Texting Etiquette

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Momentum Real Estate Group LLC GA BrokersLicense# 277342

Technology strikes again.  Everyone has a cellphone.  Nearly everyone enjoys the convenience and responsiveness associated with texting.DRA Homes Jenna Dixon

It's pretty common in my market for agents to quickly text one another to make showing arrangements or to inquire as to a property's current status/availability.

When texting with another agent in this manner, I usually write something like the following:

"Is 123 Easy Street still available?  I would like to show it today between 1-2pm.  Thank you, Jenna Dixon DRA Homes #277342"

Note that I included my name, my business name and my Georgia Real Estate License information.  I do this for a couple of reasons: to let the agent know who they are talking too and in the event that they want to verify the information, they can quickly do so using the Georgia Real Estate Commissions website.

I also think that it's good to have some degree of certainty that the person on the other end of the message is, in fact, a legitimate and verifiable licensed agent and not some local nut job casing a client's home for a possible robbery or vandalism.

Not to mention that it's simple common courtesy to identify one's self when communicating with another person!

When I received this text this morning: "Is 123 Easy Street still available?"

My response was, "Can I have your name, please?"

Guess what happened?

Nothing!  No response!

Being the nosy nelly that I am, I googled the number that the message came from and it is a local real estate agent, which makes it all the more annoying!

 

Posted by

55+ Realty Advisor  MyMomentumTea.com Logo 

Jenna Dixon
Associate Broker

55+ Realty Advisor | Accredited Buyer Representative |
Certified Skilled Negotiator

DRA Homes Real Estate
MyMomentumTeam.com

Email: JennaDixon@Outlook.com
Direct: (770) 374-4230


DRA Homes Real Estate
An Affiliate of Maximum One Realty Greater Atlanta
5041 Dallas Highway, Suite 700, Powder Springs, GA 30127
Office Phone: 770-919-8825 ext. 318

 

 

 

Comments (73)

Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I get flooded with texts with no name, no info and they are not happy when you do ask who it is. I got one today and like you, no response when asked.

Jul 13, 2015 10:44 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

My area is small and I know most all the agents. I did receive a text asking about one of my listings...had no idea who it was from. So, I texted back asking who is this. It was an agent from my old office.

Jul 13, 2015 02:18 PM
Gay E. Rosen
Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty - Larchmont, NY
As Real as Real Estate Gets!

Good advice.  WHo would have thought a few years back . Texting is okay!

Jul 14, 2015 02:05 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
New Hampshire Home Stager

Certainly makes sense to me to include your business info when texting for information on a property.

Jul 15, 2015 02:51 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
www.iCharlotteHomes.com | The Maxwell House Group | RE/MAX Executive | (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The right Charlotte REALTOR!

In North Carolina, texting is a 'legal' method of doing business - as long as I could, I fought it!  However, we have a LOT of young professionals in our area and their preferred method of doing business is texting.  Our association recommends specific apps that you can download all text messages that pertain to business.  It prints it out in one .pdf so you can save it in your client files.  I've had to do that a couple of times with some of the younger agents to 'prove' that something was communicated pertaining to a transaction.  Not identifying yourself is definitely a pet peeve of mine too!  

Jul 15, 2015 02:27 PM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I dislike when I've had several conversations with someone and it is obvious they've captured my number on their phone, then I text something at their request and they respond with "who is this?"  

That, I have zero patience with.  I usually respond with "who do you think it is, you've only called this number a dozen times or more!" 

Jul 16, 2015 01:01 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, Keller Williams Fox Cities - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I may start attaching this post to every listing that I put out there, so tired of criptic texts that require a few questions just to see who they are and which home they are interested in.

Btw, love the new profile pic Jenna.

 

Jul 18, 2015 03:04 PM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366 there should be a limit on the degrees of separation on text communications.

Nina Hollander absolutely!  I've even had a buyer client come back to say, "I never said that!"  Fortunately, I had followed up with an email and the dispute was squashed.  We know that people will say anything if they see a benefit.

Jul 18, 2015 10:28 PM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

Roger D. Mucci I love that profile pic.  It's suave and smug at the same time!

Wayne Martin the digital age is compromising out social skills and civility.

Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR interesting thought, perhaps the "lack" of communication allowed by text actually makes negotiations more difficult.  There's no connection, no sublety in the communication.

Jul 18, 2015 10:32 PM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

Kathleen Daniels that is a huge pain in the rear.  It always makes me wonder if I mis-dialed!

Silvia Dukes PA, REALTOR, CRS, CIPS, SRES now that is ridiculous!

Chris Ann - I need to train mine to do that as well!

Jul 18, 2015 10:34 PM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

Karen Steed Good point!  I'm glad I don't have this issue too often.

Claude Labbe no amount of technology will alleviate our professional duty to our clients and their property.  You're so right!

Joni Staples that pesky agent disclosure rule, who needs that!

Jul 18, 2015 10:36 PM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

Gene Riemenschneider Once the relationship is established, texting is fine, for some things.

Theresa Akin it sounds like you have developed a get system at keeping texts organized and appropriate.

Scott Godzyk it makes you wonder what they might be up to!

Jul 18, 2015 10:39 PM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

Rebecca Gaujot, the GO TO REALTOR that's one advantage of a smaller market.

Gay E. Rosen Texting is okay!

Sharon Tara simple and seemingly obvious, but...here we are.  LOL

Jul 18, 2015 10:41 PM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

Debe Maxwell I need that APP!

Susan Emo now that is a new one on me.  People are so strange sometimes.

Bob Crane in the interest of saving time, you would think that people would use complete information.  And thank you for the compliment!

Jul 18, 2015 10:43 PM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

 Saw Bob's reblog. This is what I text...and the information I'd like to get

"I'm an independent broker, I'd like to show your listing at 123 Main, Sunday 7/19, 1-2;30? Karen Fiddler BRE#01494165"

Jul 19, 2015 02:05 AM
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Excellent points Jenna, I really think some people get lazy with the texts. I hate bad grammar and your example is great. I only book with a showing company on my listings.

Jul 19, 2015 03:37 AM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
Good Company Real Estate - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Jenna - Great information. I always introduce myself and include my Brokerage name and my Realtor ID when texting other agents. I want to make sure they know that I am legit and not trying to hide anything.

Jul 19, 2015 10:04 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
www.iCharlotteHomes.com | The Maxwell House Group | RE/MAX Executive | (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The right Charlotte REALTOR!

Jenna Dixon - Sure!  Here you go:  http://www.smsexport.com/download.asp

Jul 20, 2015 02:20 PM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

Thanks Debe Maxwell 

Jul 21, 2015 08:16 AM
Winston Heverly
Winston Realty, Inc. - Atlantis, FL
GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CIAS, PA

Loved your read today, hope this becomes a beautiful & successful week.

Nov 05, 2015 12:14 PM

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