Dear Listing Agent,
I want to help you, really. I want to give you showing feedback, but I'm busy. I'm also forgetful. Getting you feedback is a courtesy I want to provide, however it's not my #1 priority.
And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only showing agent on the block who feels this way.
Listing agents solicit feedback from showing agents for a variety of reasons...to determine the level of interest, if any, by the buyer client, to see what the buyer's broker thinks of the property and ultimately to give the property owner useful information.
As a listing agent, I find showing feedback valuable. And when I'm on the other side, I want to share, but sometimes, the manner in which the request is made doesn't make it easy for me to oblige.
Here are some things you can do to help me help you:
1. The Trifecta Request: Call, Email AND Text. Chances are I will respond to one of these in what is the most convenient way for me at the time.
2. Identify the Property! If emailing or texting, send me a link to the property. I'm not one of those "gee, I showed 40 houses this weekend, I can't remember". I do remember every home, however I don't remember which house goes with which listing agent. I also don't memorize MLS #'s or seller's names or addresses. Either send me a link, or if leaving a voicemail, tell me a few memorable things about the property. "the house with the purple bathroom and built-in trampoline".
Bingo! Remembered that one!
3. Avoid surveys and canned requests. Personally, I hate these. They are automated, hands off and definitely NOT one-size fits all. I don't have time to answer vanilla questions I know aren't really going to help anyone. Besides that, if my client IS considering making an offer, I'm not going to select one of those buttons. I'd rather have a conversation with you about it.
4. Don't be afraid to ask more than once. Chances are I read your email/text or listened to your message. And while I'd planned to respond maybe something else popped up. Ever have an email auto-saved in your drafts folder because you had to take a call you'd been waiting on? It happens. Ask me again. I'm probably going to feel guilty and eventually respond.
If you have some ideas on how we can expedite or making providing showing feedback easier, please share!
photo credit: Stuart Miles
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