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What the heck is wrong with Realtors?

Keys The standard of professionalism in our industry is a long, long way from where it needs to be and this leads to a few things.

Firstly, it lead to me having quite a frustrating morning today. I took some cash buyers out to see six properties - all in the same community. They are going to buy one of them for sure.

The problem is, I couldn't get into three of them and this leads to the second problem. Realtors are NOT representing their selling clients correctly because the thing is, this is not unusual.

So now we have three owners who will have no chance whatsoever of selling their home to my clients instead of a one in six chance.

Yesterday, my assistant spent some considerable time arranging appointments for me and getting showing instructions. Some were on electronic lock box, others were on combination. I have it all written down.

House # 1 - Electronic lock box. Access gained and my clients were quite impressed.

House # 2 - as above.

House # 3 - Electronic lock box containing key. Key opened one of the two locks - could not get in.

House # 4 - Pick up keys from our office - I don't think so!!

House # 5 - Combination lock box - no problem getting in.

House # 6 - Combination lock box - combination did not open the door. called listing office which gave me the same combination I already had. Called listing agent and left voicemail - that was two hours ago now and he STILL has not called me back.

It is against the ethical code of the National Association of Realtors to interfere with an existing contract between seller and agent. So I have a question or two.

Who is going to tell these sellers that there is zero chance of their homes selling right now?
That they are wasting time on the market when there is no possibility whatsoever of a sale?
How does that make sense National Association of Realtors?

If you are looking for excellent representation in Orlando, Windermere and all of Central Florida, then look no further. Give me a call today on 407 876 8200 and let me help you sell your home.

Don't forget to check out What the heck is wrong with Realtors? - Part 2

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Please give me a call if you have questions about the Central Florida real estate market. You can reach me on 407 876 8200. Also visit my web site at http://www.simonconway.net/ or http://www.move2orlando.net/

Also remember to check out my weekly radio show - The Home Team - which airs every Sunday at Noon Eastern and if you are not in Central Florida then you can tune in on line at http://www.540wfla.com/

Posted by Simon Conway on 02/05/2008 11:45 AM

Comments (28)

simon conway, real estate, orlando, central florida, windermere florida real estate, dr phillips real estate, exceptional service

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28 Comments on What the heck is wrong with Realtors?

FEB

2008

Great post! Very true, I can not count the times I have had trouble getting in to home. I have to esspecially agree with Number 4...pick up the keys at the office (?) I don't think so either...

We all experience similar situations. I guess the agents who do their jobs right increase their odds. Hey, I out of 3 have a chance your buyers will make the offer.

GARY - That is correct - but this means that 50% in my little non scientific survey here, did NOT do their jobs correctly!

LINDA - that whole "pick up the keys" thing drives me nuts!

Welcome to the wonderful world of real estate, and having to explain to the potential buyers that it is not your fault you cannot get into the property. What a shame. I love your post, you speak from your heart.

Thanks

My clients are great people. They get it - but it is truly a disgrace that this type of thing continues unchecked.

Simon, I too understand your frustration and that of those who do their job and do it well. There are far too many out there sitting back and leaving their sellers in the lurch. Too bad we can't let them know each time their home does not get shown because their agent has "other" things to do.

That is great you have a good relationship with your clients. I on the other hand have clients who wanted to see this specific property and the lockbox did not open, wrong combo and agent nowhere to be found. Call the listing office as well, wrong combo. Just crazy, the agent should be fired.

Unless it is an expensive/luxury home, I won't list a house unless they agree to use the electronic lock box. As you so perfectly stated in your non-scientific example, easy of showing is key to getting your house shown...what seller doesn't want that?

JUDY - I feel bad for those sellers. How can it possibly be right that we can't notify them?

NICHOLAS - I agree with you. The agent should be fired.

CHELLE - Remember that there was one electronic lock box with just one key for two locks. I couldn't get in.

Thats a listing I put on my list to check when the listing expires. Prime candidate for a postcard and letter. Follow up is important.

I, unfortunately, have to deal with this quite a bit. We have a problem with off the hill Realtors who don't understand our market, are not members of our board, and don't have our key boxes who still take listings up here, to the detriment of their clients.

Simon - That's about the truth of showing homes isn't it? I tried showing a property through a company and they told me (even though mls was active) that the home had been off the market for over a year. The listing agent was pretty peeved!

I showed a house about 2 weeks ago where the key would not unlock the deadbolt. I tried for about 5 minutes to no avail to get it to turn. Then my buyer tried for a few more minutes with no luck. I called the listing agent and she told me, "Oh you are about the 5th agent that has told me that. I need to stop by there and put a new key in the lockbox." I told her to call me when a new key goes in the lockbox. I still have not heard back. Pretty sad.

Simon onlyn 50% of the agents not doing their job. I think you probably got lucky that day.

ISRAEL - we shouldn't confuse one issue with another.

LINDSEY - surely that agent had to re-up a listing that had been off the market for over a year?

ROB - Tell me which house so i don't go through the same thing please!

HUGH - ya think???

Simon,

Unbelievable, I just listed a property for a gentleman who has had his condo on the market for 2 years. He said to me the other day, "not one showing Karen in the last 9 months, can you help me, they say you are aggressive in sales." I said, "Sure Mr. XYZ, I would be glad to help you out!" So, I do my homework, go home search the MLS to see if it was even there. Well low and behold, it expired last April(agent never called to renew b/c he listed for another useless agent), was listed by another agent who wrote in the broker's remarks to call the agent who my new customer thought had it listed personally and is furious. He said to me yesterday, "Karen, my friends tell me I should report him", I said, "That is up to you, I will do a good job". Mean time, the man has not lived there for two years, trusted the other agent to take care of things, and I find, water leaks from the roof, mold in the bathroom ceilings, and several other issues." It's a mess...where, I SAY WHERE, ARE THESE AGENTS ETHICS.

I'll stop here,,,I see this is turning in to a rant and a blog...but you are right!

I had the same key situation the other day, and directions when meeting a customer are another issue..

Great post Simon! and HEY! MY PARENTS ARE HERE FOR TWO WEEKS, PICKED THEM UP TODAY AT THE AP!

Great comment Karen - pleased your parents are in town. Spend some serious time with them!!!

FEB

2008

Simon, THanks for pointing out some of the daily frustrations we face. This is exactly why you beat the competition,,,,hands down.

The last time I could not get into the home I left a business card in the door. I wrote on it.. "could not access home, will not sell your house" ,

You may get more feed back than you want.. but it does open the sellers eyes.

best wishes,

sheryl clark

I agree, I have had several problems over the years with not being able to get into homes. It's a shame that agents are not all proactive for their clients.

I recently was trying to show 4 homes in Kissimme that were wither bank owned or short sales.

2 of them were with the same agent - home is vacant and on combo lockbox call listing agent are the instructions

Call the listing agent no answer and no return call. Call the office and they have no info and say to call the agent.

Email and text the agent still no response.

2 days after my showing agent emails me the combo. The homes were vacant - why not just put the combo in showing time. It never ceases to amaze me but unfortunatetly it is not just an isolated case

It's like that there too, Simon? huh. I thought that was problem specific to my part of East Texas. Maybe it's a rural problem? Okay, it's a Realtor problem and the problem of the sellers. This is the type of scenario that gives our profession a bad name. Deb

DAN - thanks for your kind words

SHERYL - interesting approach - I might try it!

ZEN - we are on the same page

RICK - check out part two of this blog entry - What the heck is wrong with Realtors? - Part 2 - it al took place in Kissimmee!

DEB - nope - not just you and not just East Texas. The problem is NAR doesn't care. It just wants more money through more members.

FEB

2008

There are a couple agents around here that are notorious for not returning phone calls. One of them must have every agent saved in their phone because we tested him one day. I called to set an appt. and later in the day a friend of mine (who is also an agent) called to request a preview. Nothing. I called again in the evening. I was out with my buyer having dinner (also a friend) and reached voicemail again. Annoyed at no call back for anyone since 9am...I had my buyer call. He answered and said that I never called! Needless to say, my buyer friend chose to avoid any listings with that guy.

Maybe you can take bagels and coffee too when you go to their office to pick up the keys!

There are stories all across this great land of ours. Soon they will find out it's better to get back on a showing and in a timely manner. I've had similiar circumstances but you can't control the other realtor. Just move on.

SANDRA - nicely played!

TCHAKA - I'll suggest that next time someone tells me to pick up keys

ROBERT - I did!

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