flexiblefullpage
interstitial1
Currently Reading

How to Stop Selling and Start Closing Sales

Advertisement
billboard
Home Improvement

How to Stop Selling and Start Closing Sales

One of the biggest mistakes a salesperson can make is viewing the sales process as a one-sided transaction


By Gary A. Cohen April 21, 2024
closing sales
Photo: stock.adobe.com

The term "closing sales" often conjures images of slick-talking salespeople persuading hesitant customers to make a purchase. However, the art of closing sales is not about sales pitches and high-pressure tactics.

The key to closing more sales lies in shifting focus away from selling and towards building genuine connections with customers. 

By adopting a customer-centric approach and prioritizing relationship-building, sales reps can achieve much greater success and foster long-term loyalty.

One of the biggest mistakes sales reps make is viewing the sales process as a one-sided transaction focused solely on making a sale.

This approach can come across as pushy and insincere, leading to customer distrust and reluctance. Instead, the most successful home improvement and remodeling companies understand that closing sales is about meeting the needs and solving the problems of their customers.

Closing sales is a collaborative effort involving marketing, call centers, customer service, production, and other teams that ensure a seamless experience for customers.

Closing Sales Comes From Active Listening

To do this, take the time to understand customer pain points, goals, and preferences. By actively listening to customers and asking insightful questions, sales professionals can uncover valuable insights that enable them to tailor their solutions to meet specific needs.

This increases the likelihood of closing a sale and builds trust and rapport with customers.

Closing sales should not be a transactional process. Repeat and referral business is a huge asset for home improvement and remodeling companies. Sales reps who prioritize relationship-building over transactional selling are better positioned to cultivate loyal customers who repeat and refer.

This unlocks opportunities for upselling, cross-selling, and securing future sales, ultimately driving sustainable growth and revenue.

Successful sales reps also recognize the power of timing. They take a strategic approach, waiting for the opportune moment. This requires patience, attentiveness, and the ability to recognize buying signals such as increased engagement, positive feedback, or expressed interest in a specific product or service.

 

Closing Sales Should Be Collaborative

Closing sales is a collaborative effort involving marketing, call centers, customer service, production, and other teams that ensure a seamless experience for customers.

By aligning strategies and resources across departments, companies can streamline the sales process and enhance customer satisfaction.

Ultimately, the key to closing more sales lies in reframing the sales mindset from pushing products to addressing pain points, educating the homeowner, solving problems, and building relationships. 

Your company should be working with a proven, consultative sales process that focuses on building rapport and earning trust, as homeowners are more apt to buy from those they know, like, and trust. Every sales rep on your team should be delivering the exact demo experience to customers. 

Just remember that when it comes to a sales conversation, stop selling and start closing.

 


written by

Gary A. Cohen

Gary Cohen is Vice President of Certified Contractors Network (CCN). He spent 11 years as a Clinical Professor of Business at the University of Maryland. CCN is a training, coaching, and networking organization in the home improvement industry. For more information on CCN, contact Gary at gcohen@contractors.net or visit www.contractors.net/contractors.


Add new comment

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
leaderboard2

Related Stories

Brian Gottlieb Receives Remodeling Mastery Award

Presented by industry icon, Mark Richardson, the award celebrated Gottlieb’s extraordinary impact on remodeling

What's Beyond the Hammer?

Working with Brian Gottlieb on the book Beyond the Hammer provided a masterclass on how to build an aligned team 

5 Counterintuitive Strategies to Improve Your Business

Follow these strategies to inspire employees, instill trust, and beat the competition

Couple Act As Much More Than General Contractors

How LBR Partners uplifts and educates their Spanish-speaking trade partners

How to Correctly Hire for Business Growth

Refloor CEO Brian Elias shares exactly how his company hires the correct people for the correct seats

Power Home Remodeling Expands Financing Offshoot with $400M from Goldman Sachs

Industry-leading home improvement company Power plans to grow its fintech offshoot fivefold with new investment

·

Increase sales and grow your business with Momnt Contractor Financing

Give your clients simple, fast, and affordable payment options for the investments that matter most

Great Day Improvements Acquires LeafGuard and Englert

Leading home improvement company Great Day Improvements purchases two major brands from private equity firm Audax

Latest Private Equity Activity Signals Continued Strength in Home Improvement

A hot month for private equity means the industry remains opportunity-rich

Josh Sparks: To Infinity (Exteriors) and Beyond

A roofer-turned-CEO who’s succeeding in his mission of up-leveling the industry

Advertisement
boombox2
Advertisement
halfpage2
Advertisement
native1

More in Category




Advertisement
native2
Advertisement
halfpage1
Advertisement
leaderboard1