BOWLING GREEN, O.—As the housing market continues to struggle, real estate professionals need a competitive advantage. That edge can be achieved with successful customer service skills. The Institute for Excellence in Services (IES) at Bowling Green State University is hosting a marketing seminar entitled “Successfully Serving Real Estate Customers,” from 9 a.m. to noon May 11 at LACENTRE Conference and Banquet Facility in Westlake. 

“Real estate professionals approached us about doing a marketing workshop based on real estate issues, and we see such a need for keen customer service skills in this consumer-based market,” explained George Jenkins, director of IES. “The Cleveland area is a prime area for real estate professionals who could benefit from a customer-centered seminar.

“As the service sector continues to grow as a percentage of the U.S. economy, outstanding service and services marketing become even more important. This is especially true in the real estate industry, where it has become even more difficult to sell a property. The upcoming seminar covers many important topics facing real estate professionals.” 

The keynote speaker is Howard “Hoby” Hanna, president of Howard Hanna Ohio, the fourth largest full-service real estate company in the United States. Hanna will speak on “Delivering Service Excellence and Satisfying Customers.” Dr. David Reid, a BGSU associate professor of marketing, will share his expertise on asking the right questions for needs assessment, and Dr. Greg Rich, chair of BGSU’s Department of Marketing, will explain how consumers evaluate service quality and will provide ideas on how real estate professionals can improve their performance. 

Real estate professionals can also earn three CEUs by attending the marketing seminar.

The Institute for Excellence in Services (IES) was established by BGSU’s Department of Marketing to provide the opportunity for engagement, learning and growth among industry, students and faculty. As part of its business outreach efforts, IES hosts services marketing seminars covering a broad range of topics. 

To register for the May 11 seminar, go to www.bgsu.edu/service. For more information, contact George Jenkins at gjenkin@bgsu.edu or 419-372-6942.

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(Posted April 12, 2011 )