Listing agents are having a rougher time moving listings this year and sometimes, it's not just the price, it's the circumstances of showing and the aftermath.
Let's talk about feedback, which is probably more important this year in the aftermath of extended market times. Make it as easy as possible for the showing agent to give you feedback by providing complete information. This includes a picture of the house, address and MLS number-and-send the feedback form along within not more than 72 hours of the showing. One agent in my marketplace enters everyone who responds into a drawing for a gift certificate. The fax cover sheet also announces the winner of last month's prize.
Recently, an assistant send me a request for feedback on a listing with no picture or MLS number on the email, so to provide feedback I would have to take the whole address and paste it into MLS since I saw over 40 houses last week and this may or may not have been among them. More than one agent requested feedback 2 weeks after the fact by telephone. Do you know how many houses are out there and how many people call me saying that the house had 4 bedrooms and 2 baths?
Receiving a feedback call while I am still out with my clients is almost as bad as receiving one 2 weeks later. This tips my clients and me off to the fact that someone is desperate to make a sale and it will cost you.
Some listing agents also get insulted when asking for feedback and I mention the odor or wall colors needing to be neutralized. If you don't want to know what I really think, please, PLEASE don't ask. It makes me more reluctant to respond to request for feedbacks when I receive flack for bringing up something that should have been addressed before the house went on the market.
In summary, keep feedback requests property-specific, relevant, timely and brief. Check expectations at the door and be considerate of the showing agent. Not all will reply, but following the above suggestions should hopefully increase your response rate.
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