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Professional Ediquette - Where has it gone?

By
Real Estate Agent with Prudential Georgia Realty - Rabun County, Ga.

I have a great listing of a condominium on Peachtree Street in Atlanta.  It belongs to a dear friend of mine and she is ready to have it SOLD!

Agents call to make appointments to show and I ask only one thing.  "Will you please give me a call after showing to share some feedback about your buyer's response to seeing the unit?"

The Seller and I would both like to know why the prospective Buyers are not going forward with contract offers.  Do they think the unit is too small for the price?  Too large for their taste?  Is the view not to their liking?  Would they rather have a unit on a higher floor?  A lower floor?  Is the price an objective?  Do they not like the wallpaper?  Are they looking for a unit with a larger kitchen or more updated bathrooms or larger windows?  Would they like to have the furnishings?  What can we do to make this unit acceptable to the Buyer?

I'm not asking for much...just a simple phone call or an email would do, but only ONE agent has bothered to give me the courtesy of granting my request for feedback.

If you asked me to give you feedback, I'd gladly respond graciously.  It's professional courtesy and plain old good manners.

Terry Miller
Miller Homes Group - Tyler, TX
Miller Homes Group and Tyler Apartment Locator

Manners are gone. It is amazing the lack of common courtesy some in our profession have.

Sep 13, 2009 03:03 AM
Marcy Eastham
Town & Country Realty Corvallis Oregon - Corvallis, OR

I try to follow up with an email request for feedback as well.  Some people are better about returning emails, but I still only get a few responses.  It can be frustrating!

Sep 13, 2009 03:04 AM
Susan Emo
Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Lynda -  each market has its own expectations.  In my market, whomever the feedback is most important to makes the first call.   Personally, I use Homefeedback.com which automatically sends out an email request for feedback which makes it easy for the showing agent to respond in mere seconds.  I have a 96% response rate as compared to practically zero when it was all done by phone.  It is a great tool that wins me many listings when the Sellers hear that they receive the feedback directly from the showing agents the moment they respond.

Sep 13, 2009 03:05 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

I don't know if this particular situation is a lack of etiquetteor just lack of time. I'm not sure I'd think of it as a solid request. I tend to ignore the automated requests for feedback also. But yesterday an agent sent me a personal email and asked for feedback, that I responded to...I appreciated that she took the time to find my email and send me a note. So....we try. But in general, I think the common courtesy of the old days is gone.

Sep 13, 2009 03:12 AM
Lynda Hester
Prudential Georgia Realty - Rabun County, Ga. - Clayton, GA

Terry, manners are appreciated and I miss them!

Sep 13, 2009 03:13 AM
Lynda Hester
Prudential Georgia Realty - Rabun County, Ga. - Clayton, GA

Marcy,  thanks for the suggestion.  I'll start getting the email addresses before I give the okay to show the listing.  Then, I'll send the request for feedback by email and see what happens with that.

Sep 13, 2009 03:14 AM
Lynda Hester
Prudential Georgia Realty - Rabun County, Ga. - Clayton, GA

Susan, I didn't know about that feedback service.  If it has a cost attached, i'm not certain it would be worth it when a courteous phone call would suffice.  I'll take a look at it.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Sep 13, 2009 03:16 AM
Lisa Matykiewicz
United Brokers Group - Gilbert, AZ

Sometimes I thin we under estimate how "MUCH BETTER" the process would be if we communicate more and provide some basic common courtesy.

Sep 13, 2009 03:18 AM
Lynda Hester
Prudential Georgia Realty - Rabun County, Ga. - Clayton, GA

Karen, I would agree with you about the solidity of my request if my request were just a casual mention like, "If your prospects have any comments, would you let me know?"

However, I have been having a very serious conversation with each agent who calls to show the condo about my desire and need for feedback.  They acknowledge my request and promise to call back.  There is no room left for doubt about whether or not this is a solid request.

It is unprofessional and rude to agree to provide the feedback and then not to respond.  If the agent were to say, " I might forget, so please give me a follow up call or send me an email.", I'd understand.  But don't tell me you'll do something and then fail to follow through.  It's really bad manners!

Sep 13, 2009 03:22 AM
Susan Emo
Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

$19.95 per month with a 30 day Free Trial  is the cost for Home Feedback.  My 96% response rate justifies the cost not to mention the many listings I've signed because of it.  Just one more added benefit to listing with me but the peace of mind I have knowing that I don't have to wonder when or if the agent is going to follow up because we all know they most likely will not.  I don't try to change people, just my own actions. 

Sep 13, 2009 03:23 AM
Lynda Hester
Prudential Georgia Realty - Rabun County, Ga. - Clayton, GA

Lisa, you hit the nail on the head.  Communicating and using professional courtesy would make this a much better experience for all involved!  Thanks for your comment.

Sep 13, 2009 03:23 AM
Lynda Hester
Prudential Georgia Realty - Rabun County, Ga. - Clayton, GA

Susan, thanks for the information.  Good point about not trying to change other people.  It is still disappointing that so many agents lack the skills needed to provide professional courtesy.

Sep 13, 2009 03:28 AM
Janice MacMillan
ERA Joyner Realty - Valdosta, GA
Associate Broker

Lynda, I agree.... it is hard to get any feedback here as well. No one wants to be bothered.

Sep 19, 2009 10:25 AM