Why Don't You Call Me? : The Gene Molloy Real Estate Blog

The Gene Molloy Real Estate Blog

Apr. 13, 2006 - Why Don't You Call Me?

One thing that really aggravates me as a REALTORŽ is other agents who won't return my phone calls. Sure enough you get a voice mail box that says "Your call is important to me". Is it really?

In the showing instructions it says "Call LA @ (xxx) xxx-xxxx". For those of you don't have to use realtorspeak on a daily basis, call LA means call the listing agent. And so I do. I have a buyer client who wants to see a listing that appears on paper (or screen) to be exactly what they are looking for. I get voice mail and leave a message that I am Gene Molloy from Charles Rutenberg Realty, agent ID XXXXXX, and I would like to show the property at 1234 Any Street tomorrow at a given time. My call back number is (847) 440-7920. After having not received a call back that day or evening, I follow up at 9:00 AM on the day I would like to show. Voice mail again. My schedule needs to be set and so this property is taken off the list. My clients are disappointed that they don't get to see the property, however, they understand that entering into a deal with a sellers agent who won't even return a call from the agent of a potential buyer might not go so smoothly. The sellers of the property would be pretty disappointed as well if they knew that there was at least one ready, willing and able potential buyer that didn't get to see their property because a phone call was not returned.

How about the agents who return phone calls when they are working on getting a contract (it doesn't matter which side of the deal they are on, buyers or sellers) but then go silent just as soon as the ink is dry. The jobs not finished, we have things to discuss right on up to the closing table and need to keep each other in the loop. If you are representing your client to the best of your ability then you really need to address any questions, comments or concerns that may arise in a timely manner, no matter who they come from, your client or the other agent.

Then there is feedback on a showing. Maybe the general public doesn't know it, but we rely on feedback from each other in order to make sure we are helping our clients to the best of our abilities. When an agent shows one of my listings I want to know two things: 1) What does your client think? and 2) What is your professional opinion? I care what you think. I value your opinion. I want to share feedback with my clients so we can make whatever adjustments we need to make to get the property sold. Why don't you call me? Are you treating your clients the same way you treat other agents?

YOUR CALL IS IMPORTANT TO ME!

Now for the disclaimer......If you are on the mailing list of my blog it is because you asked to be there, I put something in my blog that pertains to you at one time or another, or I just think of you as a well rounded, intelligent individual who may be capable of contributing relevant, serious, funny, etc. commentary to it. If you are bothered about being on the mailing list a simple e-mail asking me to remove you will get a timely response.

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Apr. 13, 2006 - Oh, Gene, You Cantankerous Coot, You! :-)

Posted by Bonnie Erickson

I thought I was the only REALTOR with this complaint. It drives me bonkers to try to get into a property with no response . . . or to get a purchase agreement with blanks not filled in . . . or to get a purchase agreement that is so sloppy you can't tell what the price is . . . or to have an agent promise to do something and not follow through. What some agents don't realize is their actions impact all of us in the transaction. It makes us all look bad and casts just a hint of doubt on the profession as a whole.

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Apr. 14, 2006 - feedback calls

Posted by Anonymous

I was trying to get feedback on a "showing" of my listing when the agents personal property went on the market, a rental. I felt my listing was used to set price on his rental. OK but call and schedule the appointment as a preview, return calls for feedback and say "I am listing a property in the area and was comparing to your listing." Don't make me call and call... and then see your personal property go on the market. Then a client asked to see "it" his listing and a couple of others in the area. I called the listing office and they did not have showing instructions. I had to talk to "him." I said that's a problem since he does not return calls. This time he called me back and we really got into it. He said he does not return feedback calls that I should have emailed him for feedback. He said I could not show his listing and hung up on me. I called his broker and said it is in MLS I want to show it. Then I told my manager the story. My manager said since he was agent / owner the agent did not have to let me show the property. Then my manager asked me who the agent was.
My manager was familiar with the agent. He said the agent is very, very difficult to get along with. He has a reputation. He has a bad temper. He had words with and then punched out a greens keeper at a charity golf event a year or so ago.

I called the agents broker and said "never mind, I don't want to show the listing after all. Thanks!"

Anonymously yours,

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