If You’re That Busy – Then Move Along – There’s Nothing To See Here
One thing is for sure – no matter how good your marketing or your prospecting might be… if you don’t strike while the iron is hot, you’re probably going to shoot yourself in the foot.
I have a friend who lives in another state. She has a good job, and earns a good salary – and is currently renting month-to-month. She found a home near her place of employment that seems to meet all of her needs – so she told me that she sent the listing agent an email inquiring about it… as she is interested in taking a look.
Of course, I told her NOT to go see the property – as she might have a difficult time obtaining representation after-the-fact as a result of procuring cause. I encouraged her to get a buyer’s agent to assist her. I also explained what could happen when someone buys a home without representation.
Well she didn’t know where to find an agent, so I told her I would make a few calls and see what I could do. I wanted to find her an experienced agent – preferably a broker – who could demonstrate their ability to be a shrewd negotiator in this market.
I was able to find a couple of brokers to consider, and a few minutes ago I picked up the phone to call the one I felt might be the best one to represent her.
The agent told me she was getting ready to leave, and didn’t have much time to talk. I told her that I had a referral that I wanted to talk to her about – to which she replied, “Well, you can always send me an email.”
Of course, I was shocked. She is a broker with over thirty years of experience – with seven current listings ( I didn’t want an agent with too many listings). She has her husband and daughter working with her, both licensed ( I checked). I am trying to hand her a ready, willing and able buyer who has already found the house she may very well purchase… and she wants me to send her an email.
“Well, I would prefer to speak with you on the phone… when would be a good time for us to talk about this?” I asked.
“I’ll have some time on Friday afternoon,” was her response.
Now I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer… but if I had enough time to answer the phone – and the person on the other end of the line wanted to talk to me about a referral – I would make some time. If I truly didn’t have any time to talk – I would offer to call them back in a few hours when I had some free time.
I would not tell them to call me back in a few days.
This broker might be the most qualified person to assist my friend… but I doubt that we’ll ever know for sure.
Irina Netchaev says:
Wow… this just blows me away. The way I see it, this broker lacks common courtesy. All I can say is Move On!
May 14, 2008 — 2:58 pm
Eileen Pettengill says:
I like to think that I am well qualified to represent any buyer or seller in Las Vegas(and I am!), but the real truth is that I am one of the few agents who actually answers my cell and/or returns calls promptly. It’s sad when the bar is set so low, but it works in my favor. Please send your friend to Vegas anytime!
May 14, 2008 — 4:36 pm
Jay says:
I’d rather have a very a busy agent representing me in negotiations than one who almost always was able to talk to me now or today….
And for some agents who are quite busy…email works great. I now receive my voice mail in the form of email in which the messages are emailed to me as text. now I don’t miss calls. The service is CallWave–check it out–a busy agent’s best friend.
May 14, 2008 — 6:36 pm
Doug Quance says:
>Irina: If she explained why she couldn’t spend a few minutes with me – for two whole days – I might be willing to cut her some slack. I am sure we’ll have someone long before then.
>Eileen: Thanks for the offer – but Vegas is not the city.
>Jay: If you are too busy to talk to me for a few minutes… you’re too busy to help me. I have worked for – and with – such agents. I wouldn’t want one of them to represent me.
May 14, 2008 — 7:14 pm
Tom Vanderwell says:
Doug,
I’ve experienced the same type of thing before. When I was selling real estate (almost 20 years ago) before I got into lending, I sold a house for exactly that reason – the agent they were going to call to see the house was “too busy.”
I have decided to have an unlimited plan on my cell phone so that I can make the time to call people back and to be accessible. It’s worth the effort in the long run.
Well written.
Tom
May 14, 2008 — 7:58 pm
Tom says:
Well, it sounds like “technically” she may be the best to handle you client but professionally and personably she is far from worthy.
Throw her away and find another.
May 15, 2008 — 6:14 am
Doug Quance says:
>Tom v.: I can remember “rolling” some top agents because they were too busy – and greedy – to represent their clients properly. I remember one time…. nah, I’d better leave that story alone – I might incriminate myself…
>Tom R: That’s exactly what I am thinking, my friend.
May 15, 2008 — 7:24 am
Malok says:
Makes you wonder if the broker had something else distracting her (son was in a car accident, husband rushed to the hospital, grandparent fell down some stairs, etc, etc) – and was reluctant to go into the drama explaining their circumstances.
Course, it could just be exactly what it is at face value, too – but if you truly believe this person to potentially be a good person to work with, it might be worth giving them a 2nd swing at the bat.
May 15, 2008 — 2:01 pm
Doug Quance says:
>Malok: If she had something tragic pressing her – she could have said so. To simply take a phone call… to tell me to send her an email – or call her in 48 hours… just doesn’t cut it. If you’re that busy – great. I’m happy for you. You don’t need my referral.
We did go with another broker. One who has a few minutes to talk.
🙂
May 17, 2008 — 10:21 am