Am I Exceptional?

By
Mortgage and Lending with George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages NMLS #65149

Margaret Rome and John Meussner are hosting this months ActiveRain Challenge titled "What Makes You Exceptional?".  This should be an easy challenge, but for many reasons it is not an easy challenge for me.  Besides not liking to talk about myself, I do not know of anyone who does not think they do an exceptional job, even if they clearly do not.  For me, whether I am exceptional or not needs to be show in actions and not words, or at the very least stated by others.  I could post a blog with many of the great reviews I have received, but I do not think that would be worthy of an ActiveRain Monthly Challenge.  While I will not make glowing statements about myself in my submission to this challenge, I will state what I strive to do each and everyday for my clients.

Several years ago I asked myself:

  • Am I exceptional?
  • Do I provide exceptional service to my clients?  What does someone who is exceptional and provides exceptional service do?
  • In answering those questions

In asking these questions I realized:

  • Someone who is exceptional sets themselves apart from everyone else who provides great service.
  • Just providing great service is not good enough.
  • Being exceptional is a step above great. 
  • Being exceptional is the difference between being thought of as someone who is knowledgeable, to someone others seek out and make it a point of being the only one they will do business with. 

In my case being exceptional is not about having the best interest rate or the most products.  In fact if I am truly exceptional interest rate will rarely be a consideration.  If I am truly exceptional I will create a one of kind experience and service that takes precedence over everything else.  If I am exceptional Realtors will refer their Buyers to me, and trust me to not only give them and their Buyers exceptional service, but trust me to get them to the closing table each and every time.

So I am exceptional?  You tell me.  My clients rarely ever ask me what my interest rate is until they need to state an interest rate on their offer, or when they are ready to lock the interest rate once their offer that has been accepted.  My clients provide me with very personal and sensitive documents that they would not provide to someone they do not completely trust.  My clients follow and trust my advice.  Most of the Realtors who refer me to their Buyers only give them my name.  If they provide their Buyers with more than one name, they will suggest I be the first one they call.  Realtors who refer their Buyers to me, know if I tell them their Buyer qualifies for a purchase price range, there is no doubt they do.  Realtors who refer their Buyers to me know I will get their Buyers to the closing table if they have been honest with me, and have not done something during the transaction for the transaction to fall apart.

So you tell me.   Am exceptional or not.  I will let what I do, and those who I do it for determine whether I am exceptional or not.

 

Posted by

George Souto
NMLS# 65149

C (860) 573-1308
CALL 7 Days/Wk
Fax (860) 760-6891

Email Me
About Me
My Blog

I am a Mortgage Loan Officer who can assist you with all your mortgage & refinancing needs in
CT, RI, MA, NH, and a FL Licensed Lender

I can assist you with your Conventional,
FHA, CHFA, VA, USDA, & 203K loan programs.

I reside in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Haddam. E. Haddam, Higganum, Chester, Essex, Deep River.

 

Comments (19)

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Yes, George Souto Thanks for the entry in the July contest!

 You are exceptional because others seek you out and a make a point of being the only one, they will do business with.

Jul 28, 2023 06:23 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Well done, George! The clients who call you and trust you speak to how exceptional you are!!!!

Jul 28, 2023 06:44 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

George Souto  I always considered you exceptional, how you treat your family and how you interact with the Active Rain community are examples of this. So if you do that on these two levels I am confident you do it in your business as well.... I consider myself exceptional in how I respond to inquiries and how I conduct my business and I suspect we are brothers from a different mother, Endre

Jul 28, 2023 10:35 PM
Kris Collis, Associate Broker
Smart Way America Realty - East Stroudsburg, PA
Professional Results you Expect 570-801-5525

"I am truly exceptional I will create a one of kind experience and service that takes president over everything else."

This says it all. Just correct spelling of precedence. :)

Jul 29, 2023 12:14 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I have never met you in person, but from our interactions, I would not hesitate to refer people to you and tell them what an exceptional lender you are!

Jul 29, 2023 05:34 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Good morning, George. You said it all here:

" If I am truly exceptional I will create a one of kind experience and service that takes president over everything else.  If I am exceptional Realtors will refer their Buyers to me, and trust me to not only give them and their Buyers exceptional service, but trust me to get them to the closing table each and every time."

Jul 29, 2023 06:55 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I agree with the comment left by Endre Barath, Jr.  "I think you are exceptional, how you treat your family and how you interact with the Active Rain community are examples of this. So if you do that on these two levels I am confident you do it in your business as well."

Jul 29, 2023 07:07 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS George, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

Jul 29, 2023 07:08 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi George,

You are in a very competitive service industry.  If you were not exceptional, you would not be able to stay "afloat."  You are definitely exceptional.  You are trustworthy, and your clients know this. 

You brought up an important point in your first paragraph about those who think they are exceptional even when they are not.  We should always be constructively critical of our performance if we want to continue to improve.

Those who fail this step will not be successful in their chosen field.

Jul 29, 2023 08:15 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi George,
Yes! Yes, you are exceptional. If I had someone in your area needing a loan, YOU would be the man!

Jul 29, 2023 08:55 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning George Souto ,

Love your entry into the July challenge. There is no question you are exceptional and your clients who utilize your services tell the story of your exceptional service!

Jul 29, 2023 09:35 AM
Jeff&Grace Safrin
F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate - Valparaiso, IN
SpousesSellingHousesTM

Well Said George, or should I say exceptionally written:)

Thanks for sharing!

Have an awesome weekend.

Sincerely,

Grace

Jul 29, 2023 11:13 AM
Ed (Edward) Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

George Souto   I have met you and interacted with you at all levels described in the post. Yes, you can be considered exceptional and not complacent as well, 

Jul 29, 2023 03:06 PM
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

George, as Endre Barath, Jr. states, your actions and consistancy within AR alone confirm you are a step above.  Kudos.  M

Jul 30, 2023 02:48 PM
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

Thanks for your entry, George!  Continued referrals from customers and agent partners alike is only achieved with exceptional business skills : )

Jul 31, 2023 10:19 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

YES, you are exceptional, George because your clients trust you with their most sensitive information, not to mention a huge purchase and to get the job done. That's my answer and I'm sticking to it!

Aug 01, 2023 12:35 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Bravo! Well done George Souto. I like your well written entry for this ActiveRain Challenge. It really is best for others to consider us exceptional and the proof is shown in how well our clients keep coming back or refer others to us.  

Aug 01, 2023 06:51 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Thank you everyone for your very kind comments, they are very much appreciated.

Aug 03, 2023 03:32 PM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

You are exceptional George.  You said it and, it was the same with me (except you weren't on the phone with Margaret at that time!)  It's hard to talk or write about yourself in that way.  Your clients and Realtors trust you, trust your advice and refer to you.  I'd say that makes you exceptional.  We don't refer to mediocre.  We refer to those we can trust and count on.  

Aug 04, 2023 12:03 PM