Agents, Agents...What Are You THINKING?

Very true, but for us that are providing the best service we can, we get the reward for it.

In real estate, you don't always get what you pay for, but you do often get what you deserve!  Its way too big a price tag for buyers and sellers to be casual about choosing professional representation!

Funny I should read this today, as Matthew and Larry were out doing that yesterday, writing on a 1 M buyer. Good post! 

We just had a meeting regarding this practice on Friday. We do a lot of Open Houses and the agents send their buyers alone and then if they like it they get involved. We have decided to offer no compensation to agents that do not show the property to their clients.  What has happened to our business is really crazy and I personally place the blame on the brokers.

This seems to be common practice in many markets. I will let a potential buyer in if they are already working withan agent, but usually their agent has already called me to tell me they are going to a funeral or wedding etc, and explained the situation, and their clients are only in town for the wekend. I don't fish for info, I just tell the buyers to tell their agent what they thought. Usually, their agent will show the property to them at a later date if they plan to write an offer. But I have run into several agents that htink what you describe is an acceptable way of doing business.

Oh my. I would drop an agent who is not available to a buyer at their covenience (within reason) like a hot brick. This is the nature of our business and if you set ridiculous limits you don'r blong in it.  Not working weekends is beyound ridiculous.

As much as I need some time off sometime, I can't imagine leaving clients to fend for themselves.  Great post Debe.

An agent that tells their buyers they don't work weekends...is not an agent at all. 

Idiot, take Monday or Wednesday or Friday off, but get your lazy a-- off the couch and take your buyers out to look at property. The NERVE of you to expect any kind of commission for this kind of behavior. 

I LOVE this post! We see this practice far too often around here. Even as I try to explain to the buyers that show up at our listings WITHOUT their agents that they are essentially unrepresented, I can see the skepticism in their eyes. After all, it's almost hard to believe seller subagency still exists, but it DOES!

I would NEVER let my clients fend for themselves. It's my job from start to finish, and we at The Maxwell House Group truly do work 8 days a week! (cue music...)

"Working weekends" is essential in the real estate business!  Sure, it's not always convenient, but we need to be available when our buyers are available - and almost always, it's outside of "normal" business hours.

Debe, there should always be exceptions to the rule.  Working weekends for established customers should not be an issue.  However, if someone calls short notice and especially someone whom I haven't met yet, it may not always be possible.

Weekends have always been productive in the real estate world.

Debe, I don't know how many times I tell buyers to work with a buyer's agent but sometimes they just think they are so smart that they don't need one. But the thought of an agent encouraging their buyers to contact the listing agent is just plain stupid. I'm with you. What are these agents thinking?

Consumers should ask agents whether they are available on weekends before they sign agency contract. 

Debe... how often do I get phone calls from buyers who are working with an agent and who ask to see my listing with me because their agent is away and hasn't provided feedback!

Debe, It always astounds me when the buyers are making the calls about the houses and then say they have an agent. Why are they making the calls if they have an agent working for them? Oh right, they don't....I forgot, it's just on paper.

I had buyers last year that called me to show them some listings. They had stopped in an office and the agent gave them the listings to drive by and see them. They called me and we wrote a contract the next day.  I work, work work for my clients.