The Internet is oh, so powerful and as "Internet Real Estate Agents" we have great responsibility. Responsibility for:
- Our customers and their homes we market on the internet.
- Our potential buyers who want information - yesterday.
- Our families and ourselves, this is our livelihood and we need to seriously address our leads post haste.
A conclusion that I have come to, after a few years of study, is that it's a hunt to find an agent that will respond in a timely manner. Part of my study is as a real estate agent in Bonita Springs, Florida - a vacation and second home destination location and the other part is as a real estate investor.
Every call or email should almost be treated as an actual emergency here is why:
- Someone took the time to call or email - they are a whole bunch closer to buying or selling than NOT.
- You probably aren't the only person they called or emailed.
- Customers aren't patient. Our "microwave society" won't wait for you.
- As an "Internet agent" I have returned phone calls in a timely manner (sometimes within minutes of an email) and as I was speaking to the customer overheard a secretary say "It's So-in-So on the other line, about Bonita Springs Real Estate. Then read off the return phone numbe 111-555-1212. The number was of someone I know and do co - brokes with all the time.
I'm in the market, just like the Bobby Buyer and Sally Seller that you're working with. I would consider myself a hypocrite to try to peddle something I wasn't willing to own myself. Occasionally, I dabble with a parcel or two outside of my area of expertise, city or state.
Not unlike anyone who would do for research regarding the stock market, I throw the "symbol" in the search engines to find out what the market is doing, be it a private website or realtor.com . I've actually taken the time to email a few agents regarding market conditions, value and speculation of prices or price vs. value and location. In the last several weeks (regarding a real estate investment in another state) I have contacted a couple of agents regarding the market of that community.
One of the agents I actually found randomly on realtor.com because she had a listing that was almost the same home as a rental home I have. Rural area, same builder and I recognized the home. I have emailed three times and now it is sport just to see if I get any action. The last time I emailed she emailed back after several days to explain that she was on vacation and would get me the information regarding "Sunnydale Estates" in a few days, which was 52 days ago. I understood the vacation and was patient.
I have since contacted another "expert" in the area and was actually sent the listings for Sunnydale Estates. When I asked detailed information about the listings and their value I was asked to "wait until tomorrow, my wife and I have plans tonight and I'm running late". That's fine. I'm not pulling the trigger today and I can wait. I never did hear back from that prince either.
The scoop is this: Maybe today, maybe in 6 months I'll buy or sell again in "Sunnydale Estates". As a current land owner living over 800 miles away it wouldn't have hurt to take 20 minutes out for an email or a phone call. I don't want special attention, just attention. Who better than a REALTOR® knows that an investor does 1031 exchanges? Sunnydale has great potential and a few sides of a few deals in the near future for the right agent that will email, call or follows up.
I guess I'm off to keep kissing frogs until I find my real estate prince.
How about you? Again, comments and shared experiences are welcome in the comments section. If you've bought or sold real estate elsewhere and would like to share your experience or even give your REALTOR® a pat on the back, share it below.
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