You Don't Want To Bother Your Agent, So You're Bothering Me?

Lorrie:

They are asking you to do their agents job because they don't want to bother their agent?  But they don't mind bothering you?  No way.  That is just crazy.  You did a good job asking both people if they were working with a agent.  Sometimes in our haste to help a prospect we forget to question them about whether they are already represented.

I've gotten a few of those. It used to be worse when there were more people doing rea esate part time or as a darn hobby. A lot of times "I don't want to bother my agent" meant "I want to see properties while my agent is at their other job", or because the agent has said or implied they were too busy to do showings and asked them to call the listing agent or another agent". I can understand a buyer not realizing how and why we get paid, but not an agent who expects someone else to do all the work and just get a commission for writing the offer.

I have shown listings a few times this way, making sure to note the buyer's information and the date, to show that I was the procuring cause of sale in case they did make an offer, but I also know that those sort of things that really have much "teeth" and usually you end up losing out in such a situation rather than creating a big rift between yourself and another agent.

Hi Lorrie, It still amazes me how many people still don't get it. They just don't understand how we work and how we get paid. That is the only thing I can come up with to explain these people's behavior.

Don't you just love these types of calls.  How about the ones where, 'my agent hasn't answered her phone' or 'I can't get in touch with my agent' - can you help me calls!

Awesome post, so glad it's featured so many will see it.  I'm just starting to blog regularly with this May Challenge.  I've done a few "filler" blogs, but I'm also trying to use it as an educational opportunity. 

Lorrie, good for you to hit this topic right on the mark. I have thought the same thing myself and do ask the questions to make sure I get the correct answers before showing property. Plus, I want a pre approval which really mops up some of these answers quickly.

I love this post! I had a similar situation back around Christmas. I told the couple to wait on their 'she's out of town til 12/28' agent. They could not believe I was not going to fill in for her! TOO RIDICULOUS!

NO BRA (Buyer Rep Agreement) - NO TTT (Time To Tour). Pro-bono days are a thing of the past.

Hi Lorrie,  Well written and presented post.  We all get them and when asked why they arn't calling their agent we get some of the most lame excuses !

I think that your title says it all! Made me laugh out loud!

My brother Tony often says that for the first few years he was in business he ran it as a non-profit, unintentionally.  We are all in Real Estate to help people, but the only way we can stay in business is to make sure that the way we spend our time is worthwhile for us and for our clients.  Thanks for writing about this!

Mortgage Mama

All well and good IF they tell you the truth.  That another reason to have them come into the office and not meet at the property. 

Read two issues here-buyers not getting it, or  fibbing (Jeff's observation @23) and agents not doing their job, or communicating clearly. Channeling Russel Ray here, but my grandmother used to say there were THREE sides to every story-yours, mine and the truth (usually a mix of the two).  Thanks Lorrie-good topic, which BTW I 'found', courtesy of Donne.

Lorrie - the last time that happened to me I called their agent and asked why her "clients" were calling listing agents for showings. She was REALLY embarrassed about it. Some of these buyers agents don't know their clients are doing this, which leads me to believe the agents aren't explaining the rules of engagement.

Maybe they thought you were the listing agent? Other agents buyers can call me on my own listings all they want. Doesn't mean I'll run out and show it, but I get a chance to pitch my listing. Find out who their agent is and call him/her and pitch my listing some more...

I received a call like this on Thanksgiving Day once...and it wasn't even one of my listings!! I was actually all set to meet the person and show homes and remembered to ask the all important questions first...she finally fessed up that she didn't want to "bother" her agent on a holiday. Interesting....I couldn't figure out why she thought I wouldn't be celebrating the holiday, as well.

Unbelievable that some people don't realize this or just don't care!