I made several attempts yesterday to refer a seller lead out of state for a unique property that should be very salable to 5 agents. I did a lot of research online, and used criteria such as Active Rain company bios, CRS designations, websites and blogs. Each one of the agents I chose or was referred to had impressive credentials. Many had active websites, and some were even on Active Rain... but had not posted recently. I am still in shock a day later that not one of the 5 have returned the call. I ended up referring the lead to another agent that answered the phone and followed up immediately. It turns out there are several properties involved, some on the listing side and on the buyer side. It was a great lead for the agent that was actually working real estate.
We had a second referral going out locally and the same thing happened. One Atlanta real estate agent called back about 6 hours later and said they were too busy having fun this weekend. In the meantime we had to sort through several other agents most of which were also unavailable. This lead was for a fully approved buyer that was hot to trot to buy in another part of town. The scary thing in my market place is that sales have fallen off substantially, and when a great lead comes in you would assume an Atlanta real estate agents would jump all over it. The same thing happened here in the Atlanta real estate market in the early 1990's. Agents gave up, and stopped trying to work the real estate market. Even in bad times, homes and real estate sell. They sell to persons that are motivated buyers that have a need to fulfill, and sellers that have a goal that has to be reached. A great agent can make all of this happen as long as they haven't given up on themselves. However, the dye is cast. I am starting to feel that many agents that have given up, need to make one final step and leave the business if they cannot or will not make themselves available to actually assist clients or earn their keep in the business. It is placing a major drain on the entire system.
Here are some thoughts and personal observations:
-
Agents that are active Bloggers, are not necessarily selling real estate - they just Blog a lot to pass the time.
-
Older unresponsive agents with CRS designations - may have mentally retired.
-
An Agents real estate "Website not found" - it isn't a good sign.
-
A voice-mail without a recorded message...that does not pick up...is telling you the agent is no longer in business.
RE/MAX Paramount Properties 678-595-5283 Direct
Or 888-940-0074 Toll Free Office
Atlanta Real Estate Agents, Alpharetta GA Homes for Sale, Dunwoody GA Homes for Sale, Atlanta Real Estate & Atlanta Homes for Sale 
Gwinnett Homes for Sale
Atlanta Real Estate Blog, Cumming GA Homes 
Feel free to send me all the referrals you need.. only thing I ask is that you don't do it via active rain it seems to get lost in my system
Larry,
There is a kind of 'Limbo' that some agents retreat to, until business turns around and easy money can be made again...This is not the personification of true professionalism...!!! It shouldn't be that easy to accomplish that fete...!!! Thanks, Fran
I will never, ever understand how someone can leave a lead like those you describe fall to the wayside. Can't tell you how much I wish I lived in your neighborhood!
Jim,
Wow....what a shame! I'm sorry you had that experience!
One of our top customers had a referral for an agent in Utah. She had sold the clients' home in Southern California...and the couple had already found THE home they wanted to buy in Utah.
It was $3,200,000.
Dee (our customer)...needed to find an agent to simply write the offer (Utah license needed), and kinda watch things until closing. Oh, did I mention it was an all-cash deal?? It closed in two weeks.
The agent in Utah made $112,000...and Dee collected a 30% referral fee ($48,000).
Dee, too, had called about 5 agents. The only one who called her back got the deal...handled the clients with extreme professionalism, wrote the offer, took care of everything...and two weeks later...
Got a check for $112,000!!!!!
I wonder if there's a lesson there somewhere???? I think there is. LOL!
Dave
Makes me wonder if the other four agents that Dee called were also having "fun" on the day that Dee called and left messages?? Hmm...I can't help but think that losing $112,000 would have possibly put a dent in the fun they had? It would have ruined my day, that's for sure. Oh well, none of them EVER called her back....so at least they don't even know how much it cost them!!
Eric Reid Lawrenceville,GA (Renaissance Realty Group) Eric Ellen will contact you tomorrow.
Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.) Fran you are so right. The days of money just falling into our laps is pretty much over. My business is now mostly a referral based business.
Peggy Wester Real Estate Agent Ozaukee & Washington County Real Estate (Shorewest Realtors) I wish you were too! I have given out some great leads over the years, and many of the agents we use are in the 'Top 10' in their office from our leads.
David Daniels (Owner of FlyersToYou, Inc. and former Top Realtor) David, I assume some agents want us to even do the deal for them. YOu are so right. I have given out 2.5 million dollar cash buyers as referrals. I am very happy with the referral checks...they are now about 80% of my business.
It is a sad comentary when all I have to do is what I am supposed to do (and I look like a genius) because of all the others who subscribe to mediocracy! Jim, I guess you are witnessing realtor attrition without becoming another statistic!
Even used car salesmen and lawyers return messages!!!
If you have any referrals to hand out in south Florida, feel free to email me or give me a call. I would be glad to assist you.
Hi Jim, While we are doing referral requests, if you have any to hand out in San Antonio, Texas, feel free to call or email me. I will be happy to take care of them.
It is a shame not one agent called you back. I had the same thing happen to me last week. I wanted to show 2 properties and the agents never called me back. Makes you wonder>>>>>>>>>
Phil These agents are like the "Atheist at a funeral!" All dressed up and no place to go. It is one of the saddest sights.
Karen Monsour,REALTOR® Broward,Palm Beach,Miami/Dade! 954-464-4194 anytime! (Coldwell Banker Fort Lauderdale Beach) Karen for sure I will keep you in mind.
Shirley Parks, North San Antonio TX Real Estate 210.414.0966 (Realty Executives Alamo) I will remember you.
Pat Champion (Coldwell Banker Camelot Realty) I was showing last week and 4 agents did not return the calls.
Jim...I average about two or three days off a month...and I'm floored by the notion that "licensed agent" are just a sleep at the wheel these days. In the hot days taking orders were all these agents could manage, now working hard appears to be too much of an effort. Hello wake up and just go home, make room for real professionals.
Steve Loynd, Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., Loon Mt, NH. Well said I totally agree.
Jim..If they want to but in Philadelphia or Bucks County send them to me....I will gladly take the referral and send you a referral fee! call me on my cell..
Jim,
I can't believe these "professional" agents would really say "I'm too busy having fun to take on a client". I guess in the long run, it works out better for the client. At least they'll end up with someone that really wants to help them and give them the best service possible.
~Chanda
It's not just in Real Estate.
Over the past 20 yers people have grown to accept getting paid for a lackluster performance.
Try getting a car fixed or As I experienced, get your big screen Tv serviced by Best Buy.
Mediocrity is the norm.
That's why we stand out, that includes you, Jim.
Jim - I wrote a post about this recently. I got a listing this weekend after my seller told me that the agent she wanted to list with and had even already given her the paperwork, was not following up. I wonder if a lot of agents have gotten second jobs and can't be bothered making real estate a priority.
Having lost both my assistant and my property manager a couple of weeks ago (they were married & left at the same time), I can vouch for some new leads that are falling through the cracks right now, as I put in 80 hours + per week, just trying to stay on top of it all. I have two cell phones and both of them got maxed out this weekend.
Without the infrastructure (assistants and systems) today's Real Estate Agent can not survive. It takes a thousand steps to get to closing, instead of the dozen we're used to... In the past several months I have encountered every problem under the sun in trying to keep these deals together and bring them to closing.
The question is not, can an Agent stay on top of this crazy market. I think the question becomes: Is it really worth it? If agents are leaving in droves it's because the work involved far surpasses the rewards...
I submit, from my personal experience, that having viable systems and good assistants in place are absolutely necessary in order to survive in this market, otherwise the deluge of steps involved in a real estate transaction can overwhelm even the best of us.
The business is changing so rapidly that we have to adapt or perish at warped speeds... By the way, the soupline is not the only alternative; Real Estate is not the only gig a smart, intrpid, ex agent is good for...
The best of luck to all of us!
Jim, as usual, you post a timely and excellent blog that starts a good dialog. It's now featured on the Optimist group. Thank you!
Jim,
I have made some referrals to real estate agents, using AR as my criteria. They did not seem interested. I don't even get a referral fee.
Richard
Hannah Williams (Re/Max affiliates NE) Will do Hannah!
Chanda Barrick REALTOR (Indianapolis, Avon, Greenwood) (1st Choice Real Estate) I agree. I wrote a post not that long ago that referred to agents that retired...they just don't know it!
Jim Wood (Crye-Leike Realtors, Inc.) Jim the mediocre are always preforming at their best. The problem is that is their own measure that is a short fall.
Carol Culkin (Houlihan Lawrence Realty) I would bet you are right on the money!
Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection Thanks for the insight...I can actually fully understand. It is just when an agent decides to leave the business they should leave. They are leaving too many persons hanging. Thanks for the featured post!
Richard Smith Mortgages Home Loans FHA TN GA AL (American Acceptance Mortgage, Inc) I have come to understand just because a person Blogs about real estate, does not mean they work real estate, nor do they understand it.
Jim, I had a horrible October 2008 and when I calculated my hourly income I just have to say ick!
Jim
These are very difficult times for many in the business. It appears that most agents have been forced to assume outside jobs to make ends meet.
I am still working full-time, so if you need an agent in the Plymouth or Barnstable County area of Massachusetts, give me a call. I guarantee that your client will be provided with excellent service.
Judy
I WELCOME the business - Same state just further south....call me ANYTIME! :-) I use to be on a team and admit majority of my business did come from the agent whose team I was on. I went to a new brokerage in January and it has taken some time to get myself established as an INDEPENDENT vs. Team agent. And here I thought carrying a cell phone & being on stand by 24/7 was "NORMAL" for our profession...boy, I missed out on that memo!
Jim: For those of us who are tough ans seasoned to this business will change and survive and when the market turns around and it will, we will thrive. Remember:
You never fail unless you just quit!
Paul Henderson, Realtor ® Lacey & Dupont Washington homes (RE/MAX Professionals & Four Seasons Inc.) Paul we are all in teh same boat, but when we try to do our job...this makes it a lot more difficult. But forget about the agents problems for a moment...what about the sellers that may fall into foreclosure by the actions or in-actions of their agents?
Judy Jennings - Realtor® Serving Plymouth & Barnstable Counties (Cedrone and MacDonald Real Estate) Will do!
Alicia Gibson/REALTOR, ABR (McLeRoy Realty Associates, Inc.) Real estate really always was more than a 9-5 job...but you know things are rough when I geve a few days notice and several phone calls and no one returns the calls.
Sandy Childs (Keller Williams) Well said! Too many give up in life before the miracles occur.
I think some agents have taken up other jobs. You may call me with referrals anytime by phone or email. I have my blackberry with me and will respond right away.
GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors) I agree. Gita you will be first on my list!
Just amazing Jim. It seems the biggest complainers about why they are not busy enough are also the ones that don't return phone calls.
Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) I agree. It is not easy enough.
Mr.Crawford I just want to say Thank you again for always referring buyers to me when you could've easily given them to other real estate agents. I really appreciate that. I am not too busy for referrals. Great post.
Lanre Folayan "Buy Home Washington DC" (Exit Premier Realty") Anytime Lanre.