My New Buyer Calls at 7:30 am on Sunday Morning - Do I Jump? You Betcha!

good post....this is exactly how I handle my business. I am always there for my clients and they appreciate it. Where else could we make this kind of money. We should go the extra mile for them-we might get future referrals.

Jennifer,

I like those who "work on their schedule", "do not work after hours", "have a professional approach". Because of them I have more business. Yes, I am guilty in few of "wasting time activities" like helping acquaintance with tax complaints, etc. Like you, I just love my pipeline being full.

In our Board it's a lot of  discussions on "procuring cause" arbitrations and mediations. I think that if most of buyer's agents were not that lazy, we wouldn't had as many of these cases to discuss...  

Jennifer - I learned awhile back that it is important to be flexible in our schedules in order to be successful.  That being said, Sunday mornings I am not available because of church.  Most any other time is a "go" if I can figure out how to make it happen.

Jennifer- Thanks for the blog. It's amazing how put out we behave when someone asks us to do our job. It is so refreshing to see someone with passion and energy, happy to go out of their way for others. I would refer you too. Thanks Again.

Jennifer - I too agree with Jason C. I will bend over backwards to help a client becasue that IS my job. However, my church and family come first. At first face to face meeting, I explain this to my customers/clients. Sunday is my day with God & Family. IF there is an usual circumstance (out of town customers that have told me in advance that they want to look all weekend) I just don't do Real Estate on Sunday. We do have to be flexible but it has also been my experience if we jump too high and too quick some take this to mean that you have no other business and they take advantage of you. Just another view point.

Have a great & BLESSED week and Happy SELL'ng.

So true Jennifer and making customers/clients feel important and valued is what it is all about.  Good luck to you.

I just had an agent leave me a voicemail that states...

"I don't work on Saturday or Sunday, and I take off at 2:30 on Fridays...So the fax you sent me Friday to get signed by Sunday wouldn't work."

 I guess that is why so many agents turn over in this market? There is a fine balance between work and family time, but one still has to make a serious commitment to both. So.... feel free to call me at 7am for that nice referral to Wisconsin! I jump through hoops too!

Exactly what I say Jennifer. See my first featured post today about the same subject! You are my inspiration!

Susan

Hello Jennifer- I like your style because it's just like mine. You have to work for that business!

Good on you, Yes I too will inconvience myself fo the possibility of a sale if I have the time available and don't have a family event planned

Doing what others won't will ensure your success both now and in the future.  I love the quote, "Do now what others will not, so that you can live a life like others can not."   Great post....

Jennifer,

I'm thorougly impressed that you had 3 offers to present!  That's great for you.

You make some great points here, and I would have done what you done.  Of course, it is a little easier for us as we are a team.  Never hurts to impress future clients.  You never know, they may have friends or family that want to buy sooner.

Jennifer, I think everyone has to find their own comfort zone. I would not have jumped on a Sunday morning. But that's just me. I almost always require at least 24 hours to arrange my schedule. BUT..I also rarely lose business over it. I think one of the reasons is that folks can always reach me and I'm excellent on the phone. They know after speaking with me that I will do everything I can to help them it's just that I can't drop everything and do it now. I actually can't even remember the last time this was not acceptable to someone. Of course there is no right or wrong, way just different ways, to handle these situations.

Happy Monday, Jennifer,

Broker Bryant brings up a good point (as he usually does). Although I'd love to say I'd do exactly the same as you did, to be truly honest I'm not sure I would have. For example, yesterday I took a rare Sunday off to see the broadway show "Jersey Boys" with my husband and in-laws (the tickets were their Christmas gift to us). If a client had called yesterday morning and demanded to be shown homes in the afternoon, I would not have changed my schedule. However, I would also not have told my client what my specific plans were. I would first try to get a mutually agreeable appointment. If that wasn't possible and they simply HAD to see property right then, then I'd make arrangements for another agent to show them homes. It wouldn't be my first choice, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

Yes, this is my business and in most instances it comes first. But there are times when family duties must prevail.

Jennifer,

At first I thought, "Jennifer needs a life!" :-) and then I realized I do precisely the same thing.  I don't make a habit of answering the phone at 7:30am but I'm at work at 7am so as soon as the kids are out the door for school and I work many (most) nights until about 11pm.  My "windows" vary on a daily basis and our profession allows us the luxury of scheduling around the really important things - God, family, community, friends - to accommodate our clients.  I try to do this every time there is a legitimate need.  Unfortunately, sometimes if you give an inch, they'll take a mile.  But setting firm limits and expectations are what make my business successful.  Everyone knows they can count on me if it's really important - but it BETTER be important if anyone expects me to miss out on the important things.

Congratulations on the referral and the buyers! You definitely impressed them I am sure.

If they are biting, get them in the net. Dinner is always worth getting a little wet. 

This is one of the reasons that I hate the way that selling real estate is set up as an industry!  Would these folks have thought about calling their accountant at 7:30 on a Sunday morning?  How about their attorney?

There are way too many of us and that's the reason that we have to put up with being treated this way.  It's not good enough to do a good job for the people, we have to be available 24/7.

Have I fallen into doing things like this?  Yep, but I then go to work on educating my clients as to when I'm available and the importance of scheduling in advance.  My experience since I changed MY attitude and stopped being available 24/7 is that the clients are okay with it.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

 

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. 

 

P.S.  I wrote about this topic awhile back and would be curious as to your take on that post..."Does An Agent Have A Right To A Personal Life?" 

Jennifer -- I have a mixed view on this one.  I love working with my clients and will accomodate them if I can, but the idea of always being available is difficult.  I often work very hard for rewards that are not immediate and I am totally fine with that, I am in this business for the long haul and will still be around when they are ready to buy or sell.  The problem arises when clients begin to abuse the late/early hours.  I have one client who will call at all hours and chastise me for not answering my phone.  Some clients need boundaries.