By Greg Viti
One of my pet peeves in real estate is how difficult it can be to get a showing confirmed. Everyone has their particular way they want to be contacted. Some only email, others text or they want you to leave a voicemail message. “Showing assist” is on their listing, but when you pull it up it says to call. Short notice is okay, the listing sheet says, yet I have called three times and no one calls back.
Greg Viti of Prudential Rubloff
Does this sound familiar? Some listings and listing agents really make it difficult to get into a listing. Why is that the case? I find it hard to sell something without getting the buyer into the home or property.
Last week, I took a potential tenant to see apartments. One agency never returned my calls. Another was mad because I was 10 minutes late the week before – she did not wait for us to get there and screamed at me – does her client know she was this unprofessional? This week she did not even call or email me back to reschedule. This is a violation of the code of ethics. Who polices this type of behavior? How is this agent justifying such rude behavior?
I guess questions like these will go into the question bin with many of my other questions, like:
*Why do many listing agents ignore and give no eye contact to the buyer?
*How can dog owners not pick up after their animals and leave rat food all over the place, often on their own block?
*Why do so many of us become part of the problem rather than part of the solution?
And those are just a few questions…there are more, I’m sure. Why do agents so often put others on the defensive and we have not even shown the property yet? It is puzzling. Perhaps we all need to take a deep breath and try treating others how we would appreciate being treated.
This world of real estate could use a lot more human niceness and cooperation. We all need to take the high road in our dealing with fellow agents and the public. A short fuse does nothing to help a buyer and their agent see your client’s place in the right light.
When we are employed to list someone’s house, this is a great responsibility. It is time we all start acting like it!
(like)(click)
You hit it right on the head Greg, Some people out there dont look at it as a business. When you dealing with someones most valuable asset no matter what the value you need to give it your all. I’m glad the licensing laws are changing it should keep the true professionals in and those that are just trying to make an extra buck out.. Now lets keep selling!!!!
Greg,
Great commentary, the golden rule is quite often forgotten about “treat others as you would like to be treated” I have taught my children this message through out their life. I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Yes, same thing that I have thought about in the past. Some agents act as if they are Gods. They think everybody is below them. I don’t know how they sell anything with their attitude.
Amen! If you don’t want to service the listing then refer it to someone who will!
This is right on. I just purchased an apartment building a few months ago and when I was looking at properties, there were two particular properties I wanted to see on the block that compared to the property I eventually closed on. My Realtor (I own an insurance Agency) kept me informed that the listing Realtor would not return her calls so we never saw those properties. At closing, I realized those 2 properties were owned by the seller’s brother of the property I bought.
Apparently, the brother of the seller was told that no one had inquired about the properties by his Realtor. I let the seller know that his brother’s Realtor was not passing calls and he was thankful he found out so he would tell his brother (who needed to sell because of his financial situation). I asked for the name of the Realtor so in case I ever come across him, not to use him… So to Greg’s question, no the clients do not know what is going on and that is a shame. Good article.
Well, said Greg and great comments. Not only is the Golden Rule a good philosophy but it is part of the preamble of the Code of Ethics, and by becoming a Realtor, Realtors pledge to adhere to it:
The term REALTOR® has come to connote competency, fairness, and high integrity resulting from adherence to a lofty ideal of moral conduct in business relations. No inducement of profit and no instruction from clients ever can justify departure from this ideal.
In the interpretation of this obligation, REALTORS® can take no safer guide than that which has been handed down through the centuries, embodied in the Golden Rule, “Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
Accepting this standard as their own, REALTORS® pledge to observe its spirit in all of their activities whether conducted personally, through associates or others, or via technological means, and to conduct their business in accordance with the tenets set forth below. (Amended 1/07)
AMEN, Greg!!! How do we fix this?
Greg, thoughtful post, but you’re only looking at it from the agents POV…but what’s more important is why do listing agents make it so hard for consumers. Buyers go to a home and all they get for the most part is a copy of the listing , and maybe some worthless brochure. There’s so many considerations that go into the decision making process, and agents ignore it. Or they don’t get it? Make me want to take my buyers to your listing and show potential buyers why THIS home is the perfect home for them. Why do listing agents make it so hard?
There are other pet peeves too. One I dislike is when agents provide a telephone number to call to schedule an appointment – leave a message if not answered. The phone number is their cell phone and the agents say they’re busy with clients and you will have to call back another time.
BUT, there are other problems with agents who want to make a call for an appointment late at night for a next morning appointment – the office number is listed as where to call. I have received calls at home late at night for next morning appointments. Twice I was in bed. My phone number was provided by calling another agent in my office to get my home number. Why do they think a listing agent can get out of bed – wake their client late at night requesting an early morning next day appointment? Listings are clear the properties are not vacant. What is wrong with these agents?
There are too many agents who believe they should be accommodated because of who they are but are not willing to accommodate others for any reason.
I know these are stressful times, but honestly being nice to each other makes it so much nicer to deal with the hard times…go on, you can do it!
I love when I have called/ emailed and text the agent.. still no response, then they let me know they are still waiting on the tenant to say it is ok…. two to three days notice is enough- rather than ask them… inform them of the showing. Big difference!
I agree with you all, after reading all of the responses, its good to know that good Realtor’s are still around. Good luck to all of us!!