A few months ago, I received an email inquiry through my website about a listing in a nearby area. I responded promptly and sent additional information, as well.
A week or so later, I received a response and a request for an updated search in a different area, but no answers to any of my questions, which would have helped me narrow the search or provide additional information.
Classic internet lead behavior, right?
Anyway, no response after the last email so I promptly forgot all about the prospect.
Fast forward to last Saturday when I receive an email from the same prospect, which I read in the car on my iPad while waiting at a red light.
"Can you show me property today?"
Uh, no. Are you kidding? It is ALREADY midday, I am already completely booked for the weekend and uh, well, NO. I don't even know who you are, where you want to look, what your price point really is, NOTHING!
For safety reasons alone, I'm not going to jump to show you property, even if I had any available time.
My response, however, was more restrained..."I am so sorry, but I am already booked for the entire weekend. I would be more than happy to find someone else who may have some available time to meet with you, if you would like. Let me know your availability and please send me your phone number. Conversely, you can also call my office and ask for the duty agent, who may be able to help. If you would like to set up a time to meet in the future, please let me know what your availability is. Thanks again for contacting me."
I don't know, I guess I was not completely clear because I never heard another word.
Until yesterday afternoon. Okay, well, I guess emailing late Friday for a Saturday appointment is an improvement, right?
Already booked for the weekend, though, I immediately emailed right back (still no phone number!), expressed my regrets and pretty much repeated what I said last weekend...already booked, will be happy to find someone to help you, but need to talk to you first about availability, price point, location, etc.
As you can imagine, I received no response whatsoever.
Until 12:15 a.m. this morning, when I received an indignant email, "I cannot believe I AGAIN drove 4 hours up here and can find no one to help me. I guess I should find another agent."
Despite my strong urge to want to respond, "Uh, honey, you never had THIS agent, And I'm so not desperate enough for business to deal with this crap,"I refrained from a snarky response and said most local brokerages are open today and she could just walk into any of those and find someone who would be more than happy to help her.
Sorry, but there are too many terrific prospects out there who listen, are responsive and respectful of others' time to even think about dealing with someone like this. It has nothing to do with respect for our profession, really, it's just plain rude, at least in my book.
Is it just me??
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