As a Virtual Assistant, former Tennessee Real Estate Agent, by choice ( that's another blog ), I work with a lot of professionals. From Home Stagers to Home Inspectors, Real Estate Agents and beyond. It is very often that I have a FSBO contact me to assist them in marketing strategies, whereas I always refer them to a Real Estate Agent. I feel working with an Agent will not only offer them better protection when selling their home but also the marketing needed to get their home sold. After speaking with the for sale by owner and offering my honest " opinion " in the matter, they usually ask if I would be able to refer them to an Agent. In many cases because of a bad experience with another agent, I have to explain that not all agents are the same and while I understand their fears and concerns, I will only refer them to an agent that I know and trust. In many cases, that means speaking with an agent myself, that is usually found here on Active Rain, in the event I don't have a particular agent in my network that works the FSBO's current area.
Recently, I was contacted by a Seller. Referred to me by a very dear friend. After speaking with him there was no doubt that a Real Estate Agent would be able to help him, no matter the horror story I heard from him about his previous agent. In today's market, let's face it, some areas, have been hit much harder then others. I never understood the " part time agent " and/or the " abandoning agent " who takes a listing, enters it all wrong and then you never hear from them again. I certainly do not understand it even more now when so many seem to be struggling in the current market.
I immediately came to Active Rain to find an agent that I could speak with to see if they could help this seller. I made a promise to my friends friend, who has been like family to me, that I would speak with the agent directly before I gave his contact information. Keep in mind, he had a horrible experience with his previous agent and it was all I could do to convince him that he really did need a professionals help. Throughout my search I contacted 4 agents I found here on Active Rain. I was shocked that NONE of them answered their phones on a Friday and again on Saturday. As for me, I never make contact on a Sunday because I believe everyone deserves and needs a day of rest with their family. I left messages with ONLY 1 response and it's now nearly a week later. Unfortunately, the agent I spoke with couldn't help because it was not their particular area. I also emailed the other 3 agents as a friendly reminder and follow up to my voicemail messages. I briefly described the home for sale, the area and the need, who I was and who I was to the seller and kindly requested that they contact me for additional information whereas after speaking with them I would give the homeowners contact information. My way of thinking through this matter as well, is why waste anyone's time , the agents and/or the sellers if the agent didn't work their area, wasn't a listing agent etc. At the very least I thought, well if the agent cannot help, they will know someone who will and then they can receive the referral fee, as I am not.
Out of 3 emails, ONE (1) agent responded. Are you ready for this...I was informed by said agent that because I was not an Agent, they didn't need to speak with me, to forward the property address and contact information for the seller. Yep, a one liner with a closing of Thanks. Well, let me just say this Mr. High and Mighty, if you are not willing to take one simple, extra step, to speak with another professional, about a potential listing , then there is no way, maybe when pigs fly, will I give you the sellers contact information, especially when I personally know them. Really ? How hard is a 5 minute phone conversation with me to not waste anyone's time ? I might understand if this was a $50,000 listing, well, no, I wouldn't understand that level of thinking either, after all, shouldn't every listing be treated with the same respect ? It is a paycheck, right ? Luckily, for this agent, I believe in Karma and don't respond to idiocies. Therefor, I don't have to make a public display of who's more stupid, them for riding in on their high horse or me for thinking I would contact the most active agents on Active Rain instead of sticking to what I always believed in : Points Do NOT Matter !
You will be happy to know, I was able to refer this $200,000 listing to an Agent who didn't care that I wasn't a licensed agent and treated me with the respect that not only I deserve but also with the respect that the seller deserves. This just confirms that there truly are " hidden gems " in the rain.
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