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If you aren't going to answer your phone...can you at least return your calls?

By Neal Bloom

Real Estate Agent with Brokered by eXp Realty LLC SL # 3014652

August 06, 2008 05:29 PM

If you're phone rings and at the moment you can't answer it...do you at least return your calls? I do.

On Sunday I received a lead from my blog. The people told me they were interested in purchasing a condo at Century Village in Pembroke Pines. They were only going to be in town for a few days so I needed to set up some property to show them. I already had one of my own listings I could show them but I wanted them to see at least 10 different ones.

I figured since I know that most of these properties are vacant....I wouldn't have problems getting access. I was successful on all of them except one. I tried to call this one listing for showing instructions the night before. The next day and still no return call. I left two more messages and still they would never answer or call me back. I called their office and the person who answered said " I don't know what to tell you....I can put you through to their voice-mail." I left yet another message stating...."I really would love to show your listing since I know how much you want it shown....will you at least call me back just to let me know if it's still on the market?" Nothing!

Now maybe I'm stupid or they just don't want the sale or even care if they sell the listing for that matter. I think it's just so unprofessional and really rude not to return a call out of courtesy.This was a husband and wife team. I guess they were over worked. You would think that any agent would be begging other agents to show their listings. But I guess not.

Too bad it's there loss...I found the buyers a replacement anyway. Good luck selling.

I just can't understand it.

For more information please contact Neal The Real Deal Bloom-Realtor® /Remax Premier Assoc.

Remax Real Estate Weston Florida

2500 Weston Road ,Suite 103

Weston FL 33331

(954)608-5556 Direct
(954)212-0257 Fax

nealb63@myacc.net

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Diana Turnbloom

Escrowcoord.com - Martinez, CA

The Leading Expert in TC Services & Education

Ooo, I HATE, absolutely HATE it when agents don't call me back. They have exactly 24 hours to return my call or my perceived value of them goes to -400. There is no excuse. If an agent is unavailable to return calls, then he/she should be using someone else to help with the phone calls. That goes for accidents, family emergencies or if the agent dies! "Welcome to My 'I'll call ya back honey' World!"

Aug 07, 2008 04:01 AM

Elaine Reese, REALTOR® in central Ohio

Real Living HER, Powell Ohio - Powell, OH

Even worse than the agents who NEVER answer their phones are the ones where you get the recorded message that the mailbox is FULL so you can't even leave a message!

Aug 07, 2008 05:48 AM

Jerri McCombs, Broker/Owner

Dogwood Real Estate Services - Hendersonville, NC

Hendersonville Living

Even if on vacation, it is a must to either return calls or get someone to cover. Sellers really need to hear about thier lame realtors. It is such a diservice. And that is what gives any business a bad name.

Aug 07, 2008 07:35 AM

Neal Bloom

Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL

Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Ok guys...I also emailed those two dough dough birds and here is the reply I received below..

Sorry Neal, your message did not come through. I do have alternate numbers on the listing you could have call. Blessings to you and your client for the great deal you found.

I then replied back that not only did I call all of your alternate numbers I left messages in 4 places and it's pretty interesting that none of my messages came through...and of course no reply back!

Jeff,

Big nerve

Thomas,

That's pretty lame huh?

Peter,

I guess I take it a little personal because I spend my time picking the right properties and shouldn't have to chase the listing agent down to show it especially now.

Robert,

Typical with these large so called groups who usually end up with the dog doing their paperwork.

Yvette,

The only time I didn't return a call was when I never got it from a problem with my phone but I find it hard to believe that all my calls didn't get through to all the different numbers and even called the same ones more than once.

Naoma,

Dead serious

Emily,

This one just pissed me off so I wrote about it and I guess it was a good subject.

Travis,

Realtors do not read nor always hear well. Yet some play the I'm too busy and successful game but they can't pick up the fricken phone.

Diana,

I have heard every story in the book but this one couldn't even give me a good story.

Elaine,

that's even the worse one or the 800 number that is just a call center and still don't have the right info.

Jerri,

Anybody...as long as they can speak the language will do.

Aug 07, 2008 08:22 AM

Kay Van Kampen

RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO

Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate

Neal, I hear this is happening more all the time. I even find top producers that think they are too busy to respond to a call. This tells me they are too busy patting themselves on the back and say "I'm good" to service their clients. My clients are my business! If I let one down, word gets around. Good for you.....you found your clients what they wanted, without the help of that jerk!

Aug 07, 2008 01:25 PM

Debbie Summers

Charles Rutenberg Realty - New Smyrna Beach, FL

Neal... I wanted to submit an offer on a property and had a few questions for the listing agent... 2 emails & 3 messages, NO RETURN CALL OR EMAIL... I just don't get it.

Aug 07, 2008 11:28 PM

Jessica Beganski

William Raveis Real EState - West Hartford, CT

This drives me nuts. I just had the experience of submitting an offer, beginning to negotiate it and the agent leaves for a one week vacation without telling me or taking her cellphone with her.

I finally got so mad I called the manager. He put me in touch with some just off the turnip truck agent who couldn't explain the contract to his client. Needless to say, after weeks of me trying to keep the deal together and calling everyone over and over again, my buyer got fed up - about five days after I did.

If I ever have the misfortune of coming across this agent again, I will warn my clients.

Aug 07, 2008 11:39 PM

-- Casey Brischle

Columbia Bank - Spokane, WA

Spokane Home Loan Mortgage Professional

Absolutely unbelievable...These people can not be successful. Sales 1010 answer your phone or return ASAP. So irritating, I hear you Neal!

Aug 08, 2008 07:00 AM

Neal Bloom

Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL

Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Kay,

I don't think these people are any kind of producers....I just tested all their numbers again and still...they won't answer or call back. I had my partner try.

Debbie,

I'm kind of glad because if these buyers liked it then they would probably have a hard time getting ana answer if they made an offer as well.

Jessica,

That's wy if I had to file a complaint I would have if it got down to it.

Casey,

Not so much about answering the phone...returning 4 calls. They gave me the lame excuse they never got four or five calls on different numbers...I find that hard to believe.

Aug 08, 2008 08:54 AM

Patrick Brady

The Danberry Co., Realtors - Sylvania, OH

It shows the level of priority that the agent had for their client. It is too bad that seller did not know about the level of service they were getting. I must admit that sometime I do not return the calls asking for feedback of a home that I showed 2 weeks ago. If you really cared, you would have asked sooner.

Aug 08, 2008 09:51 AM

Freddy A. Saavedra

Essential Properties - Goodyear, AZ

Some of the Realtors in the Phoenix area with the most REO listings do not even reside in Arizona. I found that out while trying to show a listing similar to yours. People like these give us professionals a bad name.

Aug 08, 2008 11:26 AM

Neal Bloom

Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL

Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Patrick,

This turned into a long conversation but I would love to know if the client knows.

Freddy,

So true.

Aug 08, 2008 01:33 PM

Team Honeycutt

Allen Tate - Concord, NC

I feel your pain....if you're not going to take the job seriously and be responsive, it's time to find a new career.

Aug 08, 2008 01:49 PM

Neal Bloom

Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL

Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Allen,

Let them work a 9-5 job.:)

Aug 08, 2008 02:33 PM

Brian Lee Burke

Kenna Real Estate - Lone Tree, CO

Broker & Advising Expert-Kenna Luxury Real Estate

This is one of our biggest frustrations and it happens more and more nowadays. It is getting out of hand. Mostly we have found out that when the listing agent doesn't call back the home is actually already under contract (even it still says ACTIVE! - another frustration) and they just don't care to answer or return the call. ~Rita

Aug 11, 2008 09:41 AM

Rebecca Schrader

Competitive Insurance of Dundee - Dundee, FL

The simplest thing you can do to help your business is RETURN YOUR PHONE CALLS!!! It's simple. But for some reason, there are those folks who will NOT return their phone calls and make us all scurry when we cannot reach them. Then it becomes a "mission" sometimes to reach them via phone. I sometimes actually get phone calls from my associate's clients calling ME to see if I can reach HIM! This is an inconvenience to me, but extremely rude of HIM not to take care of his clients! Needless to say after speaking to ME...he no longer exists...he has not learned his lesson yet and what really gets me is that in THIS market...why are you making it even MORE difficult on yourself?

Aug 12, 2008 03:30 AM

Sarah Cox

Avon - Norfolk, VA

"The Avon Lady"

Well said...I totally agree! It is so rude and very unprofessional and they are making themselves look so bad!

Aug 12, 2008 03:35 AM

Neal Bloom

Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL

Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Kenna,

Just part of our job....chasing a phone number.

Rebecca,

Those people should be out of our industry but it isn't against the law not return a call unfortunately.

Sarah,

Rude and I hate when they throw in the god bless thing...let's not bring religion into this.

Aug 12, 2008 09:49 AM

Thomas Hargreaves

TriStar Financial Services - Eugene, OR

Neal thanks for posting this. Nothing irritates me more when I refer some business to a realtor I know, only to have them not return my clients phone calls. This has happend with two realtors I know. I have referred them both at least 3 clients a peice. One client purchased a house from them, and the other five went elsewhere. Why? Because they would not return thier phone calls, after I told the client to call. I mean I was handing them business on a silver platter. Needless to say I do not refer them any more business.

Aug 12, 2008 05:32 PM

Neal Bloom

Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL

Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Lot's of responses...I guess the subject struck a nerve.

Aug 13, 2008 11:56 AM