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We Realtors® Need a Degree in Logistics

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Home Jane Realty BRE# 01439865

Much as I love showing houses, planning to visit more than around three of four becomes a challenge. 

I have my "foolproof" system. I plot out the homes on the MLS and generally start with the furthest one and work my way back. I really hate to end up having to end the showings at the furthest point away from my drive back. I also generally try and meet my clients at a place where they can park or pick them up. Having a caravan of cars in this city usually ends up with the tailing car getting lost. So where we are going to meet that is convenient is another challenge.

I get on Google Maps and plot the travel time between homes and try and estimate how long we will spend at each home. The travel time calculation can go out of the window with our traffic (see below) and I really have no idea how long we will spend at a house. It could be five minutes or half an hour. Then I start calling and making appointments in order. That's when the fun starts. 

I assume the that the first one the agent for which I left a message will be O.K. with the 12:00 p.m. start and continue on accordingly. Wrong. The first one cannot do 12:00 p.m. they can only do 10:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. Back to the drawing board. Now I have to call the ones I have already confirmed and change the times, and you can be sure as I get to the end of the list the times are going to have to change again. And forget the starting at the end and working back strategy.....

Now don't forget that this is L.A. Try planning showings in Malibu on a day that is going to be 90 degrees. Pacific Coast Highway, which is hardly a highway - 3 lanes in either direction - is congested at the best of times let alone on what is going to be a beach day. And heaven forbid there is a fender bender. You can forget the whole thing as there is really no out.

Well, the best laid plans of mice and men. I do have one thing going for me. Out of 10 showings I am only meeting two agents, the rest are open. That avoids the other part of the comedy when you have to keep calling each agent ahead to tell them you are going to be early or late. And this in an area with bad cell service.

Wish me luck this Sunday.

 

Comments (12)

William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Many realtors need a lot of training.  So many barely can spell realtor and they are out ther.

Oct 12, 2017 05:37 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Jane Peters ,

Many times I have thought about what a challenge it must be to show property in  L.A. It can be tough her at certain times of the day but no where near what it is like in your corner of the world. Happy house hunting on Sunday!

Oct 12, 2017 07:25 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

William Feela So true

Dorie Dillard Thank you. Going to be a hot one.

Oct 13, 2017 01:58 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Wow, I thought we had it bad showing rural properties - all over the county. You've got us beat Jane. :) 

Oct 22, 2017 01:19 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD You still might have us beat.

Oct 22, 2017 01:29 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Jane, geez after that crazy mapping, I feel lucky that my niche is a very contained area and I can finish a tour of several homes in about 2 hours' time! I'm 1/2 a mile from my area of expertise. No complaints after looking at what you go through!

Oct 26, 2017 04:21 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Jane

Yeah I get this totally. Some tours are pretty easy to set up and things go swimmingly, including hearing back from agents, while other can take hours to finalize. Judging time at each home and travel time can be a real trial, but no question you have it far worse than I do. And then there's the last minute home that gets added, or a seller calls to change the time!!

Hope your tour went well.

Jeff

Oct 27, 2017 07:54 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate Yes we do have a unique market here.

Jeff Dowler thank you.

Oct 27, 2017 12:15 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I can't imagine dealing with that traffic, Janie! And, to think that you also have to work with the listing agents, who I'm sure hate it when you're late, whether or not you have traffic issues, just adds to the 'excitement!' 

I hope your Sunday showings went well!

Oct 29, 2017 05:49 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Debe Maxwell, CRS Actually listing agents are used to timing changes and it all works out in the end.

Oct 30, 2017 12:33 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

10 homes is way too many to see with 1 set of buyers. They can't absorb it all, despite what they say.  It's such a juggling act isn't it!  Thank goodness for vacant homes and lockboxes where we can rearrange the pattern if needed.

Feb 02, 2018 08:28 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089 there is something to be said for being able to go at your own pace but not the way here.

Feb 03, 2018 09:14 AM