Everybody needs a "favor" every once in awhile including me. But why does it seem like those little "favors" are really a ploy to get me to do someone else's job? Here are some examples:
Over the past several months I have seen emails that read: "I have a buyer looking for..."when I read the full email it's basically a lazy person asking to hand listings over to them on a silver platter instead of that agent
actually getting into MLS and finding the appropriate properties for their buyer them-self. My question...if you really don't know how to find "your" buyer a property they will be happy with...refer the buyer to someone who can!
This issue for the most part has since been resolved as there are many agents who will fire back a message to that person with...uhhhh do your job...it's called MLS. For the sake of being my own devil's advocate I will state there are some exceptions. When a buyer has very specific wants and needs that cannot be located through MLS or there are pocket listings that might match a buyer's profile, this request is completely appropriate and welcome but to make a general request that says something to the effect of "I have a buyer looking for a three bedroom home in Naples, please email me if you have this listing...doesn't quite fit into either of those circumstances.
Another instance happened today when I was asked to proofread a newsletter. The request included, please check content, spelling and all active links. This email was sent to 4 people. Since when do 4 people need to check the spelling and active links of someone else's work? We have a button for that now...yes? It took me 45 minutes to read the newsletter and then write the 25 point correction response. 25 points??? REALLY? Was there a reason why they couldn't check their own links which by the way there were several not working??? Content, I understand but seriously...this person gets paid to do that job and now they're wasting the time of 4 other people to do their job for them which by the way, these 4 other people do NOT get paid to do that job.
One more example. I submitted a landscaping architect plan to my homeowners association to be approved as
part of our remodel process which was prepared by my landscaping architect of all people. Who by the way has a license to prepare this plan, has been in the business for umpteen years and who got paid to do the work. I received a response back from my association and not only did the plan fail, it failed MISERABLY. I was absolutely MORTIFIED to read the pages and pages of comments as to why it didn't pass. This was not his first project but it may as well have been based on the level of incompetence and unprofessionalism he displayed. Now it is my job to get him to redo the work he was hired and paid to do to begin with and then wait patiently for another response which will cost me another $125.00 to submit because the plan isn't reviewed by my association...they hire some other guy to review the plan...uhm ok.
Following in step with my dear friend Adam Waldman and his theme on "Fully disclosing" how he will act in the future, here's my full disclosure:
I am happy to help you. I will answer questions, offer suggestions, give my opinion etc. I will do this willingly and without resistance.
I will not do your job for you. My clients do not appreciate you robbing me of my time and focus. My family does not appreciate you taking my time and making me crazy.
I owe this to my family, clients, colleagues and friends.
Best Regards!
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