Okay...the ball is in the other hand and the shoe is on the other foot. I'm playing chameleon and representing the buyer in a changing market. I spent four hours yesterday and part of today calling to schedule appointments. You see, my clients are Relocating to Hawaii and arriving in just a couple of days and they want to see homes....immediately.
Good. So I want to schedule as many as possible in the Ewa Gentry and Ocean Pointe Communities for the day after they arrive because they are adamant to get in contract as soon as possible so they do not have live out of suitcases for longer than 30-45 days.
Out of 25 properties that my clients had picked through our Client Gateway System throughout the past three months as well as fine tuning over the phone a couple of days ago this is the communication I received from the listing agents:
- Four agents actually answered their phones and I commend one for answering her phone at an Open House. Must not have been busy.
- Two returned my calls within a couple of hours and gave me confirmation. Happy happy joy joy.
- Two returned my call today (the day after) of which one said they were withdrawing the listing from the market. That was a courteous call to let me know.
- I again called two of them that had not returned calls....one answered and said the seller is hard to get a hold of. The other said he got my message and was meaning to call me back and then gave me lockbox info. Gee, thanks for making me feel privileged.
- I managed to get two more appointments for agents that didn't return my call but answered the phone. Isn't answering and returning calls one of the important parts of our job?
- I sent out five emails for showing appointments as well. They wanted emails instead of calls and only ONE responded with a call back.
And .....as of this evening I have a total of 10 appointments out of 25. It's the end of day two trying to get appointments and it's been downright exhausting. For homes priced between 500k-600k you'd think that they would be working for their seller.
I really thought this was going to be a breeze because of the high inventory in this area. That's what I get for thinking. Good thing I was thinking correctly when I thought I'd better be pro-active and start way early to make appointments.........
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2011 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
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Wow Sally, sounds like you are having a tough time. I typically have better luck making appointments here in Orange County - but I ENVY You! You're living in Hawaii!
Best of Luck with your Clients - AND your fellow Realtors....
Mana: This is ridiculous...you think all these agents just are way busy or just don't care? This is a big gripe of mine and it is a never ending struggle to just get a courtesy call back....I do take notes so I know which ones will be a headache during a transaction :)
Sally,
I just had a similar experience ... out of 6 houses the buyer wanted to see, 2 had been withdrawn, 2 had been rented out, and 1 wouldn't show because he had to clean up for an open house the next day. We saw 1 ... and I found 2 more for her to see. All of them were less than acceptable at best. Disappointing for the buyer and for me. I know that you feel so strongly about this only because you want to do a great job for your customers. Keep your wonderful positive attitude! You will succeed. and.... like Paul said, for goodness sakes, girl, you live in Hawaii...... how bad could it be out there, really???!!!! (we're jealous!!) :)
Jan: I have to admit....it's lovely weather...all the time (even during rain) to show property.... but geez. I do expect call backs at the very least. Some just totally ignore. My goodness.
Oh...I forgot about the one number I called and the recording said they're unavailable and call back later.....I tried again today and same thing....wow.
Sally... it really makes you wonder. I know some people are busy, but many aren't that busy. I think some people's priorities aren't in order... and only if the seller's knew this. I just received to phone calls today from consumers that found me online. Both of whom are already with lenders, but they don't feel comfortable with them now, because the loan officers aren't getting back to them as quickly. Once they did an application, it's like pulling teeth. And I had someone call me on Friday with the same information. Again, it really makes you wonder.
In your case, you are trying to accommodate your clients and seem to be getting some resistance from a few agents. Almost like you are a bother. With today's technology, unless you are dead, getting married, or with a sick family member, there shouldn't be too many other excuses and delays. Just my .02,
Hi Sally,
I know what you mean. A few weeks ago I did a post about the aggravation of working with agents like this. One day I left 17 messages for 16 agents (one agent had 2 listings) only 3 returned my call by the end of the day. I explained (in my messages) I had a buyer from out of town who was ready to buy that week-end! To this day I still don't understand what some agents are thinking, you think they could have found the time to return a call!
Jeff: And you're absolutely correct. I refuse to continue to call the ones that have flat out ignored me...and will continue to work in a few others. Bottom line...my clients want something quick and I'm going to show them MANY homes so they will be able to have a choice and I tell you what.....they will walk into one of them and say....'this is the home for us'.....and it's because I am making the effort and the ones that are willing to work with me and for their client are too.
And the others? They snooze and will lose.
Sally- Ahhh it isn't so easy to get those appointments :) Good thing you started early is for sure....oh, and best of luck with the showing later this week.....can we say CONTRACT :)
Sally- You know I write posts about this rant! It amazes me how they can not call back, it is all over this planet I am afraid! We set up our own showings for over 60 listings and we get this,
"wow, you answered your phone!" Amazing! Imagine that, it just might be part of running a business to answer the phone! I feel for you! It is so frustrating to me that I now refer the buyers out most of the time. It takes hours just to set up showings!
Sally,
Maybe everyone's too busy blogging!!! LOL Thanks, Fran
Wow. I can't believe an agent thinks "someone might put in an offer" is worth not having a listing shown. He is doing his seller a terrible injustice. There's always a backup offer possiblilty. What a knucklehead.
I do hope you explained to your buyers that you will continue to try and get those appointments for the other homes for them to look at if the ones you show don't get a wow out of them. Keep on truckin Sally, you'll get there.
Sally,
Those are shocking statistics and I can't even begin to imagine the frustration you must be dealing with. Around here most agents are very good about getting right back to you when you contact them to set up appointments. Although, I did call the office of one agent last Friday at 4:45pm and was told they would page him with the appointment request. Shortly after that the secretary called back to tell me that he had called the office and said he doesn't set up appointments for weekend showings after 4:30 on a Friday as he is gone for the day. Hello!??!
If the sellers of these properties knew how the handling of their listing was being done, they would be appalled and these agents would not be in the business very long. Unfortunately we're not allowed to mention names due to board rules. Makes you wonder.....
I hope your clients find the perfect place for them out of the ones that did have the courtesy to respond.
Jo
Sally
You are not alone there are many agents out there that do not return calls on their properties, makes you really wonder whats going on? Their is a lesson to be learned from all of this and I feel the lesson is is that property will soon expire not form what the market is doing but from the lack of work the Sellers agent is doing.
Kathy: This is the first time I've had more misses than hits. Very discouraging...
Katerina: My turn to rant.... and yes...it does take HOURS. It shouldn't have to though. My expectations aren't that grand...just do ones job and there'll be no reason to rant....hopefully, some who do this will read and take the hint.
Randy: It's sad...there may be more to it than laziness ..... sometimes I wonder.
Sharon: Just venting :) I've read right here on AR about frustration on this one subject. Nationwide...and it is here as well. Why?
Neal: Or ulterior motives may be too. Bottom line...do ones job and clients are happy...we are working for the seller/buyer right? Grr.....
Dan: Yup...wonder but move on to the next one who will make life easy for all.
Andrew: OMG...you were reading my mind.... of course I'm 'assuming' but then again I do believe it may be warranted in a few cases. :)
Gary: When I have listings I do it all myself because I pick up my phone and get back to them quickly and get as many showings as possible for my seller.
Leesa: I'm not talking about appointment centers...it's the listing that says...call listor for appointment...and then they don't answer or return calls.
Fran: Yup...that's what it must be.... :) I wonder where I found the hours to make appointments then :)
Bob: Another agent in my office called for an appointment and the first response she got was..... we have two offers so put yours in quickly if your client likes it. This was two weeks ago....the home is still on the market. What is the purpose of lying?
Missy: Yeah...it totally messed up my chacha. Wasted time and effort on my side...and frustration and disappointment
Kelly: We go according to the instructions on the listing agreement. There was one that I called the office and got a call back with lockbox code right away. The ones that don't have time....or consideration to call back should put call office on their instructions.
Jo: Yeah...no courtesy and it happens all over...no matter what the scenario...it will happen ...
Lil Bro: Greed may come into play.....some may be part time agents with full time jobs...some just don't care...and whatever the excuse....there is no excuse. :)
Lisa: At least you got a call back two days later....lol! I still don't have return calls ....
Sandra: Yeah...I suspect the same.... thing is...give a courtesy call..ya know? OH....they can't if they're busy trying to rile up the buyer too. lol!
Sally, Sally, Sally! Do you not realize just how busy real estate agents are? I mean, they have listings to get entered into the MLS, other listings that need to be enhanced on their websites and on Realtor.com, property flyers to create and distribute, ads to put into newspapers, other ads to get into Homes and Land and other real estate magazines, and e-mail blasts to send to area agents so that they can get these properties sold! Do you really think they have time to call you back so that a potential buyer can go look at the property? 8-) Seriously though, I think some agents shoot themselves in the foot by not being more proactive toward other agents and their potential buyers. But, as someone else already said, this makes it so much easier for you to stand out from the crowd!
~Renae
I just figured out how to get those listing agents to call back!
I mentioned someone I had been trying to get ahold of for the last 3 weeks to a month last night. I called this morning on an 800 # he had posted on his website for buyers.
I didn't mention being an agent on the message, just my first name and that I wanted some more information on that property. Twenty minutes later my phone rang. Guess he wanted to double end it. :)
Sandra: That's cool...I'm going to use that one in just a bit to see if I can get any more call backs...lol! Good one!
Lisa: I guess not...yuk.
Sally - yes, setting applintments sometimes can be aggravating. In my area most are lockboxes and we are told to call the sellers in most cases - leave a message and go, that sort of thing. I am always amazed at the number of agents who don;t return calls. Had one the other day when I was out with people - called the agent on the spot to get into a vacant property no avail. Never DID get a call back about showing his listing.
Jeff
Thesa: If they need help then they should ask someone to co-list. We don't get into calling sellers let alone signing together. They say...conflict of interest... (especially if agents don't have any ethics) We instruct to speak to the agent.
Jeff: We have some lockboxes but if the agent doesn't call back then how we gonna get it? We do not call sellers....sometimes sellers botch up everything with talking or begging too much :0
Barbara Jo: That's what I thought.....booming or not though...they must not be interested.
Hello Sally,
Really liked your post/ Blog on agents in Hawaii, sounds like Las Vegas. I have called listing agents and only get a voice-mail and or no call back. I try to show only vacant homes because sometimes it will take 2-3 days to be able to get in the house.
With the market the way it is you get a bunch of agents that are lazy and I really wonder if they want to sell the home they have listed.
Investors have arrived in Las Vegas and are buying Bank owned properties, sitting on them till the market goes back up and flipping them.
I really think some times that the Investors, etc. create this market like this so they can make money off the foreclosed homes, sad isn't it.
I will keep you Post/Blog and read it over, I really like it.
Please check out my Post/Blog: Mother that has not seen her daughter in six years, " THANKS "
Marzena: Yup...just depends on the agent and of course...if the client likes the property. If the agent does not return calls though...how can my client see it to decide?
Georgina: Well, out of all the homes we saw yesterday....they are deciding between two.
Robert: The majority of homes we saw were vacant but we still have to get a call back from the agent if the showing instructions state...call agent.
Sally,
Good post. If there is any good coming out of the current downturn in the real estate market nationwide is that most of these psuedo Realtors will disappear. We, and the public, will be better for it.
All ... hang in there and keep commuicating.
Maria: No....not way hot... in fact...it's slower with sales....but still stable price wise.... but I did expect a little more jumping on it...ya know?
Bill: Ah....I do believe you may be right...they're weeding out as we speak :)