OK, this sounds perjorative and condescending and other negative multi-syllable words. But honestly, how can anyone get anything done if so-called professionals don't adequately represent their clients? Hopefully more realtors and loan officers are busy in this difficult market. I am amazed, however, at the agents who just don't return phone calls. Busy is OK,and I am certainly not perfect, but this is a rough market and if I call you it's for a good reason. In the past few days, I have had (previously) trusted loan officers not send a pre-approval, listing agents call back 24 hours after showing requests, and sellers just not pick up requests for showings. "I haven't had a showing in 4 weeks, my house is a mess" is not a valid excuse for refusing a showing. Yesterday a seller had a hair appointment and shopping and couldn't show her house on short notice (2-4 hours). Her agent finally called back after several hours to say the seller couldn't show and since it was a holiday weekend, could we come back next week. "NO WE CANNOT" I wanted to yell -- Mr. and Mrs. Buyer will be back in Dallas and mulling over their offer and your listing won't be on the list. For goodness sakes, at this price point the market time is about 20 months. Contrast this to the lady who was busy packing for her move and said "come any time" and made us iced tea before we got there. Who gets remembered, which might get sold?
It's obvious that phone training is something not taught to most people in real estate. I came from the hospitality industry....the best training ground you could ask for.
We had voice mail...we just could not use it. Someone HAD to answer the phone live, THEN transfer to voice mail.
That's the way. But afterall, we are JUST trying to sell homes.....who needs a return call....
Leslie,
I sympathize with you. This problem goes both ways though. I have read a few blogs where the Buyer's Agent did not have a key to the lock box and wanted the listing agent to do his work for him. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Leslie, and returning a phone call is so easy! And if you can't do that, you can send a quick text or email. No excuse these days.
you are correct. I wish all agents would tackle their calls and get maybe even a text reply sent to help the processes along.
You just nailed my pet peeve. This business just doesn't work if people don't communicate.
Hi Leslie, I don't know why it's so hard for some agents to grasp. To sell the house you need to show it. You don't show it, it won't sell. Easy. I've had agents be snippy with me at weekends and all I can say is if you don't want calls on weekends then go find a different job! I feel somewhat for sellers who after 4 weeks with no showings suddenly get a call. It's hard for them to suddenly change gears. I don't have any sympathy for agents though. This is what we do for a living and communication is a huge part of the equation.
Denise
I agree with you, Leslie. There are some really lax agents (and others) in the business, complaining about how rough things are instead of keeping their noses to their respective grindstones doing the things that make deals happen.
Thom: I am interested in you saying that you come from the hospitality industry. After a previous career that included a ton of travel, I have undying admiration for concierge(s) who stay cool and still get everything done. Not a bad model for much of our client interface!
Ralph, Lloyd, Dan, Patricia, Bryan, Billi: communication is so easy! It's not like anyone agents need to check into offices and sit at a switchboard. A quick text can solve a lot of problems.....
Denise: Until recently I thought of myself as a listing agent, but last year's market made me try to get more of a balance. I have listings that have few showings, either becasue they are odd (eg horse proeprties) or expensive (not over-priced, just higher-end for their category), and I know it is hard to keep a house show ready if there are few showings. But "not this week" or "not this weekend" just is a killler....if the photos on the mls are nice, the buyer wants to see the house. I am resentful if I can't get the buyer into the house on the buyer's schedule.
David: there are whiners and doers, and deals are happening every day with the doers!
Thanks to everyone for comments.
Leslie, it sounds to me as if the sellers are "testing the market" instead of trying to get their home sold, with those type of excuses. Hmmm...
We've found that email works best. Multiple team members have access to inbound emails intended for the listing agent, and the listing agent is unavailable, a team member can respond to the enquiry quickly. Much faster than waiting for the listing agent to become available and then check voicemail, then return calls one at a time.
William: as I have commented on other blogs recently, sometimes there is a good reason I can't get into a house that my client wants to see. It's being ignored for the quick question that bugs me.
Tony: you are absolutely right, I depend heavily on email and texts. I was havng one of those days -- it was my sixth straight day out with a second relo buyer and I was getting backed up on needing info from listings agents. I didn;t put it in my mini-rant there, but my assistant was being ignored on needing some info from a builder's rep, a listing agent on what "open space" meant, etc. I was reaching the point where smoke signals would have helped.
Thanks for comments.
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