Have you ever heard that joke?
Unfortunately this is not a joke. After three weeks of trying to reach an agent to schedule a showing, I am still waiting.
A little over three weeks ago, I set up appointments for my buyers to view 6 of 8 properties they wanted to see in a particular neighborhood. The reason for 6 of 8 was that one the owners had a family gathering and the agent for the other one did not return my calls.
The following week I called again and got no response. We continued to look in other neighborhoods and my clients gravitated back to that property. They really want to see this one before making their decision. It is a short sale, which they are not excited about. The home is larger and lists more upgrades than the others.
This week I left voice mail and e-mail messages; still no answer. I tried to set up the showing through their office and was told by the agent on floor (who chuckled a little) that agent is very busy. I now have left a message for the broker-in-charge. I am waiting to see if that gets me anywhere.
This type of unprofessional behavior really makes us all look bad. If you are not going to properly market the home and follow-up with buyers and their agents; don't take the listing short sale or not!
My biggest fear is that when my clients finally see the home they may want it. The thought of having that agent on the other side of an escrow is a painful thought.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Randy L. Prothero, REALTOR®, ABR, AHWD, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR
Century 21 Liberty Homes
Randy Prothero is well established as an expert in working with military / VA clients and first time home buyers. His home seller's (listing) campaign is one of the most aggressive marketing programs in the area.
Based out of Mililani, Hawaii. Randy services the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and the Leeward Regional Chairman of the Honolulu Board of Realtors. To improve overall professionalism in his area Randy also offers classes for real estate agents.
www.HawaiiRandy.com * Oahu (Honolulu County) Property Search * Hawaii Military Relocations
Hi Randy, Hopefully, they won't even want it. This is obviously holding them back from making a decision on the others - what is that agent thinking?
Virginia - I would ask her if she ever responds to my messages.
Yeah...you wonder what that's all about huh? Two sided maybe?
And that is why a small percentage of agents do a large portion of the business! Hang in there....that would be a great expired for you to pick up and double side. YATZEE
Randy, that is unbelievable! I hope for your sake the buyers do not like the home, that sounds like a painful transaction. Thanks again for visiting my blog.
What??? 3 weeks and no phone call??? Do you think they are out of the country or in a coma? Unreal. Good luck. You know that will be the house your clients want to buy. Murphy's law!!
Randy,
Can't you convince them to forget that one. That is ridicules. Maybe the buyer can go straight to the homeowner?
Randy, There is nothing more annoying than a house on the market that can't be shown. I called on one earlier in the week and NEVER heard back from the agent. We have some GREAT showing services here that are very inexpensive so I just think it is an injustice to the seller when an agent schedules the showings themself but you can't reach them.
Hi Randy -- when I read the title of your post I thought, "Walking around the perimeter of the Big Island at high tide." Then, I read your post and it's disgusting, even for this sweet lady, COME ON NOW, GIVE RANDY A SHOWING! Good luck. Do you pray?
Sally - The thought that they are trying to do both sides always crosses your mind. Most banks are not too keen on that though.
Lisa - I would be just happy to show it and move on with my life.
David - It does sound like it would be painful.
Audrey - In my gut I know that will probably be the case.
Angelia - It is a bank short sale.
Marchel - For the same buyers I e-mailed 14 agents last week and got in to see ten of them. Four never called responded to the e-mail or the follow-up phone messages.
Terry - I pray I will never have to be on the other side of that agent.
I have run into this same problem in my area. There are certain companies that require all showings to be scheduled directly with the listing agent, instead of a showing service or duty desk. I sometimes think some of these agents are too busy working at a "real" job to be bothered with returning calls, One of my buyers even said "Do they want to sell this house or not?"
Rich - They don't appear to want to sell it.
Randy: And, don't you wish it wasn't 'unethical' for us to let the Sellers know that this is the type of representation that they're receiving?! Seems a bit bizarre that letting them know how their agent is so non-responsive is unethical but, who holds the agent accountable?!
Debe - If we could there would be a lot less of this nonsense going on. Unfortunately we would have folks like this agent calling our clients.
You're so right!
Randy, I feel for you. I can only say I hope you client does not want to write an offer... talk about a nightmare transaction. Yikes.
If the agent nor the broker has responded in 24 hours, why not just knock on the door and ask the sellers if the house is still for sale??? This sounds like one of those short sale listings that isn't.
Your buyers should have sense enough to know that holding out for a home that can't even be shown is a losing cause. Are they really interesting in buying or just using this as an excuse to not make a decision?
You know and we all know that if you can't even get in to show, how will the paperwork go????
I hear ya, but this is the longest I have ever heard of. I have a feeling she must have an offer on it as to why she is not getting back to you. I set up showing for a team member this week and remembered how frustrating it is. They were rentals, the agents called back promptly, the property managers took forever and me leaving 3 messages. So I know how frustrating it is. Let us know what he scoop is if she ever calls back.
Definately time to move on... But convincing a bargain-hunting buyer of this can be difficult at best! I have similar problems frequently as I work with investors that are often "bottom-feeding". The agents who seem to work short sales in my area seem to work for quantity. not quality! They take every listing they can get and buyers agents are on their own to get them sold. So from my experience, this is not an uncommon occurance I am sorry to say!
If the broker doesn't respond or the agent...just report them to their board. Have the buyer file a complaint and the cause of being misled. The listing probably has multiple offers on it and the agent is probably too overwhelmed.
Lenn beat me to it- I'd be in direct contact with the sellers (as is permitted in NY under buyer agency). Come to think of it, I'd be at their door regardless of who I represented! Your buyers are probably MORE intrigued (human nature- I would be, too) now that the place has been made so difficult to show. Unbelievable.
Randy,
There are too many posts about this topic.....and why does it have to be this way...very UNprofessional and certainly NOT in their Cient's best interest....
Randy, That does sound frustrating. As a listing broker, my biggest money maker, by far, is answering the phone. When a buyer's agent calls me at 8:30 on a Sunday morning and actually answered they are always pretty shocked. It really gives them an incentive to want to work with me.
I would have called the broker after a couple of days. That is why I like my office where we have a receptionist 7 days a week and I am always available too. Good luck, sir.
Boy do I know what you mean. I'll cross my fingers for you.
The listing agent should be making it SUPER easy for you to show and SELL her listing. I would WARN my buyers that if she can't even return a call now how in the you know what will she ever be able to negotiate a short sale? I handle short sales and the banks call me at some of the weirdest times and if I don't answer they don't leave a message and the file gets set aside. We HAVE to be available. This agent may already have a buyer lined up for this one or she is just incompetant, who knows. I hope your customers move on and you find them something great - good luck!
Jesse - My clients last evening indicated they have lost any interest. I am relived, but at the same time feel for the sellers who lost highly qualified buyers.
Lenn - I am planning to have my broker contact their PB tomorrow about this. They need to know.
Missy - I am not holding my breath at this point. No matter what the reason, there is no excuse for not responding to multiple messages.
Steve - In this case my clients prefer not to buy a short sale. This particular listing had more square footage and more upgrades than the others in the neighborhood. It looked almost too good to be true.
Neal - If that were the case a simple e-mail or phone call to tell us that she has multiple offers would save the rest of us a lot of time.
Options Realty - It is a difficult situation here. To the best of my knowledge that is not allowed here. I will be doing a little investigation on that topic.
Dan - Their client's would be angry if they knew.
B.B. - That is also why many agents ion my area like working with me. I believe in being extremely responsive.
Gary W. - This agent is with a major office. This listing has instructions to contact the agent. I would have moved more aggressively on this sooner, but was showing other properties to my clients and didn't feel it would become an issue with the other inventory in the area.
Fred - I will report back what happens.
Susan - They are moving on. They recognize the difficulty that would be created by having an agent like this on the other side. They are first time buyers and really do not want the stress and grief.
Hi Randy,
I feel your pain, been there and it is soooo frustrating! Glad to learn your clients are moving on, that agent would be a nightmare to deal with.
Cynthia - You have to wonder how an agent with that ethic, could ever get a transaction closed.
Randy I would be praying that at this point they did not return my calls or e-mails. What a nightmare dealing with this Realtor would be.
RAndi,
Sad, but true,
Ray Saenz
George - Yup still no response from the agent or their broker.
Ray - It is incredible.
Just checking to see how it was progressing, I don't blame your buyers for losing interest. But, still I am curious to see how this turns out.
Holly cow do you not have a key box system where you are? Here in Washington state we have lock-boxes on the doors and a phone to show in the listing.....no answer we leave a message and show.
Now I have run into some similar problems but mostly high end properties where the sellers do not want just anyone to be able to walk into the home anytime. I have never had to do anything past calling the broker of the office and that always seems to solve the problem. I have also gone to the home itself a couple times in the past and left a note on the door of the home saying that I have tried for 2 weeks to get in touch with your agent to show your home and not been able to so please contact your agent so that I can show your home......I have seen a few cancel and re-list after a note like that.
Todd Hueffed
UNCLE! Hopefully if your buyers do like the property the broker in charge can assign an agent that can be responsive and get the seal closed.
Hi Randy...You are indeed a man of patience. I would have made 2-3 calls with 2-3 days at the most and than would have called the broker.
I'm wondering about the lock box thing also.
Kathleen
I thought for sure that this blog was going to be about short sales. I feel your pain though. I have been in the same shoes on a couple of different foreclosures. Good luck.
Missy - I got a call from the broker a couple of hours ago. She asked if the agent had gotten in touch with me, which she hadn't. About a half hour later the agent finally called and asked when we would to see the home.
I let her and her broker know my client had lost interest at this point. I also discussed with both of them how uncomfortable I would be in an escrow with an agent who refuses to respond to calls or e-mails. I stated that I felt she was doing an extreme disservice to her client.
Todd - I like the idea of leaving a note on the door. I better check with the legal minds to be sure that is not a violation of a code.
We do not have electronic boxes here yet. They are coming in August. I can not wait.
Mindy & Jay - We have moved on. Believe it or not another client found another one of her listings. Here we go again.
Kathleen - It started out that we were looking at other -properties so I blew it off. Then my clients really wanted to see it.
Rob - I ran into a similar problem with another agent who was doing a short sale. It seems that in our area the weakest links seem to gravitate towards the short sales.
Randy..... I don't care how busy someone is. As I have stated several times, busy can usually just be a lousy excuse. ...yes, I have been so busy to where it takes me a day later.... or that I will tell a person one day, that I can get back to them the next day.... but 3 weeks?
On another note.... would be interested in what the broker has to say. But ever thought about getting a hold of the bank? It is of public record. I had a client just recently do this, after going through a slight problem as you did... and she got a hold of the bank and got her offered looked at.... now she has contracts.
Aloha Randy,
It's hard to believe an agent in this market would not respond at all, shocking really. Best wishes.
Peace,
Jeff - In this case the broker reached me today. My client at this time wants nothing to do with the property or that agent.
Kimo - I honestly can not relate to someone like that. There is just no excuse.