Same Song, Different Artist

Same Song, Different Artist

As I was reading and commenting on a great blog post from my friend, Clint Miller, Let's Talk About What Is REALLY Wrong In Real Estate, I was reminded of many articles/posts written about a year ago regarding this same topic.  The issue with agents at the time was poor communication.  Back then, my pat answer was basically, those of us who give 100% to our jobs are eventually, "going to weed these wanna-be agents out of the business so, not to worry!"  

Today, as I look at my 'to-do' list for tomorrow, guess how many of my calls are follow-up calls to agents who have not responded to me?  Four of my calls will be to agents whom I've already left emails and voice mails concerning a BUYER question for their sellers!  FOUR!  Two are for the same client and since I had not heard back from either agent and let my buyer know that this evening, his answer was, "We'll work with the first one that calls us back!"  

 

Recently I had an agent whom I basically had to STALK to get a reply regarding an INTERESTED BUYER question for him before putting in our Offer.  FINALLY, I got a call back and he apologized saying that he tries to take care of his clients first, then, and ONLY then, if he has TIME, he'll phone agents back!  Get this--'as long as it's before 5:00!' 

 

First of all, if you're a listing agent and a buyer's agent calls you--you NEED to respond!  If you're not, you're doing your seller an injustice.  As well, I relayed to my buyers that I could not get ahold of the agent to find the answer to their question.  I don't want them to think that I'm the one falling down on the job so, I let them know that I've left a voice mail and will get back to them.  Then, I let them know that I've sent an email and will get back to them.  With each attempt, I keep my clients informed so that they KNOW that I'm doing everything I can to get their answers for them.  

 

Just as these particular clients were almost ready to move on to choice #2, thinking that this is how the entire transaction was going to be with this agent, we received the above described call back. Even if everything forward in this transaction goes beautifully, these clients will NEVER have anything good to share about that agent because they already don't like him and think that he is a 'slacker!'  (their word, not mine!)  Their new neighbors and their current neighbors, friends and family will never use the agent because of their experience with him and the frustration that nearly made them have to move to their second choice. 

 

Think about it--their experience with him was not even a DIRECT one but, because of poor communication, his reputation will suffer--the real kicker-- this agent is under the (false) impression that he's only ignoring agent calls!  

 

 

Furthermore, what SUCCESSFUL real estate agent do you know that turns off their phone at 5:00?!   I have no problems with agents taking their day of worship off, whether it be Friday, Saturday or Sunday but, to turn your phone off on a weekday at 5:00 is eliminating those clients who are only able to talk on the phone after work.  Why wouldn't you, at least, have the courtesy to phone back the FOLLOWING day?  

 

And, why wouldn't returning agent calls about one of their listings NOT be the same thing as returning a client call--after all, aren't they working for their SELLERS in this situation?  We, unimportant agents, are calling to try to help YOU sell your client's homes!  

 

 

A 2-minute phone call is certainly NOT worth jeopardizing MY reputation; I just don't understand agents who do this on a routine basis! 

 

Sorry for the redundancy but, I had to share my recent rant!  Same song, different artist!