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Broker Bryant.....you're FIRED! Or not.

By Bryant Tutas

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC BK607690

January 28, 2008 07:14 AM

Recently, I re-listed one of my listings that had expired about six weeks ago. At the time it expired the hubby decided they need a new REALTOR® so did not re-list with me. I HATE it when that happens!!!

I had the property on the market for 5 months and had quite a bit of activity but being on the high side of the market, for Poinciana, we never received any offers. Got real close but nothing materialized.

Anyway, the Sellers came down before Christmas and decided to try another REALTOR® that was a friend of a friend of a friend. We all know how that goes.

I'm very close with my Sellers and talk with them all the time. Mrs. Seller did not want to switch but Mr. Seller just felt he needed to try something new. No biggie. It happens in a down market. Folks get anxious. I completely understood and wished them well.

Being the good little Broker that I am, I decided to treat these folks as if they were still my Sellers until such time that I saw the listing pop up as a new listing in the MLS. So every week, just as I had done when the listing was mine, I called the Sellers to check in on them.

Three weeks went by and the property still had not shown up in the MLS yet. Needless to say MY Sellers were very surprised to hear this since they had signed a listing agreement with their new REALTOR® when they were down for Christmas.

So, they figured they had best track down their new REALTOR® to see what was going on. It seems their new REALTOR® didn't work over the Holidays and hadn't had time yet to activate his new listing. Too busy opening presents I guess. Either that or his shift at Wal-Mart was keeping him busy. After all, it WAS the Holidays! Well OK then!!! You're FIRED!!!

Do you guys like my new (old) listing? I LOVE it when that happens!! Never give up.

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Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Whoa...too busy.... wow. I love your new (old) listing....you do a wonderful job...and boy did they find out. :)

Jan 28, 2008 09:15 AM

Jesse Clifton

Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

Amazing... the holiday's were... when exatly? Just goes to show good 'ol fashioned customer service still pays. Gotta love that.

Jan 28, 2008 09:22 AM

Rob Arnold

Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL

Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

Pretty ridiculous. I can understand taking a little time off during the Holidays. That is only normal. But come on, the Holidays were a month ago. I believe the MLS requires listed properties to get sumbitted within 7 days (maybe shorter) unless the Seller signs a waiver. This Realtor could possibly get fined for waiting so long to list it.

Jan 28, 2008 09:56 AM

Lisa Hill

Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Beach Real Estate

So why didn't their "new" agent put the listing in the MLS? Doesn't that violate the MLS rules to not have a new listing input within a couple of days?

Jan 28, 2008 09:59 AM

Maureen Maureen

Orangeburg, NY

BB - Congrats!!! You are the man.

I know you don't have a stager near you so can I just give you one tiny, easy tip??? I usually don't give out unsolicited advice but this one just cries out. I think you should remove all the valances in the home. They really don't help, the windows have vertical blinds on them so privacy is not an issue. The overly colorful dated style is just somehow really sad in a vacant home. You can just slip them off the rods. Hope I'm not overstepping here...

Jan 28, 2008 10:04 AM

Teri Eckholm

Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN

REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Bryant--Sometimes a change isn't better...Just a change! Hopefully the sold sign will be on that new old listing soon!

Jan 28, 2008 10:07 AM

Carol Smith

Casmi Photography - Mebane, NC

Congrats, BB! Sometimes it seems as though a little respite from the MLS will, in itself, generate some fresh interest in a property. I hope that's what happens this go round so that you get that one SOLD!

Jan 28, 2008 10:45 AM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Broker B, way wonderful story! I love it when really lazy Realtors shoot themselves in the foot! I mean, my Christmas tree is still up, but if you have to let something slide, taking down the tree is better than forgetting about a listing.

Jan 28, 2008 11:10 AM

William J. Archambault, Jr.

The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Bryan,

I wish you'd screw up. I like teaching.

All I can say to you is very well done! Again!

Bill

Jan 28, 2008 12:13 PM

Ken Cook

Content, coding, marketing, host. - Marietta, GA

Content Marketer/Creator

Haha! Oh my gosh! "Either that or his shift at Wal-Mart was keeping him busy."

Jan 28, 2008 02:42 PM

Allison Stewart

St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL

St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

Sometimes you have let them leave you to appreciate you! Walmart shift.... LOL too funny...too true. At least you accomplished your objective... got them back and at a price that allow the house a fair chance at selling.

Jan 28, 2008 08:42 PM

Dan Forbes

Bradenton, FL

BB- Good job. Be persistent, be kind, be professional....and you'll beat 98% of the competition.

Jan 28, 2008 10:21 PM

Carol Spengel

Prudential Rubloff - Wheaton, IL

Wheaton IL

I hope the seller's report this "agent" to the board. That's just wrong. Good for you, but still really, really wrong.

Jan 29, 2008 09:32 AM

Bryant Tutas

Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL

Selling Florida one home at a time

Well hey everyone!!! I forgot about this darn post. My bad!!!!

I have to agree with Maureen about those valances. I think I'll go over and tkae those down. Thanks.

The point of this post like the one before it is to never give up and to always treat the consumer with honesty and respect. I could have very well just got POed because they didn't want to re-list with me but if I had I would have gained nothing but a bad attitude. Life's too short for that. So instead I took the high road and ended up getting the listing back.

Jan 29, 2008 09:42 AM

Fran Gatti

RE/MAX Integrity - Medford, OR

Managing Principal Broker - RE/MAX Integrity

Bryant,

I learn so much reading your posts. Keep it up, I need you.

Jan 29, 2008 03:00 PM

ARDELL DellaLoggia

Better Properties Seattle - Kirkland, WA

I love your attitude! Some people just have to try something else and we can't get offended when they act human.

Jan 29, 2008 05:36 PM

Concetta Pepenella-Timmons

Remax Metro Staten Island, New York - Staten Island, NY

Associate Broker

Nice Listing Presentation! Little Darling.....

If only my job was in Poinciana....ahhhh

Jan 29, 2008 09:48 PM

Lisa Spalding

Casa Latino Four Corners, REALTOR, CDPE - Longwood, FL

REALTOR, CDPE

Bryant-

I am continually amazed by your persistence and your attitude of being of service to others. I'm quite pleased you got the $30K price repositioning for the house. I am NOT astounded by the other agents' lack of, well, anything. I think that the consumer doesn't expect much, if anything, from r e agents--and that's what they get. Most consumers don't expect anything from ANY service position jobs. It's refreshing to see that there are some r e agents out there (YOU!) who go over-and-above and truly CARE about customers. I'm jazzed again for this week. Thanks!

Jan 29, 2008 11:32 PM

James Downing - Metro DC Houses Team REALTORS®, CRS, GRI, ABR,MRP, MilRes

Real Living | At Home - Washington, DC

When Looking to Buy or Sell - Make the Right Move

How do you not make time to put in the MLS?! He deserved to be fired - and good for you for doing your job!

Jan 30, 2008 02:48 AM

Linda Sanderson

Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific - Benicia, CA

Congrats on your new old listing. What a story! I find it hard to believe that some agents don't even put a photo on a new listing in the mls, but to not put the listing in is totally unbelievable! Now that I think about it, I think he must live at Walmart.

Jan 31, 2008 02:57 PM