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Is This Too Much To Ask?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with CastNet Realty TREC#263257

Is it too much to ask the listing agent to bring the keys with them to closing or to drop them off at the title company if they are not going to be there?  I just closed a home in San Antonio, which is not my normal area of doing business.  When I asked for the keys, the closer told me the listing agent had not brought them by and that was the normal way of doing business in San Antonio.

Being used to better service in Kerrville, I was shocked to hear this.  Most of the REALTORS® in Kerrville try to cooperate and make the closing simple and easy for both the buyer and the seller.  I asked, how do my buyers get the keys?  Am I supposed to go to the listing agent's office to retrieve them myself?  If so, why was I not told this by the listing agent before I got to the closing table.

Poor service is all I can attribute this to.  I may, one day, open a branch office in San Antonio and if I do, the buyer's agents that work with my office can rest assured the keys will be there at closing and they will not be asked to drive across town to do what the listing agent was supposed to do in the first place.  I will bring small town courtesy to the big city.

Ricki Eichler Real Estate, your Texas Hill Country connection                      www.reretx.com

511 Junction Hwy                                  Kerrville, TX                               (830)257-2520

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Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Hi Alan,  I so agree!  :)

Nov 14, 2010 04:14 AM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Thanks David,   It blew me away, never heard of such a thing!

Nov 14, 2010 04:15 AM
LaNita Cates
REMAX of Joliet - Joliet, IL

In our area, the buying agent brings the keys to the closing after the walk-thru. The selling agent comes and gets their lockbox/sign right after that or during the closing or shortly after. But they keys are always brought to the table.

Nov 14, 2010 04:16 AM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Hi LaNita,  After talking with the listing agent, she let me know it would be several days before they picked up the sign and the lockbox.  Ridiculous!

Nov 14, 2010 04:21 AM
Tni LeBlanc, RealtorĀ®, J.D.
Mint Properties, Lic. #01871795 - Santa Maria, CA
Tenacious Tni (805) 878-9879

Yes, the keys should be there and waiting.  I hate the run aroun d when it comes to closing day.  This is typically the last thing they need to do and a lot of agents are cavalier about it but it is so very important to the buyer. 

Nov 14, 2010 04:22 AM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Yes Tni,  It is important to the buyer.  It can make or break their day if they have a problem with getting the keys.  I like for my buyers to experience all the joys of buying their home and not have silly problems like this.

Nov 14, 2010 04:52 AM
'The Diamond Group' 'A Cut Above The Rest'
The Diamond Group @ Keller Williams - Lubbock, TX
Lubbock Texas Real Estate

Hi Ricki, I agree that the listing agents need to make the effort to get the key to us or have them available for the buyer at closing.  A glitch like this shouldn't define an otherwise wonderful transaction.

Nov 14, 2010 05:11 AM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTORĀ®

I offer to pick up the listing agents sign and lockbox for them if the agent is a Huntsville Agent. So they don't have to drive back to Riverside just to pick up a sign and lockbox. But then again, I want you to look forward to working with me again. Not to dread it. 

Hoping to hear from some agents in SA telling us that this IS NOT the norm!

 

Nov 14, 2010 05:43 AM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Hi Elizabeth,  You are right, but maybe not everyone feels this way.

Hi Joni,   You are a sweetheart and I would love to work with you.  I do hope some SA agents speak up about this and let us know it is not the norm but they sure have been quiet today :)

Nov 14, 2010 12:19 PM
Carl Winters
Canyon Lake, TX

Seems like common courtesy. Not everyone thinks the way we do Ricki.

Have a good week.

Nov 14, 2010 02:22 PM
Trey Thurmond
BCR Realtors - College Station, TX
College Station , Texas Homes

This is an example of the boring stuff we have to do that I wrote a blog about today. Ricki...they need to show more courtesy.

Nov 14, 2010 03:49 PM
Trey Thurmond
BCR Realtors - College Station, TX
College Station , Texas Homes

This is an example of the boring stuff we have to do that I wrote a blog about today. Ricki...they need to show more courtesy.

Nov 14, 2010 03:50 PM
Trey Thurmond
BCR Realtors - College Station, TX
College Station , Texas Homes

This is an example of the boring stuff we have to do that I wrote a blog about today. Ricki...they need to show more courtesy.

Nov 14, 2010 03:50 PM
Trey Thurmond
BCR Realtors - College Station, TX
College Station , Texas Homes

This is an example of the boring stuff we have to do that I wrote a blog about today. Ricki...they need to show more courtesy.

Nov 14, 2010 03:50 PM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Ricki... bringing the keys to the title company or delivering them to the buyers agent is the norm for me.  I can't imagine not doing that!

Nov 14, 2010 05:18 PM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Hi Trey,  Yes, there is a lot of boring stuff we do everyday that most folks dont realize :)

Hi Steve,  I know what you mean, it should be normal.  I was floored! :)

Nov 15, 2010 12:45 AM
Judi Morgan
RETIRED - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX Real Estate

Ricki, I've been selling homes in San Antonio for 10 years and the keys have always been at the title company for me at closing.  Once in awhile, the Listing Agent will tell me the keys are in a certain drawer in the kitchen and for me to take them and the key(s) in the lock-box when we do our final walk-thru. 

Dec 13, 2010 08:06 AM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Hi Judi,  I had never heard of such a thing but I guess some agents just wont give any service to their clients or anyone else.  Laziness!  Hope you have a nice Christmas!

Dec 13, 2010 08:24 AM
Judi Morgan
RETIRED - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX Real Estate

Ricki, thank you -- hope you & Don have a nice Christmas too.

Just want you to know that kind of service is NOT the 'norm' here in  San Antonio -- in fact, I've never had that happen in my many years in real estate.

Dec 13, 2010 08:36 AM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Glad to know that about San Antonio.  I was worried it was not the wonderful city I thought it was.  I had never had that happen to me either and I've been in the business for many years.

Dec 13, 2010 01:40 PM