I was recently working a cobroke transaction with a buyer's agent. The agent did not carry a cell phone and also did not offer a personal email address. Instead, communication had to be done through leaving messages at the office or by emailing the office email and having it printed out to be handed to the agent. If there was a simpler way of communicating with this agent, I was not made aware.
When I first entered the real estate world, this is how I conducted business. This was what was expected to be the best you could communicate with each other. But times have changed and troubles can be fixed so quickly with proper communication tools.
Commission paid to me as an agent is earned in the speed of delivery I offer to my clients. I invest in expensive communication tools to benefit my client. This is a part of the value package I come with as their agent. Even if the client does not subscribe to these methods of communication, they are assured I will be operating in as close to real-time as possible to address problems (and they do arise, especially in this market) immediately.
Back to my transaction described above, I have nothing further to add because I don't like to complain, but I am going to be reluctant to do business with them again in the future. Unfortunately I have no choice because my clients pick the house and the listing agent comes along with the package. The skill to be able to adapt to various business relationships and work as a team is necessary to succeed in this business:)
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