Acknowledging: One thing there is lack of!

Posted at 7:39 PM, Jun. 5, 2009

As a REALTOR, a business owner, a partner and a mother I believe making the world a better place starts with us as individuals.  WHY?  Because if I cannot correct the flaws that don’t allow me to perform better and be better then I, by no means can go out to try and help others.    That is why I want to share my thoughts about a very important word in our lives:  ACKNOWLEDGING.

Soooo

Here it goes:

What is the World of Real Estate coming to?  Does anybody ever wonder why REALTORS don’t respond to text messages or don’t call back to discuss a listing we call about? 

It is interesting to see that a lot of the listings have specific instructions to call the agent first before attempting to visit the property or call the owner/tenant.  How many times have we tried calling to find out if the listing is available, if it has offers and how many times did we get an actual agent to answer their cellular?  The funny thing is that when the agent does not answer the phone; the greeting tells us to text or email for a faster response and when that’s done there is no response either.  Oh YES!  And let’s not forget the combination lock box on a listing that does not include the code so we can access the property or it does not mention there is only a combo lockbox.  What happens when we call the office?  Only the agent has the information that is pertinent to showing his/her listing and such agent is nowhere to be found. Hmmm!!!

When did we stop acknowledging messages, emails, and text messages?  Why do we bother listing a house if we are not going to follow through with our responsibility? 

Even within Real Estate organizations there is lack of interest and motivation that leads our mentors to forget that our jobs as REALTORS is to bring revenue to the table.  Sales that used to be an easy close are now long and stressful.  It is interesting to know that when and if we get to closing such sale is only acknowledged by our sons, daughters, wives, husbands, partners.   Why have we allowed for this market to change our ways? 

Then what about those listings that continue to be active and when we call the agent we are told:  “It is sold!”  “It is pending!”  “We have 14 offers!”  “I have one offer but it is too low and I won’t be turning it in yet.”   Or even worse, when we drive to the property with the buyers and the key is missing from the lockbox to find out (when we finally get a hold of someone mistakenly honest) that the key was not there for 3 weeks (ooops) and the listing has been pending?  My question is:  AAAANNND why didn’t you mark it pending?  When did you forget to do it?  Why didn’t you put a note on the listing about the key?  Why didn’t you return my call to begin with? 

Have we stopped for a minute to check if we are doing our job according to the Strict Code of Ethics of the National Association of Realtors? 

In such a difficult market we get frustrated as agents because we are constantly dealing with short sales that take forever, multiple offers, never ending documentation, sellers with financial problems and buyers that can’t wait to find out if the offer was accepted.  Buyers that right before the end of the road give up and leave to make another offer on another short sale that will take as long as the first one or longer. 

In such difficult times WE create the difficulties.  We are in a profession that is very competitive and yet we all work together because I will show the house you list and vice versa.  “It takes two to tango”.  Therefore if that is the case why can’t we try a little harder to make things easier for us (Realtors).  Do you think we would have a better working environment as such?  I want to make it better, do you?

I would love to hear your comments.  

Have a great productive Weekend! 

 Virginia R Hoato, Realtor /  RealEstate.com Realtors