In the last couple of months I have received contacts from more than a couple of people looking for a new REALTOR®.  Since getting in the business I get these contacts from time to time, but lately it has been happening more and more.

I am extremely cautious when I receive one of these calls or a contact at one of my open houses, etc.  If they are under contract with another agent, you can get yourself in a lot of hot water by saying the wrong thing.  I would not appreciate another agent undermining one of my clients with me and I would not do that to someone else.

Let's look at a few of the reasons I have been given for these clients contacting me:

Sellers

  1. Their agent is too busy to sell their home.
  2. Their agent does not return phone calls
  3. No showings of their home.
  4. Unhappy with their agents request to lower the price.
  5. No regular communication from their agent
  6. Lack of marketing including pictures in the MLS or proper flyers.
  7. No open houses
  8. Agent too pushy or rude.
  9. Their home is under priced. (even if it isn't selling)

Buyers:

  1. Agent too busy to show property
  2. Agent telling the buyer to find the home and they will write it up. (I have heard this one many times)
  3. Agent requiring them to use their lender (usually a sister company)
  4. Agent not returning phone calls.
  5. Not showing them homes they want to see.
  6. Only showing listings from their office or their own.
  7. Encouraging the buyer to put offers on homes they do not like.

 

I am sure those of you who are active in the business have heard all of these and many more.  I put these potential clients in two categories.

Bad or unreasonable client:

  • The seller who believes their home is worth $100,000 more than anything ever sold in history.
  • The client who wants the agent to hold 7 open houses a week, spend $500 a week in advertising and cut their commissions in half.
  • The buyer who wants to see all 500 listings in the area.
  • The buyer who refuses to do a pre-approval with a lender.

Good Client/ Bad Agent:

  • The agent wants the client to do all of the work and then pay them.
  • The agent who never returns a phone call.  We know them from when we try to show their listings and give up.
  • The agent who does next to no marketing other than a sign in the yard.
  • The agent who wants to severely under price ever listing to make their job easier.
  • The agent who insults the clients.
  • The agent who has a full time job during the day and can not be reached except off hours.

 

I hope I never fall into any of the categories.  Any agent who does deserves to loose their client or worse.  REALTORS® charge large fees to market and sell properties.  If they do their job professionally they can easily justify the fees.  If they do not do their job professionally they really should find another line of work.

 

They are dealing with the most important asset for most people and their clients deserve the best.

 
This post has been included in Hawaii Information

38 Comments on More Clients are Calling Looking for a New Agent

OCT
19
2007
416,044 Points 21 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Randy, I had someone call me recently whose real estate broker had terminated their listing.  To be quite honest I did not pursue it, especially when he told me it was the broker who terminated the listing.  He basically wanted me to compete with several other agents and life is too short to get caught up in that kind of a game. 
5:38pm • #1
277,196 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog
You have to take comments all with a grain of salt unless you have some kind of connection with them already. I tell sellers to wait till the listing is up and we can talk. I know many agents that continue to sell. Life is too short to cheat. Buyers are free to choose whech agents fits them best. Knowing the agent always helps make a decision on buyers. Not all buyers tell you the truth.
5:42pm • #2
488,100 Points 84 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router
Marchel - That is a red flag.  I have turned down a few for similar reasons.  I had one who felt her home was worth so much more than the others, because 40 year home had the original kitchen and appliances. (avocado).  You just can't buy them anymore.
5:43pm • #3
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Eric - I require they have formally broken their relationship with the other agent before we can talk in detail.
5:48pm • #4

Hey Randy, Happy Friday! I received a call this week from an agent I have known for over 20 years, we have a mutual respect, asking if I would like a free listing referral. (Always skeptical of those)

She said they were not getting along with the seller. (Bad/Unreasonable client.) Turns out an agent in my office had the listing, it expired, it was overpriced, smelled like cat/dog,dead fish, needed carpet. I showed the property 3 times during our listing period.

You hit the nail on the head, overpriced, wanted open house every Sunday, blah, blah, blah...

Good post, good checklist to remind us as we ready ourselves to hit the open house circuit this weekend.

Aloha

5:59pm • #5
110,262 Points
Randy - This is so true...you represented both sides right on the money! Mostly I find that it IS the agent's fault for having an unhappy client, but then...there are sellers and buyers who make you want to run.
6:01pm • #6
600,860 Points 111 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
In a market that has slowed down a bit you would think that some agents would get it through thier head it's time to buckle down and go above and beyond to think in the best interests of their clients...or there won't be any client...geez.
6:19pm • #7
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Dan - If the other agent doesn't want them if may be a red flag.  I have also had a couple of tough clients that came from other agents that just wanted good service.

Linda - Many times the over priced listings are because the agent tried to buy the listing by starting at a higher price than the other agents recommended.  I have walked past a couple of listings because of that tactic.

Sally - Those who don't get it will be back to cutting hair or flipping burgers.

7:35pm • #8
OCT
20
2007
260,831 Points 26 Featured Posts Outside Blog
I heard a great one today - a buyer that I have been working with for 2 years and sold 4 properties to called to ask for a rebate (not allowed in Oregon) he stopped by an open house and forgot his get out of open house free card... anyway the agent told him to switch because he would rebate him 1.5% for the downpayment - my buyer called me and asked me to do the same - when I explained this was illegal in Oregon - he about flipped - he claimed he was calling the Agency and the Department of Justice on this other agent.... not sure where that fits into your list - but it floored me
12:55am • #9
370,031 Points 62 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I've really been blessed to have good people come to me.  I'm also good at screening out the people that just don't "get it". 

I also offer to find a new agent if a listing is up for expiration. 

7:12am • #11
408,112 Points 74 Featured Posts Outside Blog
I might want to start flipping those burgers...they are yummy and all I have to do is cook the same thing and listen to rare.medium and well done...hek ...I do everything well done.
9:03am • #12
257,285 Points 7 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
I've experienced the "agent shoppers" who still have a contract but want to see if other agents will show them homes, etc.  We have a consumer notice here in PA which is very good - a one-pager explaining the contractual relationships agents can enter into.  I use it alot verbally.  Too often I find that the other agent never explained any of that.
11:27am • #13
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Thesa - That one came up on a post I wrote about a week or two back.  I am waiting for the transaction to close to decide what to do next.  I kept me ex-client's message telling me the other agent is kicking back 1/2 of their commission on a home I found and showed them.

Sally - Good point they probably aren't good burger flippers either.

Chris - That says a lot about our business practices.  Good agents attract good clients and learn to avoid the others.

3:16pm • #14
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Neal - Hard to stay in shape sampling burgers all day.

Jeff - That is a good point.  I go over the relationship and duties with all of my buyers.

3:18pm • #15
It is always a red flag if they are unhappy with their Realtor. They are allowed to contact us, we can explain what we would do when their contract is up. I've learned alot about whether I would work with them if I really listen.
4:06pm • #16
226,895 Points 29 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Randy, mostly it's something lacking: reason on the clients part, and communication on the agent's part. We have seen a lot of reason lacking for some time now. Still trying to beat that down every way we can, but as we know we can lead 'em to water... but we can't make'em think!

cheers 

4:16pm • #17
434,724 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog

RP,

We getthe same callers.

Realtors who don`t care about taking a listing,showing a home,feedback etc.

In fact I took a listing today because the other Realtor never cared to follow up..

4:16pm • #18
139,706 Points 14 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Randy, I like this post because you have your eyes open when they call- being careful and understanding what or who you're dealing with (justified or not) is so important.  Many "assume" that it was the agent, not realizing that occasionally, these calls are tough clients.  As for the rest- it's amazing that people stay in this business if they have no interest in the client, expecting a paycheck to boot!
4:18pm • #19
1 Featured Post

These scenarios make me want to pack up and move to Hawaii!  Just kidding...

Thanks for posting.

 

 

 

4:18pm • #20
124,268 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Randy, nice post and right on the "money" so to speak..
4:24pm • #21
484,360 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Hit Router

Randy,

There seems to be a rash of this. I am in Wisconsin, and the air waves transmit bad vibes of who to work with, and who not to work with. I always thought that there were some bad apples in every cart, but what doe you suspect brings on all the snial oil repellent sales persons. WE, the homest, hard working folks get cauht up in the mix

Hope all is well

Tom Braatz

4:37pm • #22
2 Featured Posts
I think the slow market shines a light upon the bad actors in our profession!
4:50pm • #23
100,099 Points 10 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
I am seeing the exact same thing. Sometimes it is motivated by the unrealistic ideals of the seller and other times it is caused by agents who were able to get things done when the market was making things happen all by itself, but cannot really get anything done themselves (Lots of that going around!)
5:03pm • #24
488,100 Points 84 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Christina - If you ask a few questions you will usually get the whole story.

Gary - That is true.  I have a theory that some folks need to loose to figure it out.

Scott - They were probably busy flipping burgers at their full time job.

5:10pm • #25
488,100 Points 84 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Laurie - Those agents are probably so focused on the commission that they cut corners at others expenses.

Gene - It is OK to visit, but please go home after that.  We have too many real estate agents here already.  LOL

Al - Thank you

5:50pm • #26
488,100 Points 84 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Tom - I do not think it is a regional problem.  It seems to be the same everywhere.

Randal - I agree the slower market does not allow the bad ones to get by.

Robert - That is one of the bad things about a too hot market.  There are too amateurs slipping through the cracks making messes that may turn up later, after they are long gone.

5:55pm • #27
276,505 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Randy, there will always be poor agents, but I suspect that the slow market has been a major factor in any increase in unsatisfied sellers...
6:53pm • #28
346,979 Points Outside Blog
Interesting post and interesting comments.
7:58pm • #29
488,100 Points 84 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Brian -Absolutely the slower market will make the seller's less satisfied.  It will also put a spot light on bad agents lack of performance.

Bob & Carolin - Thank you

8:28pm • #30
OCT
21
2007
The cream is rising to the top ... which is only good for the consumer.
2:06am • #31
Nice post....a good reminder to all of us of what not to do.  Thanks.
11:46am • #32
586,244 Points 34 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

There are two sides to every coin.  Of course there are the sellers and buyers that are always going to look for someone to cut them a deal that is just a little better.... but,

There are the agents and brokers that never seem to do what it should really take.  I wrote a while back about a small new hones development that is not even advertised on the dominant MLS for the area... doesn't have pictures, nor does it point to the website (there is one) that does have pictures.  Just plain lazy marketing for $500k homes. 

12:35pm • #33
488,100 Points 84 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Allen - A cleansing of substandard service and agents is good for the public.

Ryan - Thank you

12:37pm • #34
157,201 Points 4 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Randy,

Well written, my friend!

Lucky :)

7:43pm • #35
OCT
22
2007
123,283 Points Outside Blog

Randy, seller frustration with the slow market seems to be driving this sort of thing, at least to some extent. 

When the house won't sell at the seller's insisted-upon price, they blame the agent.  It's a bit like being in a hospital and believing that if you change beds, you'll suddenly get well again.

12:40pm • #37
488,100 Points 84 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router
Eric - I see some of that happening.  I have turned down some listings to avoid being in that position.
12:53pm • #38

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Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR®

Mililani, HI

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Century 21 Liberty Homes

Address: 95-221 Kipapa Dr., Mililani, HI, 96789

Cell Phone: (808) 384-5645

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