Too busy to check your messages??
January 21, 2008 by Monika McGillicuddy
Filed under General R.E. Information, Home Seller tips
I’m gonna vent a little.I know my southern New Hampshire real estate market has picked up tremendously in the last few weeks…which is a very very good thing BUT not to the point that an agent should feel comfortable blowing off a co-broke request for an appointment. I mean give me a break!
The other day I had three appointments scheduled to show the next day. Two of the three homes went under agreement, which is a very positive sign of an improving market, so I searched in MLS to see what else was available and noticed a new listing that would meet my clients needs. I called the listing office, it was around 11:30 in the morning. I went into the listing agents voice mail, where I left a detailed message so that only one call needed to be made to me by that agent… a call confirming my appointment.
They didn’t have a “live” person manning the phones and all the agents book their own appointments, so I had no choice but to wait. Much later in the day I looked up the agents cell phone number and called again. I wanted to reach her before the end of business hours if there is such a thing in real estate…I left a message on her cell phone.
The next morning at 9:00 I finally got a call back…No apology for the delay…just asking if I could make it another time. Seems the sellers were away and would not be easy to reach. Could I do it later in the day she asked? No, not really 11:30-12:00 is what my clients can make. She told me she would see what she could do.
About an hour later…she left a message on my cell. “Monika, this is ***** *****, can’t get you in the house unless you can make it later. Sellers won’t be reachable till after 1pm. Do a drive by but remember it has no curb appeal…seeing the inside is crucial.” I felt like pulling my hair out!!! Had she checked her voice mail the day before she probably would have been able to reach her sellers…or maybe if she had checked her cell phone messages later that day! I’m frustrated…oh and the one house I could show??? It got an offer in today too. My market is changing…it sure is…but we need a little bit of co-operation out there and a whole lot of competence!
I have to wonder if her client knows just how hard their agent is to reach for co-brokers or that the office does not have a live person answering the phones. The combination of both can be a killer!!!
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I know how you feel. This not only happens in real estate, also real life. People ask you to leave a msg, but take days before they return your call and they say “I am just catching up on my msgs. Some times I give them the benefit of a doubt and excuse them, only once.
It is so frustrating Jim. Especially when you have to book multiple appointments and need a confirmation before you can book the rest. I’m like you, give a benefit of doubt…once. Problem in my business some agents are known to be uncooperative. Makes it hard to show their listings.
Sometimes people are so rude. I feel better having vented LOL! Thanks so much for commenting.
Monika,
I have had some difficulty at times in reaching agents.
I guess that I am spoiled as I work for an agency that strives to get raving fans and has a real person answering phones.
The other trend I’m seeing right now is I have presented 2 offers on 2 separate properties and the agents receiving the offers acted shocked that the offers are less than asking price.
I did my homework and know that many communities are fetching 95-97 % ratio of the offering price to sales price.
I am just surprised that after a so-so year that agents wouldn’t be happy to see any offers coming in. An offer is interest and an opportunity to do your job.
Being an agent that works mostly with sellers, I make it a habit to make the other agents that present offers feel good and I encourage dialogue to help put together something that the sellers will be happy with.
It’s like a marriage and you have to work at relationships as cooperating brokers.
Don,
I don’t get it…do they think they are still working in 2004 and 2005? The boom years are definitely over and now the market has leveled. It’s pretty well a different game out there. I like your analogy very much “It’s like a marriage and you have to work at relationships as cooperating brokers”.
I hate seeing this stuff happen as it’s usually the consumer that loses. Especially in negotiations! Right now I’m working on appointments for this weekend…we’ll see how easy that is!
Thanks for stopping by Don.
Moni, I feel for you! This is a pet peeve of mine as well. I have seen much more activity in Miami as well. I hope it’s a sign of definite good things to come. Hope you can find the right home for those buyers!
Maggie Dokic
Maggie,
I hope your market picks up too! I’m going back out with them this weekend…so I’m optimistic!
Thanks for visiting.
Hi, We went through that summer ‘06. It was a mess we wound up making offers subject to inspection and getting in the door and then deciding. Also we would just bang on the door. The listing agents and the sellers weren’t sure what to make of it. The professionals called us back, so I knew when the dust settled most of THOSE TYPES would be gone, so who cares.
I agree 06 was a year to remember…mid way through it was saw the market turning. This year so far we’ve seen many agents leave the business. Thanks for stopping by.