, pre-game” is the mantra of officiating.
Why Have a Pre-game Conference?
“Pre-gaming,” as it is called, is important to officials because it helps ensure that the officiating crew is on the same page. In basketball, there is usually a crew of 3 officials– 1 referee and 2 umpires. Hours before the game, the referee leads the pre-game conference. During this time, the officials discuss any rule changes for the season, the playing styles of the teams, individual match-ups that the crew might need to pay particular attention to, and the way that particular situations are going to be handled by the crew.
Despite the fact that every official has gone through the pre-game conference countless times, they still do it before every game. Pre-gaming is important because it focuses the crew on the task at hand and gives them the opportunity to discuss situations before they actually occur. That way, when something does occur during the game, the crew has already covered it, and everything gets handled like clockwork. The officials also conference again at half-time in a similar manner to discuss anything that came up in the first half of the game, and to keep everyone focused for the second half of the game. All of this communication is vitally important to ensuring a well-officiated game.
Pre-gaming in Real Estate
So how can the strategy of pre-gaming be applied to real estate? It’s easy. REALTORS need to conduct “pre-game” conferences with their clients. For the selling client, this would occur once the listing agreement is signed, or perhaps even as a part of the listing presentation. Topics that should be covered are the steps in the process of selling a home, developing a marketing plan for the home, developing strategies for ensuring that the home shows well to potential buyers, etc. For the buying client, a similar conference should occur. Topics that should be covered are the desires that a buyer has for the new home, the steps in the process of buying the home, discussing potential neighborhoods and homes that might interest the buyer, etc.
Having this type of detailed conference with clients will help to make sure that both the REALTOR and the client are on the same page, and focused on the same goals. It will also help to reduce the stress that comes from the unexpected issues that arise during the home buying or selling process. Just as officials conference to increase teamwork, REALTORS and clients can increase their teamwork by developing strategies that they can use together to help achieve their objectives. It will also let both the REALTOR and the client know if perhaps this relationship isn’t going to work because of conflict between goals and objectives. If I have one goal or objective, and my client has another that is contrary, then pre-game is a good place to find this out. At this point, we can either decide to rectify it, or maybe just go our separate ways. Both REALTOR and client can save a lot of time and effort if this type of meeting can occur before a situation arises.
Half Time Conference
To me, the “half-time” of the real estate transaction is the period immediately after a contract has been accepted and ratified. At this point, it is necessary for REALTOR and client to conference once again in order to discuss how the transaction will proceed. For both buyers and sellers, there is typically a home inspection to be considered; buyers must be helped through the loan process, and sellers need help with all the things that go into leaving a home. While some of this will surely be covered in a thorough pre-game, contract ratification is the perfect opportunity to go over these aspects of the transaction in greater detail. Again, no one likes surprises, and conferencing at this point can help to reduce the stress of potential surprises. It is also a good point at which to take stock of the entire experience and make sure that all parties are still focused and committed, and feeling satisfied about the entire experience.
The officials’ conference at half-time prepares them for the most difficult part of the game that is yet to come, and a REALTOR’s conference with his clients can prepare them for the challenge of taking a contract successfully to closing. Officials understand that no one will remember how great the first half went if the game falls apart in the final minutes. REALTORS must also understand that all their hard work will be for naught if they aren’t able to guide their clients through the final stages of the transaction and make it to closing. This is not to say that things aren’t going to happen that will cause a contract to fall through, just as not every game has a pretty conclusion. The inexcusable error, however, is for either of these to occur due to a lack of preparation or inability to control things well within the control of the official or the REALTOR. That is why pre-gaming and half time conferences are absolutely necessary. The good official knows this, and the good REALTOR should learn it.
Thorough pre-gaming is a must-have in the skill set of any good sports official. For REALTORS, it is an aspect of the skill set that should be developed and utilized in the same manner. REALTORS and their clients can benefit tremendously from the focus and teamwork that is brought about from a good pre-game conference. I have been in many a game that was saved by a good pre-game conference, and I have been in games that were the victim of a bad pre-game conference. When it comes to real estate, I wonder how many transactions and client relationships might have been saved if only a thorough pre-game had been conducted. . .
[tags] real estate, realtor, charlottesville, basketball, officiating, referee, pre-game, [/tags]
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7 Responses to “Pre-game, Pre-game, Pre-game!”
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Disclaimer
My name is Daniel Rothamel. I am a licensed real estate agent in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a member of the National Association of REALTORS. As such, I adhere to a strict code of ethics and all laws with regard to equal housing, which is reflected in the content of this blog. My broker is Strong Team REALTORS, 86 Joshua Lane, Palmyra, VA 22963; (434) 589-5800. My VA Real Estate License number is 0225 077325. All of the opinions in this blog are mine, unless otherwise noted.
Of all the blogs that I’m looking at today this was the most helpful observation I’ve stumbled across.
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David,
Thanks for the compliment. That is why we are here. Anything that helps is fine by me.
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Great post — being focused on the same goal is essential for a winning team, whether it be in sports or a Realtor and a client.
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[...] Such was not the case, however, at Longwood University. My partners and I went through a very thorough pre-game, so we were very aware as to the rule change situations. While you can never be sure about the players, we were pleasantly surprised. For very early in the scrimmage, a situation arose in which one of my partners enforced a new rule. I won’t bore you with the details; but the rule change is pretty significant, as it took away the ability of players to call a time-out in a situation that previously had been allowed. The interesting thing about this situation was that as soon as my partner enforced the rule, one of the players turned and said, “Yeah, that’s right. You can’t do that anymore. They told us that over the summer.” To my amazement, everyone on the team was not only aware of the rule change, but they had already incorporated it into their game. To the credit of the coach, he stopped the scrimmage and gathered all the players together to listen to an explanation of the rule in order to ensure that everyone knew exactly what was going on. He did this on subsequent occasions as well. [...]
Daniel:
As I was “surfing the web” for a good pre-game agenda for officials, I stumbled upon yours.
WOW!! The information that you have given us is something that we take for granted until we read it. I have developed what I think is a complete pre game meeting.
Being a “veteran” official of 18 years, and just being added to an assignors group of officials, I can appreciate a good pre-game meeting.
Thanks for the info.
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[...] The blarge can be avoided by clearly establishing up front what the responsibilities of each party are going to be, and how they are going to communicate with one another. Officials cover this type of thing in a pre-game, but REALTORS and their clients should constantly communicate this. The REALTOR should not assume that just because there is a signed Buyer’s Agreement, the buyer is completely aware of her responsibilities all the time. The client must also understand that if things change, she should tell her REALTOR immediately, so that he can adjust accordingly. The same applies to listing clients. Constant, open communication between REALTOR and client can help avoid the blarge. [...]
[...] Working towards a win/win also highlights the need for a good pre-game plan. The only way to get what you want is to know what you want beforehand. You should also decide which things you are willing to live without, if need be. This way, you know going into the transaction the things that you are willing to concede in order to get what you truly want. Doing this type of pre-game inventory of the things that are important and not-so-important will help you work towards a win/win transaction. [...]