CourtesyA Tale of Two Agents:  Courtesy In Showing Appointments

Sunday morning was just like many other Sunday mornings.  We're getting ready for church and the phone rings.  An agent wants to see one of our listings 3-4 p.m., and the listing normally requires prior day notice.  The sellers have more flexibility on weekends regarding making their home available, so we call, they approve the showing, we relay approval back to the showing agent and we get back on our normal schedule. 

A bit AFTER 5 p.m., the agent calls again.  "We're running late but would still like to see your listing today".  {Must suppress urge to ask "What happened that you couldn't call when you FIRST realized you were going to be late rather than two hours after the start of your approved appointment?"}  We agree to call the sellers and ask if they're willing to leave again for a yet to be determined time. 

While pulling up the seller's contact info the phone goes off again, another showing agent for a different listing.  She's running 45 minutes ahead of schedule and hoping the sellers for that home can accommodate them coming early {LOVE THIS, we've had other agents just show up and pressure the sellers to get out}.  The sellers say "give us 10 minutes and we'll be out", and showing agent #2 gets her request for an expedited showing time.

Showing agent #1?  He's already lost his credibility with our sellers by not showing up on time and not calling until two hours later, so the answer is "not today, please schedule an appointment later in the week."

Two different agents, two different levels of respect for the sellers, two different results.

And the sellers not jumping a 2nd time doesn't mean they're not motivated, but there's a reasonable limit to how long and how often they should have to leave to facilitate a showing.  Some courtesy on the showing agent's behalf to let them know early on that he was running late might have been adequate to change times, but waiting until well after the appointment window leads us to question just how motivated his buyers truly were about seeing our listing? 

Showing appointments are a two way street.  Obviously between the two showing agents today, which one would you rather work a deal with given a choice?

Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,
Liz and Bill aka BLiz

REALTORS(S) Serving Warren County Ohio & Adjacent Areas

The Liz Spear Team of RE/MAX Elite
Elizabeth & William Spear
Ask for us by name if you visit the office!
EHO Two locations: Lebanon & Mason, OH
Liz direct:  513-265-3004
Bill direct: 513-520-5305     
Fax: 866-302-8418
MailTo:  LizSpear@Go-Concepts.com
Our Website:  www.LizTour.com

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91 Comments on A Tale of Two Agents: Courtesy In Showing Appointments

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUN
05
1,052,405 Points 285 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Deborah, It's a bit embarassing to knock on the door and tell the sellers the buyers aren't interested in coming in....and hopefully the seller isn't THERE anyway, but it's part of the job in my opinion.

Marte, Unfortunately Agent #2's clients decided to go new construction.  That's the way it works sometimes.  And Agent 1 hasn't set a new appointment, so I suppose maybe they won't come back.  And that is also the way it works sometimes.
1:17pm • #72
477,996 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Being late, changing plans, or maybe having buyers who decide not to go in because they dislike the exterior or location are all reasons an agent must call the office or agent.  The showing is putting people out of their homes. They deserve to be treated with some courtesy.
7:26pm • #73
1,052,405 Points 285 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Barbara, Exactly our feelings.  Many things can change, the one thing that shouldn't is our ability to dial the phone and extend courtesy.  Even if the desired effect can't be achieved, at least the attempt is made.
7:35pm • #74
1,023,536 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

A call is always appreciated in a timely manner.  Calling when you are already late is bad form.
9:56pm • #75
975,204 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
This post got lots and lots of comments! It is great when Sellers make the effort to leave so consideration of this effort made is equally important.
11:48pm • #76
JUN
06
1,052,405 Points 285 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Gene, No doubt about that!

Cheryl, A Feature and a Daily Drop combined will bring lots of visitors :)
3:02am • #77
497,610 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Liz and Bill, despite our code of ethics many Realtors are missing a code of common sense.
3:07am • #78
1,052,405 Points 285 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Bob, Unfortunately many of the things that drive consumer irritation aren't covered by COE or practices.  Blowing off appointments and other such behavior just fall into the common sense and common courtesy categories, and for some reason some agents didn't get their full allotment of these necessities.  And unfortunately that often makes the job harder for the other agent as we have to bear the brunt of our sellers wrath.
3:26am • #79
1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Thanks for the post.  Isn't it amazing that some realtors are professional and know how to use their cell phone in a timely manner (not an hour late) and some realtors forget they have a cell phone to make the call????  
7:24am • #80
1,052,405 Points 285 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Rosalie, It would be funny if not so true.  When it's convenient to them, it works just fine :)
7:25am • #81
701,287 Points 39 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

It's just common sense & courtesy. I'm sure the agent never thought about calling while running late? I'm sure he's aggravated when his clients do the same to him or he's doing it to his clients!
2:06pm • #82
1,052,405 Points 285 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Lyn, That's the thing here.  Very few agents ONLY work buyers or ONLY work sellers.  We each have experience in the other shoes, so remember how much it torques us off when someone does it to OUR clients should make us extra wary NOT to do it to someone else's clients either.
2:20pm • #83
JUN
07
421,904 Points 16 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Thanks for sharing this BLiz, lots of people with different perceptions of time. 

When showing our rentals, I am not too surprised when people are late and don't call.  The ones that really irritate me are the ones who also never answer their phones while I am calling them to see if I should wait a few more minutes for them or it they drove by and didn't like it and decided that they just were not interested.
1:22pm • #84
1,052,405 Points 285 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Bob, I could see where rental tenants might be even less respectful of your time.  Too many have ONE WAY cell phones.  They work fine when they want to call you :)
1:25pm • #85
121,424 Points

Agents have kept me waiting. Buyers have kept me waiting. Sellers have kept me waiting. Where has the courtesy gone? Just a simple phone call, ple-e-e-ase!
8:03pm • #86
1,052,405 Points 285 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Kristina, It really is that simple isn't it?  If we're running late to meet buyers and we have their cell, we'll make a quick call to alert them that we're 5-10 minutes late.  Don't like being late, ever, but at least we can let them know when circumstances don't work out.
8:14pm • #87
OCT
11
237,119 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

2 hours late they call?  I don't get it.  I also don't get when I am meeting a client at a property and I am sitting there waiting for them and they call 10 minutes late and say they are just leaving.  Didn't they know 1/2 hour ago?  Why call when it is already 10 minutes past the appointment time?  I just don't get this lack of courtesy all around. What is wrong with people??? -Kasey
9:25pm • #88
OCT
12
1,052,405 Points 285 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Kasey, Sometimes there's no rational description for human behavior.
3:31am • #89
NOV
02
237,041 Points 5 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Many agents don't seem to think that common courtesy is important, until they are on the short end.
8:07pm • #90
1,052,405 Points 285 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Wayne, A real shame, because for things to work to their best, both sides need to be cooperative.
9:41pm • #91

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Liz and Bill Spear RE/MAX Elite Warren County Ohio: Cincinnati to Dayton

Liz and Bill Spear

Mason, OH

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513.265.3004 www.LizTour.com

Address: 5720 Gateway Blvd, Suite 203, Mason, OH, 45040

Cell Phone: (513) 265-3004

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REALTORS(R) serving Warren County Ohio and surrounding areas. Observing and reporting on real estate and related topics to help your quality of life! And if you're asking where is Warren County Ohio? We fill the space between Cincinnati and Dayton. Perfect for enjoying the bigger cities without living in them. Places like Mason, Lebanon, Springboro, Waynesville, Franklin and more. Plus lots of rural properties available too. We work with both residential homes buyers and sellers.


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