Not Returning My Call Almost Cost Me A Client!

I'm glad you wrote this blog because it brings forth an issue that many of us agent have been guilty of at one time or another.   I know I have, but I've gotten better.  I've learned to designate a time to return the calls that I've missed.

Hi Joshua,

It happens a lot, and it blows my mind. I wish I knew how to fix it. Try this though, when you don’t get an answer, give texting a shot. I’ve had this happen more than once. They will answer texts, which means they are right next to their cell, yet, they will NOT answer it…!!!??? That’s the one that takes the cake. Some people have admitted as much, that they are NOT comfortable talking on the phone and they’d rather text, email etc.

So that’s what I do. If I don’t get an answer, right after I leave the voice mail, I text and email them immediately. That way it’s all “chronologically documented”. Also, even if they do answer their cell and we talk, I follow up w/an email reiterating our conversation.

Thanks for the post.

We all have a Bob (or 2) and a listing agent (or buyers agent) that have performed in this same manner, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.  Glad you won in this case!

Hi Joshua,

It pays to be persistent. I often encounter no return call or email response even when offers are submitted - seems to be more common than not in socal. Hope your deal works out . . .

I love the way some of my competition don't answer their phone. I have made some nice sales as a result. Timing is everything and there are times we simply can't answer calls but returning calls is essential.

When I call other agent's for property information it's not unusual to get voice mail and some are not good at returning calls. This is a competitive business and if the caller can't reach you they will call someone else. The same applies to email, I answer them when I get them even if it's from my blackberry. If it requites a long response I sometimes tell them that I will send the information as soon as I get back to my computer.

Jacqueline Drake CRS

Cochise County AZ

Getting back to basics...in today's era it shouldn't be hard to answer the phone, every one carries one around in their pocket or purse- geez

I'm dealing with one of those agents on a short sale right now.  When getting the final initials on the contract, I asked for a brief weekly update by email. Nothing fancy, no grades, no spell-check, just information.  I have been emailing and calling for a week now with no return call or email.  

I am calling his broker tomorrow!  Then I might convince the buyer to find another house!

Hi Joshua,  I agree.  But I also respectfully suggest that we need our private time and clients shouldn't expect 24/7 response.

Unfortunately if we are showing someone else's listing we depend on that person answering the phone and a lot of times they do not, which raises the question, are you in the business of selling homes?

Good for you Joshua.  Next time you call and an agent does not answer leave a message syaing you are looking for a million dollar beach front home.  That should get you a call back.

Since I'm reading this after the fact... I hope you were able to get in and show that home. And of course, I hope it resulted in a contract!

I live in a rural area, and getting a signal is impossible in some areas.  I have missed calls that I am sure would have lead to big sales.

It simply amazes me when agents fail to return calls. I hate to leave repeated messages, but have found it's sometimes necessary.

I was out on Saturday few days ago to show a rental property. As I was done and leaving, a car pulled up in the parking lot. A Woman stopped me and asked me if I could show her the house? She explained to me out of frustration that she had been trying to call all the listing agents in the morning and never got any calls back. She even went to a Real Estate company to ask for an agent to help and was told they do not have a rental agent available,but will have one call her immediately.  She waited but when 2 hrs pass and she did not hear from anyone, she decided to drive to the homes herself to check out the exterior and neighborhood. She met me and requested me to show her this property and the other properties too, and I did. She was very happy. She put in an application on one rigt away. Not bad for half hr of my Saturday. It is sad that agents want to take rental listings but do not care to return calls from agents and potential tenants. How do they do their business, I wonder.

Joshua, Glad you were able to help Bob...

Oh don't get me started on agents not returning calls, or having to chase them down.  I missed a showing with my buyer client this weekend because I was forced to leave my appointment inquiry on an office voice message machine.  This is a popular independent brokerage that seems to have gone to voice service vs. someone answering the phone.  Because I was only able to set 3 out of 6 showings I made a follow-up call to the office, left a message stating this was my 2nd attempt & also mentioned this has happened before, and finally got a call back from a secretary that apologized for someone missing my original call.  Of course, by that time it was last minute and the seller couldn't do it.  In a market like we have today I can't believe how difficult it's becoming to ask questions about a listing from an agent and to get appointments.  I hate when you have to call agents to set appointments because so many times I never hear back from them.  OK, done ranting!

I was in a RE class breaking for lunch and just happen to answer the phone when on the other end Chase was calling to give me a listing. Turns out to be a 1.3 million dollar waterfront that is presently under contract. Just my lucky day I guess or is that I always answer my phone?

I wish I could say we don't see this in our area, but that's not true. It's very frustrating when you can't move forward without a phone call back. There have been listing agents that you have to call directly for showing a vacant bank owned property, and there is a bank box on the door only, so you can't get in without the code and they won't call you back. Unbelievable to me. Answering your phone, or returning calls asap, is a big part of our job.