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Wasting Your Time? Unbelievable.

By Brett Mumaw

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX First AB21301874

April 20, 2007 10:08 AM

Yesterday was a first for me in my professional career. I made an appointment to see two properties for some clients of mine. Now, they have their house on the market, but cannot move until they sell it. Anyway, they asked me if I could meet them out at the house. They had somewhere to be afterwards and would not have time to go back to the office.

So I arrive a few minutes early to our first property and see that the sellers are still there, but appear to be getting ready to leave. I get out of my car and start walking towards the garage only to find the seller is walking towards me as well.

Seller - "What's the deal with these people?"

Me - "What do you mean?"

Seller - "What's the deal with these people? Are they ready to buy?"

Me - "Well their house is on the market"

Seller - "Do they have any offers on their house yet?"

Me - "No, not yet."

Seller - "Well then why are you here wasting my time?"

Me - "I guess I didn't realize we were wasting your time. What else are my people supposed to do? They have to start looking."

Seller - "Well I'm not looking yet." (Me in my head - Not my problem and not very smart if you ask me)

Me - "What if my buyers get an offer tomorrow?"

Seller - "Then come back tomorrow."

At this point I turned around and got in my car and pulled out of his driveway. I couldn't believe it! Why would anyone turn away a showing if they were trying to sell?

I called the listing agent to tell her and she was very apologetic. I told her I knew it wasn't her fault, but she may want to reconsider her agreement with the gentleman. She said she has had problems with him before (that would have been nice to know ahead of time).

She tried to send me a gift certificate somewhere and I told no, just tell him one thing for me. Tell him how much of a hypocrite he is since he didn't want me to waste his time, yet mine and my buyers time means absolutely nothing.

Agents, please educate your sellers on how the process works. Explain that some people may need to sell before they can purchase. If they have a problem with this, I would sreiously be cautious about that listing.

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Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Brett.... good to see you back. In regards to your scenario... You lost me though. You said the seller told you that he wasn't looking yet? I would have asked him why he was listing his house then. lol

But overall, after being in this business for over 14 years, people will waste the time of us professionals. Remember... many people don't pay attention that most of us are commissions. If we were salary, waste my time. As you stated, we need to educate consumers. I wrote a blog in regards to this about a month ago. Good to see you around.

jeff belonger

Apr 20, 2007 10:27 AM

Roger Stensland

Keller Williams Realty Puget Sound - Maple Valley, WA

Let's Move!

I have a potential client who emailed me saying to keep sending her listings, but not to email her or call her because that wastes her time. So I guess that you have these types on both sides.

Apr 20, 2007 10:29 AM

Traci Fant

First Realty Company - Crossville, TN

you handled the situation really well~what a nutjob the guy is!

Apr 20, 2007 10:38 AM

Brett Mumaw

RE/MAX First - New Albany, IN

Your Indiana Move

Jeff - I think he was just trying to make a point that his house didn't have an offer yet, so he wasn't looking for his next house yet. Pretty stupid if you ask me. Why would someone want to wait until they were "under the gun" to start looking. - Thanks for the well wishes. I'll try not to stay away for so long anymore.

Roger - I probably wouldn't keep sending her anything if she considered my calls or emails a waste of time.

Traci - I agree completely!

Apr 20, 2007 10:50 AM

Sharon Simms

Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Hope you had the buyers' cell phone number with you! Even when their house sells, they may not want to deal with this seller. He doesn't sound like he'd be too cooperative.

Apr 20, 2007 11:08 AM

Teresa Cox King

RE/MAX of Orange Beach - Orange Beach, AL

Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama

Brett,

If that seller was such a pain simply trying to SHOW his home, imagine trying to negotiate any deal with his agent on his behalf. I feel most sorry for that listing agent.

Apr 20, 2007 11:28 AM

George W. Miller

Keller Williams Realty - Naugatuck, CT

Naugatuck and Beacon Falls Real Estate

I was showing a homwe to my son and his wife and I arrived early. I saw the homeowner sitting outside so I went to introduce myself and tell her my clients would be arriving a little later and I would wait in my car. She said, "I don't give a damn what you do". I really can't understand some sellers.

Apr 20, 2007 11:54 AM

Jennifer Martin

Letting License Expire in June 2010 - Santa Claus, IN

Wow!

I mean I'm new but that situation would have had me in a uproar - it sounds like you handled yourself very well though. I am so glad that AR exists - being able to read posts like this really gives me a heads up as well as a plan of action for dealing with certain scenarios. I can be a "hot-head" in some situations; I'm not rude or anything and I've mellowed with age but when I get mad I tend to clam up tight and blow my stack later when I'm in an okay place to do so. (I'm italian lol what can I say)

So - again, I cherish posts like this because it helps me to stop and think before I react to things. Thanks for posting it Brett.

Apr 27, 2007 01:29 AM

Jim & Maria Hart

Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC Real Estate

Maybe he should give some thought to what our clients are doing...trying to find something so they won't be in a scramble or even homeless when their home sells.

Apr 27, 2007 07:47 AM

Steve Dalton

219-465-8352 - Valparaiso, IN

Northwest Indiana Home Builder

Brett, welcome back, missed your posts for a bit there. Sounds like a seller and seller's agent problem. Glad your buyers didn't get drawn into that mess.

Apr 28, 2007 01:10 AM

Ronda Myers-Waters

Willems Realtors, Principal Broker - Chesterton, IN

Brett,

That is sad that the seller was like that. He could have changed his mind on the best offer he was going to get. I think some sellers and even some buyers need to think before they speak.

Apr 28, 2007 01:25 AM

Brett Mumaw

RE/MAX First - New Albany, IN

Your Indiana Move

Thanks for all the comments everybody. I agree with a few of you who said imagine trying to work a deal with this guy. What a nightmare that will be!

I don't know why some people feel the need to be like this. When I was young, my father had a terrible temper to the point that that we were extremely scared of him. He has since softened up a little, but I remember thinking to myself that I would never be like that. Well, when I grew up I was exactly like that...until I realized it. I try really hard not to be negative and to find the positive in everything. Negative energy is wasted energy. It has no value and doesn't help make your life better.

I've really learned a lot from reading Broker Bryant's Blog. He has a great attitude about everything and has helped me probably more than he knows.

Apr 28, 2007 09:11 AM

Greg Zaccagni

The Federal Savings Bank - Wheaton, IL

Illinois Mortgage Lender

What are your thoughts about sellers requesting that buyers must be accompanied by a pre-approval certificate?

Greg Zaccagni @ www.MortgageAdvisor.info

Jul 08, 2007 04:59 AM

Shellee Ashmore

The Inner Iris Photography - Spring, TX

Wow that is incredible, I know we bent over backwards to show our house when we where selling. Lets face it, some people are just weird. And if this guy has some sort of ill temper he needs not to be around when people come to call.

Oct 01, 2007 12:26 PM

Justin Biehl

MVP Realty, LLC - Fishers, IN

Your Hamilton County Real Estate Coach

Brett,

Well done! It is extremely tough to keep your cool in that situation. However if your clients did decide to pursue that house, I think it is best not to give any information to the other parties. Anything might give them an edge in negotiations. I would have probably just told that "gentleman" that I would be back in contact with his agent to set up a more convenient time to see the home.

Oct 01, 2007 01:01 PM

Brett Mumaw

RE/MAX First - New Albany, IN

Your Indiana Move

Shellee - I always tell my clients that they need to be ready to show at anytime. Unfortunately, this gentleman I'm guessing had a bad day and decided to take it out on me. Oh well.

Justin - After they heard that he didn't want to see it, they decided they didn't want to pursue any kind of deal with him.

Oct 01, 2007 11:54 PM