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June 2025 Newsletter - Asking Good Questions
Dated: June 29 2025
Views: 144
A while back, I posted a video on Instagram about being curious. During an inspection a long time ago, I pressed a mystery button in a basement bedroom, and my curiosity led to a panic alarm going off throughout the house. It’s a funny story if you want to go check it out. I’ve found that a safer way of satiating my curiosity is by asking questions instead of pushing buttons. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the questions that I ask.
I’ve found that a great conversation starter is “What’s on your mind?” It allows the person I’m talking with to have a wide range of responses, from talking about sports to their family, or maybe they open up about something that’s really important to them. A solid follow up has been “tell me more” or “and what else?” I want to engage with my friends and others I care about at a level that makes them comfortable and lets them know I’m available and ready to listen.
The questions I use most often are when I’m working with my clients. For sellers, we deal with a lot of logistics like, “What’s your timeline,” or “What do you think of this pricing strategy?” Buyers tend to get more interesting questions, as I probe them about their lifestyle, plans and goals for the future, hobbies and interests, and in general how they live out each day in an effort to learn as much as I can about them and match them with a great home to buy. There’s a big difference between a list of houses a website provides you and a curated list that I produce for you once I get to know you!
Then there are the times I go into sales mode. As you know, I like to communicate my availability to assist in a real estate transaction without being pushy. I’ll ask, “What can I help you with in the realm of real estate? Are you thinking of moving anytime soon?” And, of course, I like to know if you have anyone else in your life I could help as well, so I follow up with, “Do you know anyone else who might need my assistance? Any friends, neighbors, family, or coworkers who will be moving soon? I always appreciate your referrals!” Since referrals are my number-one source of new business, these questions are really important to me.
But maybe my favorite questions are some new ones I’ve been asking lately. “Who do you know that I should know?” And closely related, “What is getting you excited lately that I should learn about? Is there a new restaurant you loved, or an art gallery you stumbled upon, or maybe some live music in town that you can’t miss? Did you read a book you absolutely couldn’t put down?” I’m interested in having new experiences, and I’m always looking to meet great new people.
If you have any responses to my long list of questions, I’d love to hear from you! Let me know what’s been on your mind lately. What’s getting you excited these days, or who do you know that I should meet? And, of course, my favorite would probably be that you are excited to tell me that you have a referral for me! No matter what your responses are, reach out and let’s have a chat.
Clint Kuipers
Clint Kuipers
Clint Kuipers specializes in complex and emotionally significant real estate transitions in the Twin Cities, including divorce, estate sales, downsizing, and buying and selling at the same time. With ....
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