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Out-of-State Buyers, Want to Buy Now, Listing Agent AWOL Until Mon Morning!!

By Pat & Steve Pribisko

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Greater Cleveland West

April 24, 2010 04:31 PM

I am writing this Blog out of frustration.... My partner & I showed homes all day to out-of state buyers (today, Sat, 4/24/10). Going to the top 3 tomorrow, Sun, 4/25/10. Two listing agents readily available. The third listing agent does not take calls, emails, faxes, etc. from 4:00 P.M. on Saturdays until Mondays at 9:00 A.M. In Northeast Ohio, the market conditions have been rough; but, in my opinion, it's opening up with the advent of Spring. This is no time for an agnet to be AWOL. Yes, a seasoned agent deserves some free time. But, not having a less seasoned agent to cover for your free time is inexcusible.

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Mary Jo Quay

H360homes.com - Minneapolis, MN

I Move You Home

During the boom I ran into agents who would not present offers the same day because, "There is a hockey game," or "I have theater tickets." 6PM was too late to submit an offer, it would have to wait, not because the seller was busy, but because the agent was unavailable. Next.

As much as we have to have lives too, I resent coaches who teach agents to respond to voice mail with, "I will be returning calls between 1-2PM," or who only take emails. There are listing agents with large inventories who do not answer the phone unless they need to talk with you. You have to go through a maize of numbers to leave a message. Next time I'll try, "Hi, I'm at your listing at xxxx Main St, and there are flames shooting out of the upstairs bedroom. You might want to call the fire department." No, I should leave the address out, and let them guess.

Apr 24, 2010 04:48 PM

Bryan Watkins

LRA Real Estate Group - Mesa, AZ

Sorry about all the fuss. It can be frustrating. However, I have been working sometimes all week and have family or an important event to go to. Last night we were at a play, Alfred Hitchcock's '39 Steps'. The client called 4 times during the play and wanted to see a house. It was Friday night @ 9:30 p.m. got them calmed down and are sending the offer in tomorrow. It all works out.

Apr 24, 2010 05:15 PM

Kevin Dunlap

Trident Investments Group - Las Vegas, NV

If an agent is practicing a habit of being unavailable (albeit Mormon, Jewish, or other reasons) during certain time frames then that must be respected. I would go through that agent's broker or assistant during those times.

Apr 24, 2010 07:22 PM

Randy Ostrander

Lake and Lodge Realty LLC - Big Rapids, MI

Real Estate Broker, Serving Big Rapids and West Central MI

I agree with Pat. No one is asking anyone to work 7 days or be on call but if you have a parcel listed for sale and take weekends off then have another agent who will work weekends available to handle it. For those of us who are willing to work weekends we should be able to conduct business without spending the entire weekend tracking down a relaxing agent.

Apr 24, 2010 09:23 PM

Pat & Steve Pribisko

Keller Williams Greater Cleveland West - Westlake, OH

Mary Jo:

Thank your for your response. I liked your joke about a listing of fire. Yes, we can't always be available; we need to have lives. My point is have a back up for your free time, just in case....

Best regards,

Pat Pribisko

Apr 28, 2010 05:16 AM

Bryan:

Thank you for your comment. Yes, you are correct that we have to make sure we lead balanced lives, but you still responded to your client. So, you are balancing - - having a life & keeping a client.

Apr 28, 2010 05:21 AM

Kevin:

I totally agree that observing one's faith is of primary importance. That's not the issue here. We have an agent who only concentrates on listing homes. That's OK. My Team is balanced with sellers & buyers. Still, if you only handle listings, the agent should still have backup for the listings when he/she needs her free time. We have an established big lister in our market, who has my total respect -- she has a staff person at the ready for all calls!!!

Apr 28, 2010 05:31 AM

Randy:

Thank you for your response. I was totally frustrated when I wrote my blog, but thanks for agreeing with me. The moral of my story is I had out-of-state, CASH BUYERS, who needed info on that specific home; and, when we could not find the agent for an answer, they figured the agent would not be available for negotiations & closing. Next....

Apr 28, 2010 05:37 AM

Dawn A Fabiszak

Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO

The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Don't you just wish the seller knew about their "professional" agent?

May 05, 2010 02:08 PM

Catherine Chaudemanche - Edison & Central NJ

Metuchen Keller Williams Elite Realty / Middlesex County, NJ - Edison, NJ

Full Time, Informed and Involved- Results Driven

"The third listing agent does not take calls, emails, faxes, etc. from 4:00 P.M. on Saturdays until Mondays at 9:00 A.M."

I wonder if this is included in their listing presentation?...:)

May 26, 2010 11:22 PM

Out-of-State Buyers, Want to Buy Now, Listing Agent AWOL Until Mon Morning!!

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