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Another Uncool Thing that Realtors Do (or should I say - "that They DON'T Do!")...

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Real Estate Agent

Another Uncool Thing that Realtors Do (or should I say - "that They Don't Do!")...

I try to post blogs with substance, for the most part.

Today - I'm just gonna vent.  Maybe it will get somebody somewhere who is a little less than diligent about updating the status of their listings to - - -

well, get diligent, man!

Maybe.

So, here's the deal - one of the ways I've been generating income in this bumpy economy is to put myself out there as a tenant's agent.  Rough work - as you all know, most renters are renters because they are not in a position to buy, which is to say, they don't have great credit, income levels, etc.

Most of them.  At the same time, most landlords who list a rental with an agent are expecting the agent to bring qualified tenants.  So, usually a built-in mismatch is what you're working with.

Rough work, for tiny commissions, the tenant's agents business is.

But, I've made a pretty good go of it, and am feeling pretty good about the service and education I provide my tenant clients.

Check me out at www.CharmCityRents.com.

And some of these tenants, of course, will do what they need to do to become buyers in a year or so...

Anyway, back to the gripe-fest  - - - I swear, in the last two weeks, about 2/3rds of the listings I've shown and then gone to present application on are unavailable because the list agent has already received and processed acceptable app's already.

In my MLS - WE HAVE A STATUS FOR THAT:

"APP REG: Application Registered indicates the property is available but a rental application has been registered on it."

!!!

What's SO inexcusable about this is that in this age of communication, the list agent gets notified six ways to Sunday that I am about to show his or her "ACTIVE" rental listing.  Almost all of these listings are registered with CSS, so, as soon as I make the appointment, CSS sends an e-mail blast to the list agent!

Then, Sentri-lock also tells them I've been there!

And THEN I MAKE THE PHONE CALL:

"Hey, Joe Slacker - this is David Lidz.  I just showed your rental listing at 123 Unavailable Street, and my client would like to go ahead and submit application."

"Oh, man, we've already taken two app's on that property, and they both look pretty good, so I don't want to waste your time..."

REALLY???

You don't want to waste my time???  Wow, I wonder what that was that just happened, where I dug up and e-mailed a client your listing, discussed it with them, made an appointment to show, oh yeah, and then there was the part where I showed your listing and sold it...

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say, if I did all that for a property that isn't really on the market anymore -  - -

yeah, call me crazy, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say - that was wasting my time!

And then, to cap off the mystical moment, I get an e-mail from CSS asking me for feedback, with questions like "is your client interested in this property."

Wow.

REALLY?

Wow.

It's probably futile to put out the same exhortation we do about short sales and REO's - if you don't have the time or inclination to diligently, competently, and responsibly service these listings, or you feel the low commissions aren't worth your time - then DON'T TAKE THEM!!

Futile to reiterate that, I'm sure.

Change has to begin with one's self, right?  So, I guess I need to put my babysitting cap on, and before I call CSS to schedule, I'll have to call each agent on their cell and verify that the active rental listing is actually still active.

Course, then I'll get to deal with the agents who can't be bothered to pick up their phones or to return phone calls.

Okay.  End rant.

peace, prosperity, happy holidays, and a record-setting 2010~

~david

David Lidz, Realtor® Advantage Realty, LLC

19918 Jefferson Blvd. Hagerstown, MD 21742

(410) 903 - 9489 - cell

(301) 745 - 1620 - office

(301) 766 - 4520 - fax

dlidz@advantagerealtymd.com

www.davidlidz.com

www.HomeAgainMaryland.com

www.CharmCityRents.com

 

 

 

 

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Comments (3)

Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Don't get me started on property management types. They live in their own separate zone.

Dec 21, 2009 03:47 PM
david lidz
Hagerstown, MD

Yeah, I am starting to learn that's true.  And interestingly, they all have their own take on Fair Housing Law, too...

Dec 21, 2009 03:51 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

David,

Looks like you are in a very tough business of representing tenants. Can't even imagine what you have  to go through.

Dec 21, 2009 04:03 PM