I may have touched upon this subject before and it is occurring again with greater frequency. I got a call this morning from a frantic buyer who wanted to see a listing RIGHT NOW. She never mentioned she had an agent, but the second she gave me the mulitlist number, I knew she did. I returned her call but got put into voicemail. Four hours later, her "agent" called. It was 4:15 and she just finished her day at her job in downtown Atlanta and wanted me to race over to my listing and let her buyers in. I explained I was busy with clients myself. "But you HAVE TO help me, I need to pick up my child and get home quickly because the babysitter's coming. I've had a rough week and we go out to dinner on Friday nights." I suggested she call her backup agent at her office. Silence. She didn't know what that meant. I told her the client actually belongs to her brokerage house, call her broker to assist the clients.
Whenever I leave town which is rare, I have about four other agents covering for me. In the event Agent A is busy and can't assist either my client or someone inquiring about my listing, Agent B should be able to assist. I still have two other "go to" agents in the event I can't get the first two on the first ring. If your agent doesn't have a backup agent or agents, at the very least, their broker should assist you. Furthermore, you are not working with a professional agent if he/she does not have a system in place for contingencies such as coverage while I'm out showing other clients, illness, vacation, and so forth.
There is a term called "procuring cause" and another called the "threshold rule." Since I ask up front if a person has an agent, I probably won't inadvertently be taking another agent's client out to see property. If I take your client over the threshold of a house and show it to them, it will be logged into the lockbox on the door establishing when and what time I took them over the threshold. If I take your client over the threshold of a listing, you are not getting paid. I'm quoting now from the National Association's Board of Directors adopted Official Interpretation 31 of Article I, Section 2 of the Bylaws amended in 1977 providing in part: [T]he Board or its MLS may not establish a rule or regulation which purports to predetermine entitlement to any awards in a real estate transaction. If controversy arises as to entitlement to any awards, it shall be determined by a hearing in arbitration on the merits of all ascertainable facts in the context of the specific case of controversy.
The moral of the story is....if you want a career in real estate that pays really well, you have to work it!
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Great post Jim!
Thank you Jim for the great post. Laziness shows a lack of professionalism. If she is not available to her clients or have a plan B in place than she should not be in the business.
Good post, nothing good comes easy.
My wife and have worked closely with two other agents for 20 years with a long standing referral agreement. We always ask before booking vacations and also cover for each other when at home conflicts arise.
I don't like it when some agent is pretending to work from Mexico or other exotic destiantion, causing extra work to get thing at home done.
Jim...well-grounded principle and hard work ethic are premiums to establishing a good real estate business...I do appreciate your frustration when dealing with "out-of-the-trunk" realtors who have no idea how to run a successful business...Cherise
Jim, one of the draw backs for being a part time agent. Everyone should have a back up just in case. Good Post! Thanks.
Corey Chase (Apex Mortgage) Thanks! Sad to say, this is becoming a very common occurance!
Jim,
When I tell these people to call their agent's broker, they seem flabbergasted. I keep forgetting...it's all about them.
Rich
Procurring cause is a sticky wicket. But the real issue is why agents don't realize that as soon as their clients start picking up the phone and callling other agents to help them they have probably lost a client. If you aren't available and you don't have backup be prepared not to earn a commission.
I am a full-time agent, with a full-time partner who is every bit as competent. For some people, it is a career, for others it is job.
Jim, I dealt with a part time agent this past week. She could only show a Metairie Condo at certain viewing times. She wanted ME not only to show my listing but for me to possibleshow others in the condo community. I fully understand not jumping in with both feet, but have your broker as a back up. She was from a national company which whole story line is multi level support.
It is really just that simple. And for Buyer's and Seller's alike a real clue to how you may be served in the future is to call the agent a few times before you make the decision to work with them. How your treated then can give you insight on how you and others will be treated in the future.
Melissa Juarez (Massachusetts Buyers Broker Agency, LLC) It is sort of like "Having your cake and eating it too."
Jay Schmitt (Prudential Bob Yost-Sites Homesale ) Amen!
Glenn Roberts ~ Seattle Residential (Lake & Company Real Estate) The agents today seem to be working full time jobs. Some do not have access to the MLS, and for the most part are deceptive. This agent was not, but we are full time agents with our own clients and schedules.
Cherise Selley - Colorado Springs Realtor (Selley Group Real Estate, LLC) It is probably a lot more frustrating for that agent then myself. I've been doing this too long to be flustered by it.
Michael Setunsky (Michael's Commercial LLC) Yes, if you are going to do this part time, you need to be hooked up with a full time partner.
Richard Iarossi, Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate (Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.) You are right, it is all about them!
Jim I agree with you there. I have been finding this being more and more of an issue in the past year actually. "Some" agents pushing it off on the other party to do their job. There are still some great agents to do business with out there but there is still thinking the business will come to them. Then thinking that once it comes to them they just have to wait to collect that paycheck without having to lift a finger. It just happened to my neighbor and I was in complete shock when he told me who the agent was. A supposed top producing agent that goes above and beyond all other agents. Buyer had to continually call the agent and when he did get the agent on the phone it was as if he was bothered. If the buyer had to do all the research online to find properties that fit his criteria and then print them out to take to this agent. Where is the representation here? He is doing all the agents work and getting rewarded for it. Unbelievable! Luckily the buyer had dealt with the agent for a few months then got fed up with it and go elsewhere. My question how many other people is this agent doing wrong and having a terrible real estate experience?
Kudos to you Jim for being on your A game!
Cindy Jones-Northern Virginia Real Estate & Military Relocation Services (RE/MAX Allegiance #1 RE/MAX Company in the World) Cindy, you share my thoughts exactly!
Yvette Chisholm (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.) It is a career! I feel the same way!
Jim, just last week an agent called me and asked me to show her client the listing that I have. She was rather put out when I explained that I was unable to do that. Would she like me to collect the check if he wanted to put an offer in?
Frank Rubi | New Orleans LA | Kenner | Real Estate (Frank Rubi Real Estate | Homes for Sale | Lic. in Louisiana ) Frank, this example is our listing, buyt many times we are asked to show others....It cannot happen!
Downtown Portland Real Estate Broker~Herb Hamilton (RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors) Herb, I think a lot of these agents are still being used because they are friends, relatives or acquaintances. They are not being hired for their skills, but rather because the buyer feels comfortable with them.
Corey Chase (Apex Mortgage) Buyers are on my website every day doing the work their agents should be doing. Agents are supposed to look up the homes.
Ellie McIntire Real Estate in Howard County Maryland (The McIntire Team of Long & Foster) We have that happen a lot.
Jim,
Another great point. I, too, have a bunch of backup agents for when we are away. It's critical to have a plan, as one can't always be there. (It's a great win/win for all of us to back each other up.)
All the best, Michelle
Michelle Francis, Atlanta GA (Tim Francis Realty) That is a plan!
Jim - I have had a Plan of Action and pay scale for years that has been my bible. Covering pay structures and referral fees for every aspect of our business.
Seems to me the agent knew that she could not show houses on Friday evenings as since she goes out to dinner every week. This should have been explained to her client at the Buyers Interview.
We would get less of these calls if the expectations were defined up front.
Jim
The story continues to repeats itself. The agent was not handling her customer or her profession in a professional manor.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Laura Gray (RE/MAX Realty Group) For the life of me I cannot explain why someone would work with an agent like this at all, but they do all the time.
Lou Ludwig CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC, e-PRO, (Ludwig & Associates) Lou, I totally agree!
Hi Jim,
Love It!!! Very well put and needed to be said.
Thanks for the great post.
-Tiffany
Jim - I have no understanding of the audacity in demanding a listing agent show a home to a buyer agent's client. A wonder that you weren't asked to drive her client to view a few more.
Tiffany L. Young, CDPE - South Florida Short Sale Specialist - Broward County (Keller Williams Realty) Anytime Tiffany! Glad you enjoyed it!
Claude Cross-Charlotte NC Real Estate(Homes By Cross, Inc.) That would have been next. That occurs daily, they just don't tell you they are an agent. They have their clients look for homes on my website.
Jim,
Just amazing how some agents conduct business and care for their clients
Jim, Being a Real State agent is a full time job. It should be all in or out. Thanks for the post.
Right on Jim you told it like it is. If you want to work two jobs you need to have help or make yourself available.