When showing homes for sale, buyers typically have something to say regarding the houses they are looking at. Listing agents look to this information to pass along to sellers, so we may get a different perspective on the home. Maybe the buyer thinks the house is too big, too small, too cluttered, too dark, too light...maybe the buyers don't like the floor plan, the paint color, or the furnishings.
Sometimes a buyer looking at a home can provide information on an item that may not have been addressed with the seller. Some items can be changed, such as too much clutter, or an offensive paint color. Other items can't, such as the location of the home or the layout of a floorplan.
I have received feedback from buyer's agents that proved quite useful in helping me convince a seller to proceed ahead with that slight adjustment to their property, to make it appear more attractive.
I love feedback and so do my sellers.
I think that agents that call for feedback are doing their job. They are working for their sellers, and trying to provide as much info as possible, to try to help them make their home appear as favorable to buyers as they can
Lately for me, business has been brisk. Currently I am working with several different buyers. Two of which are from out of town and are on tight schedules. They are both leaving in the next day or so. We have been working 7 days a week, 3 to 4 evenings a week out after 7:00 - 8:00 PM. We do what we can to accomodate our clients.
I would say that I have looked at over 50 houses for sale in South Brevard County in the past 3 weeks. We have seen at least 10 of them more than once. Providing feedback has never been a problem for me, except in a situation like this, when I show a large number of homes in a short period of time, with buyers in a time crunch.
In the past weeks I have found myself in a quandry.
I have received calls or emails from at least 45 real estate companies, looking for feedback on my showings. Several agents have called me 2 to 3 times for the feedback. I probably have received about 20 feedback requests in my email inbox. Some are duplicates.
As I said, I believe that agents that call for feedback are working for their sellers, in trying to give them all the info possible to try and expedite the sale of their home!
One agent called me 5 times. The calls all came in on the same afternoon that I was out with one of the buyers, showing homes. The agent marked every message URGENT. By the 5th call she was not very nice!
When I'm in the office, I try to answer the phone and give feedback each chance I get. I am happy to help. I have probably spoken to at least 15 of these agents thus far. I have spoken to all of the agents on the second showings, and am working on the others.
Last week I spoke with an agent and told her that the buyer didn't care for the floor plan of her listing, as this was what I was told. Three days later the buyer wanted to take a second look at her listing. When I set up the second showing, she said, "I thought you told me that he didn't like the floor plan." Today, with buyers taking longer to choose a house to make an offer on, sometimes I hesitate to say much, as things change and the buyers can often change their mind.
However, we know that other work stacks up, while out with buyers. We have other customers that we are working with, we must continue prospecting and of course we must stay current on our blogs, especially the one here on ACTIVE RAIN!
One agent called me the other day, and asked me what I thought of her listing. We had looked at it over 2 weeks ago. I honestly couldn't even remember the house. I told her that I had seen 40 houses since that one, and that I knew it wasn't on the buyer's short list. Not much help, I know.
So, what is an buyer's agent to do? I completely understand that in this business it is important to build relationships and to continue to nurture them.
As a REALTOR, how do you handle calls for showing feedback? Do you have any ideas on how to get through the feedback requests more efficiently and effectively?
For me, when I'm absolutely buried, I find that it's hard to find enough hours in the day to get everything done.
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