Time is Money… Are You Rich or Poor?

Jon - I'm glad I'm in an area with lockboxes. Even still, I find myself waiting on a client, appraiser or inspector even when it's NOT my listing. I try to take work with me wherever I go ... or a good book.

Jon---I had no idea there were areas where you still had to go pick up a key to show.  How awful!!  I am totally spoiled.  I think I would refuse to show a property if the listing agent made me go all of the way to his/her office to get a key.  I know I am really spoiled---but I am not rich. :-(

Jon - I feel your pain.  We have a couple of complexes here that mandate where the lockboxes can be. One complex in deed restrictions say lockbox can be put at pool area.  The problem is, there are over 20 lockboxes - UNLABELLED!!!  So you go there and wonder, which box is for which unit?   Historically, the proper keys never get put back in the right SUPRA lockbox.  It's a nightmare.   Anyhow.....I hate "chasing keys" at the listing offices.   Time is money....and we all work for free until the closing table don't we??

Jon - Making and keeping appointments is part of the "corporate" culture many agents "left behind."  It seems that many of them left behind professional manners as well.  While I may be late due to a clients' interaction ... I have no excuse not to call and let the other agent know .... before I'm supposed to be there.  What it came as a surprise...you're due to an appointment in 30 minutes and you are 45 minutes away!  Thanks for the post ...

Jon,

It's not the keys it's the agents!

I once verified a key box with the listing agent, then drove an out of town buyer 2.5 hours through the snow only to find the box empty! I broke a small window and showed the property. I cleaned up the glass and stuffed the window with a bath towel. We sat there and wrote a great offer. I called the seller at work from his phone and asked him to be at my office after work. Then I called the listing broker and ask him and his agent to be there.

When the agent recommended a turn down, his broker was shocked. The agent explained my people might walk when they got inside and he had a buyer coming in a few days. I explained what I had done and that the window was already replaced. The glassier sent the bill to the listing office including the $100 tip I authorized! They paid. The sellers signed, I caught up with the sellers as they were boarding their plane home, they signed it was a done deal.

Bill

Hi Papa Jon!  I'm shocked that you guys don't use the Supra boxes!  I cannot IMAGINE having to retrieve keys prior to showing 6-8 homes, THEN returning them all!  UGH!  You need to sell your MLS on the Supra eKeys--they're safe and effective!!

Also, as my father was a military man, we were taught that you were late if you weren't 15 minutes early!  So, I ALWAYS take my laptop with me for work as I'm always waiting on someone else!  

Jon you have a right to be iritaed.  Where you have to pick up the keys, I had one listing like that.  I had multiple keys made to insure that we always had one if the agent didn't bring it badk or more than one agent requested it.  Keys are cheap!

Jon, how difficult that makes your lives when a condo doesn't allow lockboxes. Wow. They are causing problems for their sellers. Somebody needs to get on the board and get that straightened out.

I love combo lock boxes - I hate the Supra lock boxes - they suck

I flagged this post for a feature - I am called a master at calling featured posts - hello

Jon

Some people say that this is Florida. That everyone is more relax and often more sloppy. Maybe this is true?

Jon - I used to work in San Francisco. I then started going to Hawaii once a month for work. There is something called Hawaiian time. It will drive you crazy. And maybe poor also.