A few weeks ago I read a blog post from Carol Smith (Hi Carol), that was about her experience with a prospective customer named "Mary". I felt so bad after reading this post, because my experiences with prospective customers have started to become just like those with "Mary".
Where is the loyalty to those of us that are really interested in locating not just a house, but a home, for our prospective clients. We work hard to find the perfect "fit" for our clients, only to be put out in the cold and another agent gets our "good fortune". Mind you, I don't mind sharing....but this has become an epidemic.
I recently had a customer, lets call him "Robert". Robert called me one day while I was doing floor time in the office, and we quickly hit it off. Robert told me that he was tired of looking out the window at snow, and wanted to move to Florida. Great!! I was very happy to oblige his request and set off to locate the "perfect home".
Well, "Robert" did inform me in the beginning stages of our "relationship" that he had been working with other agents with a 3 county area. No problem. I am experienced in two counties and he had a few others a few counties north. I wasn't really too concerned. He expressed that he was VERY interested in my area (for various reasons) and had very specific perameters for me to work with. I searched high and low, week after week. I called to follow -up weekly, and emailed listings for him to peruse.
He had informed me that he was going to be in the area a week or so ago... Great! I sent him more lisitngs, and attempted to follow up with a phone call (hoping to set up a few showings). Low and behold...I couldn't reach him. Hmmm...big surprise! Ok, maybe he was busy......so I left a message. No return call...ok. I called and left several more messages; no return calls.
Well, the day he was supposed to be in town has come and gone. I got a call yesterday from "Robert". He left a message on my voice mail. He called to let me know that he has signed with another agent and made an offer on a home in a completely different area than where he asked me to look. What a kind gesture. He even stated in his message that if anything happens with his current contract that he will give me a call.
I guess I won't be hearing from "Robert" again. I hope he enjoys his new home! After all, that is what this business is all about.
No harm, no foul. At least I wasn't out anything but some of my time.
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