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A Changing Market is No Excuse for Bad Behavior

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty 2021016812

When the market was hot, it seemed like people were crawling out of the woodwork to become real estate agents and loan officers.  They had little to no training and no experience, yet they had a license.  The market was hot, everyone was making money and it seemed like clients were willing to forgive and forget.  It was a royal pain in the neck for the rest of us who had to deal with them.

Now that the market has changed, many of them are still lingering around.  This last year, I have seen worsening behavior among many part time/ hobbyist agents.

  • Phone messages and e-mails unreturned.
  • Messy and incomplete contracts.  Some agents refusing to submit offers in writing (more on that).
  • Not pre-approving or pre-qualifying their buyers.
  • Not appearing for scheduled showings and not calling to cancel.
  • Rude to other agent's and their clients. 
  • Listings without photos or accurate information.
  • Not following timelines.  Commonly because of one of the following reasons.
    • Don't know how to read a contract.
    • Busy with their other job.
    • Lazy or just don't care.

One of the tactics I am seeing more of is agents fishing for price.  I have gotten several calls from agents making verbal offers on my listings.  They expect the seller to accept the price, before they will consider writing an offer.  No mention of any of the other details of the offer or even if they have a qualified buyer.  The main reason for this is they are offering a ridiculously low price and they know it will most likely not be accepted.  I am sure they are making dozens of these calls.

In the last month I have had several agents no-show for appointments on my listings.  One of my listings has sellers that are an 80 year old couple.  My sellers take extreme pride in their home and go out of the way to be sure the home is ready for all showings.  Even after I tell agents to call if they are not going, and explain that my sellers are in advanced years, we still get no call.  Three no shows in the last month; two of them did not return my messages.  I have had no-shows on all of my listings.

Behaviors like this damage the public's view of our profession.  When you consider how much money is involved in these transactions, there should be no excuse or tolerance for unprofessional behavior.

 

Here is another blog article on a similar topic: E-Mail 101

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 (190)

Jeff and Lisa Sellers
The Sellers Realty Lubbock,TX - Lubbock, TX

Randy,

You are absolutely 100% correct and hit the nail on the head.  There is no excuse for unprofessional practices and lack of courtesy in our business at any time.  They need to grow up or get out and find a different career.  You are a great realtor.

Nov 13, 2008 01:57 PM
Tinker Hulsey
Century 21 Wright-Pace Real Estate - Jonesboro, AR
Century 21 Wright-Pace Real Estate

Hi, Randy

I just got a referral  from a real estate agent from Texas and she told me she had been in contact with another agent from another real estate office here in town and this agent would never return her call. I felt so bad and told her I was so sorry because that just gave my town and us as agents a bad name, but I would love to have your referral and I am meeting this great couple Sat to look at homes. Can you imagine being a real estate agent and not returning calls.

   Tinker

Nov 13, 2008 02:06 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Judy - That is bad.  I also sometimes get their clients sometimes calling for the agent.

Jeff & Lisa - Thank you

Tinker - I can not imagine losing business because you can't return a call.  Their bad behavior is your good fortune.

Nov 13, 2008 11:56 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

I'm glad I am not the only one dealing with this crap! Over and over I am dealing with agent not returning phone calls, e-mails or even responded to offers... Hey if you don't respond to an offer, how the hell do you plan to make any money?

Todd Clark, Helping Families Home - www.IFoundYourNewHome.com

Nov 14, 2008 10:58 PM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Todd...

In our area they are doing this (not answering calls etc) in an effort to keep the listing and the sale of it as an in office sale. The Broker's are actually pitching it cuzz they need ALL the money :)

TLW...ROAR!

Nov 14, 2008 11:44 PM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

I totally agree.  It is very unprofessional, unethcial and cut throat what we are seeing in all our markets.  Each man for themselves.

Nov 15, 2008 12:05 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Todd - That is the Million Dollar question.

TLW - That is not only unethical and immoral, it is plain stupid.  If they get a buyer they can always find them a property.  Why limit the buyers for their listings, which in many cases are hard to move?

Jim - That is true of the bad agents.  The good ones conduct themselves the same way they did in the a stronger market.

Nov 15, 2008 09:52 AM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Randy...

When it comes to the way some of these Companies in Florida operate...I stopped asking why a very long time ago. You make a valid point...But to some of these Companies I guess it just ain't valid enough. Go figure :)

P.S. By the way I forgot to mention how much I enjoyed meeting you. Very cool. Loved the shirt my friend :)

TLW...ROAR!

Nov 15, 2008 11:36 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

TLW - Meeting you and BB was a big part of why I wanted to attend NAR.  I was so glad you made the gathering. 

Nov 15, 2008 02:01 PM
Wendy Rulnick
Rulnick Realty, Inc. - Destin, FL
"It's Wendy... It's Sold!"

Bravo, Randy! 

Nov 18, 2008 11:31 AM
Kathy Honeycutt
Realty One Group Freedom - Travelers Rest, SC
Realtor/ Neighborhood Specialist

Rude and hateful seems to be on the uprise, I guess it is stress, anyway the Golden Rule still applies in bad times

Nov 18, 2008 11:49 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Wendy - Thank you

Kathy - I agree.

Nov 19, 2008 04:55 PM
Joyce Marsh
Joyce Marsh Real Estate LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Joyce Marsh Homes

If we don't say anything about it, and these "loser" agents are allowed to keep doing what they are doing, then they will continue.  Sometimes it is time consuming and inconvenient but we must hold every agent accountable for their actions and hold everyone to the highest standards.  Our customers deserve nothing less! 

Nov 28, 2008 06:07 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Joyce - It is difficult when it takes so much energy on our part.

Nov 28, 2008 09:42 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Unfortunately, these are a lot of common bad habits that are out there. 

Nov 29, 2008 01:22 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Christine - It is unfortunate.

Nov 29, 2008 03:36 AM
Sandra McCauley
Stratford, ON

In my area, there are both veterans and newbies creating these problems. I realize that in a slow market some people have to supplement their income however Real Estate should continue being the full time job since our clients and other agents deserve the respect. There are even agents that are working no other jobs that still can not take the time to complete a contract or take a picture.

If this profession has become tiresome and boring then move over so that someone that loves this profession and wants to make a go of it can keep moving up.

Nov 29, 2008 03:50 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Sandra - I agree with everything you said. 

Nov 29, 2008 01:00 PM
Alexander Harb
Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX
Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

Those types of agents are those who will not be in the business for very much longer.....

I always return communications of any kind..... I would LOOSE clients if I didn't...

=-)

Dec 03, 2008 02:40 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Alexander - We would all lose clients if we acted like them.

Dec 03, 2008 04:18 AM