When I am out of town on business, because I haven't been on a vacation since my I got married, I have four different trusted agents who can be my hands, feet, eyes, and ears in my brief absence. If I have a vacant house listed and a neighbor calls my cell phone to tell me a light has been on all night and I am on overnight business, I can call Ann and she'll pop over and turn the light off. If I receive a call from someone who would like to view my listing and I am not available, I can call Mike and she will show you my listing. If you would like information on a particular city such as Roswell or Alpharetta for example, I can call Cathy and have her call you because these agents are experts with at least 15-20 years experience. If you are one of my owners and you've lost your key and your garage door won't open and you need me to come over and let you in and I'm four counties away, Harry will come over and assist you. Do you see where this is going?
I don't understand the call I just got from a buyer. This person told me she is represented by an agent. However, her agent is at her full time job in Buckhead and can't take her to the property she wants to see right away. If I can't take her to see it right away, she'll understand, but can I take her on Saturday morning at 9:30 because her agent has to work on Saturday also this week. Let me get this straight, you are the supposed client of an "agent" but she can't take you now and you already know she can't take you this Saturday, so when can she fit you into her busy schedule? Another person called yesterday and told me her agent worked for the same company as mine, so I 'HAD' to help her. Excuse me? I think you are mixing up the duties of a broker and brokerage house to a client and an unrelated agent like myself doing someone else's job for free. If I show my listing, did you know your agent may be entitled to a reduced commission or no commission?
If your agent is so busy they cannot accommodate you, you are not a respected client. They are wiping thier shoes off on your back and expect to get paid for it! A professional agent is always prepared for contingencies and they should have fellow agents they trust or even their broker show you homes or answer questions if they are legitimately unable to get to you in a short time. My broker has always been accomodating and assisted me even on Super Bowl Sunday and agents, if your broker can't be found, find another broker. It's called' "Taking care of business!"
RE/MAX Paramount Properties 678-595-5286 Direct
Or 888-940-0074 Toll Free Office
Atlanta Real Estate & Atlanta Homes for Sale 
I'd like to think that these people won't stay in business long, but I know that's not always the case. I don't understand how anyone could run their business so irresponsibly!
Good lord! This is a total no-brainer. Sounds like someone should find a new agent, perhaps a full-timer.
Ginevra Moehrlin The public does not realize how we are compensated. I recently contacted a local reporter about a story he ran, and he was referring to an out of work real estate agent that was collecting unemployment. I told him, we are not entitled to unemployment. We are independent sub contractors.
Ann O'Connell (Real estate agent at Mock Realty) They stay in business a lot longer then they should. As long as someone else will do the work for them, they will continue to show up at closings with their hand out for a check after they've done nothing, and everyone else did their work. We must stop enabling this! It only occurs if we allow it to occur.
Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) Pat I totally agree.
Jim, you are 100 percent correct. An agent and/or broker always has to have a contingency plan. Things come up in our day to day business that sometimes has urgency and sometimes not, but we always have to be available.
Boca Raton Florida Homes for Sale David Serle (RE/MAX Services) It is that simple. We are either in real estate or we are playing "Realtor Dress Up!"
I really beleive the general public have no idea that agents work for commission only!! Yes, you should always have a back up plan because everyone needs a vacation. Great post!! Thanks!
Lizette Fitzpatrick - Broker-Realtor® Kentucky Homes - Horse Farms (Lizette Realty - Lexington KY - Richmond KY) Every so often we all need a break. For some agents, they are on vacation all the time, and expect others to do all the work for them. Personally, I cannot and will not tolerate that!
Jim, totally. If any one of us is out of town, and we need someone in our office to take care it for us, it is never an issue. One thing in our office, everyone is willing to help each other.
Rita Fong (RE/MAX REAL ESTATE TODAY) Rita, same here...I do not know why some agents try to be deceptive with their clients, and push them off on other agents. I get calls from buyers that must buy a home immediatley, and their agents are out of the country for a month! The buyers expect us to open doors for them, and want free advice. WHAT????
JIM- I really liked this post. You have hit on a topic which does affect not only our business but our professional reputation. Granted, I work alone, but manage to meet all my obligations to my clients on their schedule and availability.
St.Cloud Realty, LLC I feel the same way.
It's too easy to have another agent cover you when you need some time off, etc.
Well I just don't know what to say about that example besides it's pitiful. That agent needs to remove herself from the business completely. With her busy schedule it seems that even being 'part time' she has no time for her clients. More pathetic is why her buyer is putting up with it?
John Walters (Licensed in Slidell, Louisiana) (Slidell, Pearl River, Lacombe) I totally agree. What is the big deal?
Lyn Sims ~ Chicago Northwest Suburbs (Schaumburg Illinois ~ RE/MAX Suburban) The problem in my market? This is very common place.
Jim, I don't know why people find this so hard to understand. I have people to handle things for me when I can't do them.
Jim- Time management is key to being successful in real estate. Without it, our lives would be nothing else. Because of the high demands this business has for our time, I don't know how people can work a full time job outside of real estate. Having a group of people around you to help support you when you are unavailable is another crucial aspect. Just today I dropped off an earnest money check for a fellow agent in my office, as he was tied up with showings. Teamwork is necessary to service our clients.
Connie Harvey Realtor Nashville TN Real Estate (Prudential Woodmont Realty) There is no big secret how it is done.
Jen Olson (First Weber Group Realtors) Amen! I feel the same way!
Jim, I enjoyed your post. Ultimately, our business is customer service and we are paid for our ability to provide our time, knowledge, customer service to our clients. What makes us well respected and good at our jobs is being able to provide these by managing our time, schedules and many times, other clients. There are some in our profession that truly amaze me...
Jim, It's curious that people let themselves be underserved in such a fashion. Sounds like a good spirit of cooperation in your office.
Olga Diaz Potter, Associate Broker, CRS, ASP, ePRO (COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON) It is all about service..not only clients but peers.
Olga Diaz Potter, Associate Broker, CRS, ASP, ePRO (COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON) I have a great office.
Jim, it sounds like you were the victim of the Atlanta part time agent syndrome!! Happens to me weekly! LOL... And another thing, don't you love it when a random phone call turns into someone trying to tell you how to do your job!!
Jennifer K Giraldi, Atlanta REALTOR® Atlanta Real Estate Expert (Solid Source Realty Atlanta) Exactly! We get calls like this several times a day, every day.
I can't stand it when a buyer calls me because the person they hired to represent they're best interests can't do their job. If it's my listing they want to see, I'll request that they provide me with their pre-qualification letter...because I'm certain their agent hasn't qualified them either!
Craig Rutman North Carolina (Raleigh Area) Realtor (Home Buyer and Seller Specialist) Craig, I wish it were an isolated case...it isn't in Atlanta.
Jim, we do travel and I always have a back up to my back up. Things happen so you much be ready for anything. Clients who are working with Agents who can not address their needs should consider a full time Realtor. I don't believe it is my duty to show my listing or others because the part time agent is at their full time job. I explain my incident in a previous comment.
Frank Rubi | New Orleans LA | Kenner | Real Estate (Frank Rubi Real Estate | Homes for Sale | Lic. in Louisiana ) If an agent calls us and tells us they have a conflicting appointment, and asks us to show our own listing to their client...I will accommodate. I do not have a problem showing my own listings, because I feel I am a good salesperson. However, I do not like being used by lazy or deceptive agents that want someone to do their work for them.
Seems that the agents really has the poor buuyer snowed. I suspesct we have all gotten these types of calls on at least one occasion. I imagine it may be happening even more now as some folks need to take on other work to make ends meet. Although if they did their job perhaps thjat would not be an issue,
Jeff
I think the problem is many buyers don't know what a buyer's agent is supposed to do for them. And let's face it, some buyer's agents don't know what they are supposed to do, either. I had an out-of-area agent tell me the other day that he wanted me to send all emails directly to his client, show her the property, close it and send him a check. Whoa, dude, it doesn't work that way.
Hi Jim, this is a little different but I got a call from a woman a couple of days ago who wanted to see a house. She had been on my site for a while and had looked at tons of properties. Upon interviewing her, I found out that not only did she had an agent, she had just put an offer on a house and now didn't want it and wanted to see another house. Her agent refused to show it to her so she called me.
Long story short, of course I declined and she continued to wail on her agent. I asked her how long she had been looking at houses - she said, "about a year." Sheesh.
Jim, I've had the clients call to have me show a listing because their realtor didn't like driving on the freeway. And that is only one example of many. And I usually show the home because it is my listing and I don't want my client to lose out because of the other agent's lack of professionalism.
I agree with Susan that i will (sort of) happily show a listing because I owe that to my seller, but it is remarkable that there are agents who get away with treating their own clients so badly. Don't the clients wonder what kind of service they are getting on an overall basis?
Jim,
Very good post. It almost seem like you would be in a situation where you could take the individual out, write up an offer and get paid. You would have provided the "procuring cause" for the transaction. It amazes my why people consider themselves Agents, but do not find the time to help their clients.
Jim,
Just had a chance to read this from Pat's weekly round-up. This really burns me up as it has happened to me, too. I can't understand where people get their nerve from.
Understood and we always name a "back-up" - thanks for posting this.
Jim, It sounds to me like you should have reminded this buyer of the old saying' lack of planning on the part of you or your agent does not constitute an emergency for me'.
Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate ~ 760-840-1360 (RE/MAX Moonlight Beach (CA DRE Lic. # 01490977)) I think you are right, and many agents are really working another full time job now...
Elizabeth Weintraub, Sacramento Short Sale Agent, 916.233.6759, Lyon RE (Lyon Real Estate) The problem is htat some buyers think you are attacking thir friend. No your friends is not doing their job...
Alyce Martin in Albuquerque - THE Place To Be! (The Realty Group, LLC) Sad to say, a very common scenario these days! :(
Susan Brown (Keller Williams NE, Kingwood Texas (Humble & Atascocita too)) I've done the same many times.
Lise Howe, Assoc. Broker and Attorney Licensed in DC, MD, VA,Coldwell Banker (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Chevy Chase) Many of my scenarios are for other agents listings from IDX!
C Lloyd McKenzie, MBA, e-PRO, CDPE (ALLSTAR REALTY, LLC) The only problem? Many of these buyers are very loyal to their agents!
Lisa Schlitz Realtor® Wellington Florida Homes 561-214-3216 (International Properties & Investments Inc.) Thanks for the heads up! I've been traveling, and did not get a chance to read Pats Blog. I have a very bad internet connection!
Robert Earl (The Earl of Real Estate Team) We do too.
Tom Bailey (At Waves Edge Coastal Real Estate) Tom, I really like that!
Jim, I had a call like this last week. I list and sell mostly short sales. A lady called me because there is a short sale, listed by another agent, on the market now for nearly 9 months that she is interested in. She lives about 10 minutes from the property and my office is about the same distance away. She wanted to know if I had any info on the property and would I show it to her. Get this: She has an agent in another city about 40 miles away but her agent doesn't want to drive all the way over here if the property is not in good condition. There are no interior photos in the MLS. She and her agent had called the listing agent who refused to show the listing to the lady, again advising her to have HER AGENT show her the property. I couldn't believe it. Is this ridiculous or what?
What if the agent is having a corn removed at the podiatrist and can't show the house ? Would you still be entitled to the commission ?
Nashville Short Sale Specialist - Rhonda Burgess (Southern Living Realty Partners) What you described is now an everyday occurance! Sad!
David Saks - Broker (The Real Estate Mart of Tennessee, Inc.) Bingo!
Jim - It won't be long before this buyer finally learns that her agent is not there for her. In isituations like this, I ask for the agent's name and personally place a call to suggest that he or she make the time. After all - the goal is to at least get my listing sold.
Jim- I truly think people just don't understand how our industry works. I'm amazed that people think we only show our company listings, and think we get paid a regular salary. (regular salary would be nice, lol).
I also show my listings because that's my responsibility to my seller.
I don't understand this. This happens to me too sometimes and what is even better is that I have had an agent call me to show their client my listing, which is fine, since I want to sell my listing, not just once as a favor, but 3 times to 3 of her buyers. I just wrote it off as being lazy.
Carol Culkin (Houlihan Lawrence Realty) That is the right approach and one I would take myself.
Christine McDaniel (McColly Real Estate ) I think most persons are clueless on how we get paid.
Stella Barbour - Real Estate Agent - Serving Virginia and Maryland (Jobin Realty - Real Estate Agent) I agree. It is the height of laziness!
It's your job as an agent to be available to YOUR clients. There are times when all of us have a conflict, but that's why it is important to have a backup if your client isn't able to meet another time. You can't expect to get paid for the work that you don't do!
Lori Liveston (Virtual Homes, Real Estate) You are so right, yet many do expect to get a check for doing nothing.
"My agent doesn't work Sunday's"-is my favorite. Then I guess your not looking at this Hot property today, are you.
Within 30 minutes their agent calls to set up a showing.
Ross Therrien (Prudential Verani Realty, Londonderry,New Hampshire) Isn't that the truth!
Hi Jim - I'm not shocked that some agents operate this way....what DOES completely floor me is that their clients put up with it!
Coleen DeGroff, MBA -- Your Gainesville FL Realtor (Coldwell Banker M.M. Parrish ) Coleen, that is the part I do not get either.
They might as well ask to be compensated upfront and not do anything. Most clients do not understand the duty that their sole call agent has to them.A good agent would explain to their client what is their fudiciary duties are to them. Thanks for the post, Jim.
Mike Yeo (3:16 team REALTY) Even if you do, there is still a lot of loyalty. I will not do the work for them!
Hopefully agents are kind enough to express their limitations to clients up front. If not, they certainly have a good chance at nullifying any future prospects by trying to juggle several clients while servicing not one of them memorably.
The prospect of easy money, the quick buck, gambling, etc, has always been alluring to human nature. But the most reliable way to have a harvest is to till the soil, plant, water, and weed until the fruit comes. A quick buck is fun, but those opportunities seem to follow those that have built their business on age old principles.
Sellers Real Estate, Zeeland, Mi ~ Keith Sellers, Broker Very well said. For old timers in real estate it is "Back to basics!" For those that are new to real estate, this is the reality of how we earn a living. It is called "Professionalism" and "Service!" We earn our keep!
I have had this happen to me several times and Like you I am amazed that I get the call to begin with. Thanks for the post.
Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) It is sad it occurs at all!
Jim,
You are absolutely right a broker should be there for their clients. I cannot believe people can be so irresponsible at their jobs. I know that I would be at their beck n call. It is amazing how people can treat others in this manner. If they can not do their duties then refer them to another agent.
The public does not realize how we are compensated. I recently contacted a local reporter about a story he ran, and he was referring to an out of work real estate agent that was collecting unemployment. I told him, we are not entitled to unemployment. We are independent sub contractors.
I have yet to meet a W2'd agent
Iliana Perez (Contracted Mortgage Loan Processor) I agree, yet those agents are too greedy to refer them out.
Keith Landis (Flagship Mortgage Corporation, Pittsburgh PA) I had the exact same experience with a reporter.
Very well put Jim. Agents who have to have a full-time job elsewhere are not really agents, are they? Real estate "hobbiests" should maybe put more effort into their 'real' job and get a promotion so they can stay there and give up on their failed real estate "career". Can you tell? I'm really tired of waiting until 5:30 to get a 'call back' from someone pretending to serve their client because they are not allowed to take or make phone calls from 'work'. -Steve
I recently had a buyer tell me that they chose to work with me even though they had been referred to another agent. They called the other agent and was going to use her until they heard her voicemail. In it she says that if you are a current client, she WON'T be calling you back! She says that her assistant will call you back instead. That told them up front that once she got them, she wouldn't service them.
I am running into this more and more these days as a lot of our fellow Realtors are too busy working another job!! Feel free to refer the business to me if you don't have time for it!
iTexas Realty Co. Itis pretty sad that it is so common these days.
Bedlam Realty Wow! What type of nonsense is that? That is incredible, but I believe it.
David P. Haschig (William Raveis Real Estate) Same thing happened back inthe early 90's
Jim
One of the reasons that real estate should be full time only!
Ty
Envelope Real Estate Brokerage Inc In the 1980's most real estate companies had that as their policy. Full timers only. If I owned my own brokerage, that is exactly what I would do!
I have covered for a fellow agent plenty of times. I have written contracts and had loans approvails approved all while said agent is on vacation. It is the right thing to do. Never make a client mad!
Without the PUBLIC you have NO BUSINESS. This is an easy concept to grasp.
Sharon Harris (Century 21 Battlefield) It is such an easy thing to do. I am constantly amazed at agents that do nothing for their clients...yet expect to get paid!
Robert L. Brown~Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Michigan (www.mrbrownsellsgr.com) I think a professional agent gets it..., but some agents did not get that memo.