Special offer

Buyers, Why (Good) Agents Aren't Returning Your Calls

Reblogger
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside

Dear Readers -

In this post,   from Alexandria, VA explains why agents cannot return certain inquiries - either by phone or by email or text.

For me, the reason is simple: only 24 hours in each day!

However, when you can read the post below, not much point in restating what Susan Haughton explains so well.


Please check out some of Susan's other posts such as ones about a missing wall  or a missing leak or Sellers missing a "zipped lip" when talking to Buyers.

 

Have a successful day -  Lynn

 

PS -- If I haven't thanked you personally for following my writings, please accept my gratitude now. Your views and comments mean a lot to me.  L.

Original content by Susan Haughton 0225085927

A common complaint about real estate agents is we don't answer our phones.  

There is a lot of truth to that;  some reasons are justified and others, well, not so much.

Most good agents are, well, busy.  They're busy because they're good and they get a lot of their business by referral.

And busy agents are, well, busy doing all the things real estate agents do.

When we're not out showing property to buyers, we're:

  • Previewing property
  • Meeting with buyers
  • Meeting with sellers
  • Talking to builders
  • Meeting appraisers
  • Meeting home inspectors
  • Meeting pest control inspectors
  • Meeting contractors and handymen 
  • Checking on vacant properties
  • Meeting with home stagers
  • Meeting with photographers
  • Talking to other agents about listings, offers and feedback

And so on and so forth...you get the drift...

I used to worry about missing phone calls, but now not so much. You know why?  

Because motivated buyers who have gotten my phone number from a prior client or from my blog posts will leave a detailed message as to why they are calling - and they will wait for a return phone call because they are specifically calling me.  

They are not randomly calling agents until one happens to answer the phone.  

They are calling for me, specifically, because they have heard I'm a good agent and will do a good job for them. They are willing to wait until I have a chance to call them back;  they understand that good agents are also busy agents and they're worth the wait. 

So, if you are randomly calling and just want to get in touch with an agent, any agent, who is available at the last minute to run out and show you property, good luck to you.  It may work out just fine for both of you.  

If, however, you are calling in the hopes of finding a good agent, you're going to increase your odds by taking these simple steps:

  • Leave a detailed message, including name and phone number, as well as the purpose of your call;
  • Call more than a day or two before you want to see property;  we are really not sitting in the office waiting for the phone to ring;
  • Include the phrase "I have already spoken to a lender" and response time will be shorter;
  • Mention a friend or family member who referred you and you'll move to the top of the list;
  • If you stumbled upon my website or a blog post, mention it - we love hearing that stuff.

************************************************************************************

Susan Haughton logo

 

Visit our website for more information on Alexandria homes for sale.  You can search homes for sale, read the latest market reports and keep up with Alexandria events and activities. You can even read what others say about our service!

Search homes for sale in the following Alexandria neighborhoods:

Old Town Alexandria, Kingstowne, Montebello, Cameron Station, Mount Vernon, Fort Hunt, Townes at Cameron Parke as well as many other fine neighborhoods. 

 

 

Comments (5)

CA COASTAL ESTATES Lauren Selinsky Perez CRS
California Coastal Estates - Aliso Viejo, CA
"Your Real Estate Broker" #oclauren

It's true there's only so much time in a day, but calls should be returned. That's a huge reason why I get business from agents that don't respond. These clients end up being mine.

Jul 07, 2016 06:31 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Lauren Selinsky CRS ePro 
Agreed - I have gotten some great Clients the same way. 


Let me ask you a question, Lauren - if you received an inquiry from someone about a $29,000 house - how much time would you spend on them? 


For those people I send a generic email, asking if it is for them to live in or as an investment. I also mention our required Buyer Exclusive Agreement and the minimum commission (based on $120,000). Then I wait to see if there ever is a response.
Nice to see you here - Lynn

Jul 08, 2016 03:10 AM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I love the post. This is specifically true of rentals. I receive 100 calls on a rental sometimes and when I return the call most have bad credit . I mention it in listing if landlord wants good credit.

Jul 07, 2016 09:03 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Gita Bantwal 
What about the ones with no job that call and need a place in one week? Bet you've had those as well.
All the best to my Philladelphia AR friend, Lynn

Jul 08, 2016 03:12 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Good morning, Lynn... saw this post earlier and loved it. I'm just hoping the "public" understands this message and takes it to heart.

Jul 07, 2016 10:13 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Nina Hollander 
My least favorite are the calls that ask to see a property within one hour or less. As Susan says, "... we are really not sitting in the office waiting for the phone to ring."

Jul 08, 2016 03:14 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Thanks, Lynn, for the shout out of not only this but other posts.  I sincerely appreciate it! 

Jul 08, 2016 02:20 AM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Susan Haughton 
You deserve to be reblogged OFTEN! Maybe we can meet one day when I am visiting my daughter and her family in Arlington. I know my way around on the METRO! All the best - Lynn

Jul 08, 2016 03:16 AM
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

I enjoyed this post, too!  Susan made a great point that many buyers need to read

Jul 08, 2016 03:06 AM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

John Meussner 
Always glad to see you drop by! Susan's post is very very important and I agree - I hope many Buyers read it.  Lynn

Jul 08, 2016 03:19 AM