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What Takes More Than Three Weeks and is Quite Annoying?

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty 2021016812

Have you ever heard that joke?

Unfortunately this is not a joke.  After three weeks of trying to reach an agent to schedule a showing, I am still waiting. 

A little over three weeks ago, I set up appointments for my buyers to view 6 of 8 properties they wanted to see in a particular neighborhood.  The reason for 6 of 8 was that one the owners had a family gathering and the agent for the other one did not return my calls.

The following week I called again and got no response.  We continued to look in other neighborhoods and my clients gravitated back to that property.  They really want to see this one before making their decision.  It is a short sale, which they are not excited about. The home is larger and lists more upgrades than the others.

This week I left voice mail and e-mail messages; still no answer.  I tried to set up the showing through their office and was told by the agent on floor (who chuckled a little) that agent is very busy.  I now have left a message for the broker-in-charge.  I am waiting to see if that gets me anywhere.

This type of unprofessional behavior really makes us all look bad.  If you are not going to properly market the home and follow-up with buyers and their agents; don't take the listing short sale or not!

My biggest fear is that when my clients finally see the home they may want it.  The thought of having that agent on the other side of an escrow is a painful thought.

Posted by

 

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Randy L. Prothero, REALTOR®

Broker-in-Charge, ABR, AHWD, CRB, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, MRP, SFR

eXp Realty

Team Leader - "The Prothero Group"

Randy Prothero is well established as an expert in working with military / VA clients and first time home buyers.  His home seller's (listing) campaign is one of the most aggressive marketing programs in the area.  His luxury home listings sell faster and for more money.

Based out of Mililani, Hawaii. Randy services the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) Performs mediations and ombudsman services for the Board of Realtors.  To improve overall professionalism in his area Randy also offers classes for real estate agents. 

www.HawaiiRandy.comOahu (Honolulu County) Property Search  Hawaii Military Relocations

Comments (48)

Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Jesse - My clients last evening indicated they have lost any interest.  I am relived, but at the same time feel for the sellers who lost highly qualified buyers.

Lenn - I am planning to have my broker contact their PB tomorrow about this. They need to know.

Missy - I am not holding my breath at this point.  No matter what the reason, there is no excuse for not responding to multiple messages.

Jun 22, 2008 04:59 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Steve - In this case my clients prefer not to buy a short sale.  This particular listing had more square footage and more upgrades than the others in the neighborhood.  It looked almost too good to be true.

Neal - If that were the case a simple e-mail or phone call to tell us that she has multiple offers would save the rest of us a lot of time.

Options Realty - It is a difficult situation here.  To the best of my knowledge that is not allowed here.  I will be doing a little investigation on that topic.

Jun 22, 2008 05:06 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Dan - Their client's would be angry if they knew.

B.B. - That is also why many agents ion my area like working with me.  I believe in being extremely responsive.

Gary W. - This agent is with a major office.  This listing has instructions to contact the agent.  I would have moved more aggressively on this sooner, but was showing other properties to my clients and didn't feel it would become an issue with the other inventory in the area.

Jun 22, 2008 05:11 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Fred - I will report back what happens.

Susan - They are moving on.  They recognize the difficulty that would be created by having an agent like this on the other side.  They are first time buyers and really do not want the stress and grief.

Jun 22, 2008 05:16 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Randy,
I feel your pain, been there and it is soooo frustrating!  Glad to learn your clients are moving on, that agent would be a nightmare to deal with.

Jun 22, 2008 06:02 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Cynthia - You have to wonder how an agent with that ethic, could ever get a transaction closed.

Jun 22, 2008 08:59 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Randy I would be praying that at this point they did not return my calls or e-mails.  What a nightmare dealing with this Realtor would be.

Jun 22, 2008 09:56 AM
Ray Saenz
Exit Realty Laredo - Laredo, TX
Homes for Sale in Laredo, TX - Texas, Realtor

RAndi,
Sad, but true,
Ray Saenz

 

Jun 22, 2008 05:05 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

George - Yup still no response from the agent or their broker.

Ray - It is incredible.

Jun 22, 2008 05:47 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Just checking to see how it was progressing, I don't blame your buyers for losing interest. But, still I am curious to see how this turns out.

Jun 23, 2008 10:49 AM
Todd Hueffed
Champions Real Estate Services - Everett, WA

Holly cow do you not have a key box system where you are? Here in Washington state we have lock-boxes on the doors and a phone to show in the listing.....no answer we leave a message and show.

Now I have run into some similar problems but mostly high end properties where the sellers do not want just anyone to be able to walk into the home anytime. I have never had to do anything past calling the broker of the office and that always seems to solve the problem. I have also gone to the home itself a couple times in the past and left a note on the door of the home saying that I have tried for 2 weeks to get in touch with your agent to show your home and not been able to so please contact your agent so that I can show your home......I have seen a few cancel and re-list after a note like that.

Todd Hueffed

Jun 23, 2008 11:18 AM
Mindy & Jay Robbins
Robbins Real Estate - Dallas, TX
Expect Excellence from Robbins Real Estate

UNCLE!  Hopefully if your buyers do like the property the broker in charge can assign an agent that can be responsive and get the seal closed.

Jun 23, 2008 01:05 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Randy...You are indeed a man of patience.  I would have made 2-3 calls with 2-3 days at the most and than would have called the broker.

I'm wondering about the lock box thing also.

Kathleen

Jun 23, 2008 01:22 PM
Rob Jacobs
Short sale pathways - Rockwood, MI
Short Sale Specialist

I thought for sure that this blog was going to be about short sales. I feel your pain though. I have been in the same shoes on a couple of different foreclosures. Good luck.

Jun 23, 2008 01:31 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Missy - I got a call from the broker a couple of hours ago.  She asked if the agent had gotten in touch with me, which she hadn't.  About a half hour later the agent finally called and asked when we would to see the home. 

I let her and her broker know my client had lost interest at this point.  I also discussed with both of them how uncomfortable I would be in an escrow with an agent who refuses to respond to calls or e-mails.  I stated that I felt she was doing an extreme disservice to her client.

Jun 23, 2008 02:00 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Todd - I like the idea of leaving a note on the door.  I better check with the legal minds to be sure that is not a violation of a code.

We do not have electronic boxes here yet.  They are coming in August.  I can not wait.

Mindy & Jay - We have moved on.  Believe it or not another client found another one of her listings.  Here we go again.

Kathleen - It started out that we were looking at other -properties so I blew it off.  Then my clients really wanted to see it.

Jun 23, 2008 02:05 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Rob - I ran into a similar problem with another agent who was doing a short sale.  It seems that in our area the weakest links seem to gravitate towards the short sales.

Jun 23, 2008 02:08 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Randy..... I don't care how busy someone is.  As I have stated several times, busy can usually just be a lousy excuse. ...yes, I have been so busy to where it takes me a day later....  or that I will tell a person one day, that I can get back to them the next day.... but 3 weeks? 

On another note.... would be interested in what the broker has to say.  But ever thought about getting a hold of the bank?  It is of public record.  I had a client just recently do this, after going through a slight problem as you did...   and she got a hold of the bank and got her offered looked at....  now she has contracts.

jeff belonger

Jun 23, 2008 03:06 PM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Randy,

It's hard to believe an agent in this market would not respond at all, shocking really. Best wishes.

Peace, 

Jun 23, 2008 04:52 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Jeff - In this case the broker reached me today.  My client at this time wants nothing to do with the property or that agent.

Kimo - I honestly can not relate to someone like that.  There is just no excuse.

Jun 23, 2008 05:09 PM