Orlando Real Estate : A little tip that works for me...

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A little tip that works for me...

By: Chantal Gakwaya
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 2:32 PM

Nothing frustrates me more than when I am trying to show a property listed on the MLS and I can't get a call back from the listing agent to schedule a showing for my client. These days I even have trouble getting a combo code from the office as the agent often is the only one with the code and the office hasn't bothered to coordinate this problem.

People may have three or four voicemails backed up and won't check their messages immediately, so to get over this problem I have:

Set up a text message templates in my phone to send to agents when I want to show their properties and I'm not getting a call back. It goes a little like this, "I am standing in front of your property with my client who is very interested in previewing your listing right now if that is possible? Please call me at 555-555-5555."

The beauty is the agent will see my message immediately (without having to go through other messages in their VM box) and will call me back usually very quickly.

I wish I had thought of this years ago...it has been so helpful.

Does anyone have any similar tips that they would like to share?

Comments

Member Since '03	Amy Jones said: Unprofessional agents representing sellers in a buyer's market. For the sellers sake, there ought to be a law against it. I've resorted to calling the non-responsive agent's broker when it was imperative to my buyer to see a home. But, honestly, in this market, you snooze, you loose...I usually just say "NEXT!" November 20, 2007 1:52 PM
Member Since '04	Todd Rivers - Broker/Owner said: Wow that is a great idea Chantal. I too have the same issues. What we have in this market are part-time Realtors taking on listings that require FULL time attention. Not only that but agents have gotten to the point they dont expect their phone to ring to show their listings. I have in the past just gone upto the door if it is owner occupied and just flat out rang the doorbell and when the seller answers kindly but firmly explain you have tried to contact their agent and have had no response and that I have clients that really want to see their home. I have actually sold a few of these homes to my clients. I also have gotten listings when they EXPIRE because they always seem to. Todd Rivers - Broker/Owner Florida Lighthouse Realty "Let Us Guide You Home" November 21, 2007 4:30 AM
Member Since '04	The C Team said: Chantal, where we work it is sort of an unwritten rule that if you can't get the agent you call his or her office and tell them that you wish to show this agent's listings. So far, (knock on wood) the offices have been very good at making arrangements, finding keys or combination numbers etc. I am sure that it is only a matter of time that agents will stop respecting that unwritten rule and not provide any information about their listings to their own office. If the other agent's office can't or won't help, we too, have knocked on doors and explained that we weren't able to make contact with their agent and would like to see the house. Our Board of Realtors is also trying to get every agent in the Board to use the electronic Supra keyboxes. This is a worse case scenario that at least you could unlock the door, whether or not you could contact the other agent. I too agree that it is very much a disservice to a client, especially in this market, to not find a way to make sure that it is easy to view their home. I do like what you have done with the templates of phone messages to the other agents. November 21, 2007 5:09 AM
Member Since '05	Karen Weger said: I love that idea. Thanks for the tip. November 22, 2007 11:59 AM