You know something that really gets on my LAST NERVE? (Well, one of several, I guess); When I call a 
Realtor with a question about one of his/her listings and he/she never gets back to me. EVER. This doesn't happen a lot, but even once is too much as far as I'm concerned. UNLESS you have a good excuse.
I have a client who called me three days ago about a listing I had emailed him. "Please ask the listing agent...." he asked. I said, "Of course. I'll get back to you as soon as I find out."
Immediately, I call the listing Realtor and get put into the Realtor's voice mail. I leave a message. THEN I call the Realtor's cell. Again, I leave a message. 24 hours later... still, NOTHING. I email the Realtor. 12 hours later...still, NOTHING. Okay, it's been three days now. NOTHING!
Times are tough in Real Estate and when I have a buyer who is generally interested in buying (these are buyers I've been working with), I do my best to find out the information the client needs/requests. (I do that even in a GOOD market).
I not only feel frustrated with THAT listing Realtor's lack of courtesy, but I felt like a big boob when I had to call my buyer and say, "Sorry, the Realtor hasn't gotten back to me." THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR OUR BUSINESS. IT'S NOT PROFESSIONAL.
Now before you come up with a dozen excuses for this Realtor, let me say:
- The Realtor is ON the mountain (we live on a mt) and NOT out of town.
- The Realtor has been on ActiveRain several times this week, since my calls, so I "assume" the Realtor IS available and most likely checked his/her email!!!
Here's how I look at it: The Realtor could at least call me and say: There's already an offer on it...It's going into escrow as we speak... OR, whatever. Just call and say "something." PLEASE.
Am I calling again? No. Am I over-reacting? (I have been known to once or twice in my life). Go ahead...you can tell me.
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Kat, I can empathize...I'm dealing with that right now too. My client is coming in this afternoon to write an offer and I can't get the listing agent to call back. Frustrating and totally unprofessional.
Richard: I agree! I realize we all get busy, but in this business you MUST make time for certain things: like phone calls back to consumers and fellow Realtors.
Thanks for commenting.
We totally agree. We called an active (?) agent in the area with a question about one of her properties and never received a call back. When we called her office again (she doesn't give out her cell number (!) they said she is "too busy" to return calls. Well will remember that the next time she calls for any feedback!
UGH..........I absolutely hate when this happens. More often I find out later that there was a contract that the listing agent was working on themselves and so they wanted to get both ends and that's why they returned my calls. Too bad for them, you know there are such things has back-up contracts and not to mention your loyalty to your clients. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL.
Larry and Sheila: TOO BUSY to return calls??? TOO BUSY!!! Unbelievable. Maybe that Realtor/Agent needs to get an assistant.
Thanks much for commenting.
I am shocked by the number of agents who do not return phone calls in a timely manner. It makes me wonder what really makes them #1. A few that DO call back are sometimes very rude -- they just have sooo many REO listings, they can't get you information you request. I wonder if the sellers are aware of how their agents are NOT responding to potential buyers.
Teresa: (ME TOO!)...but still, common courtesy would be too call US and say, "Something." VERY, VERY UNPROFESSIONAL NOT TO RETURN CALLS!
Thanks for adding your views.
It is always amazing, good market or otherwise, that a listing agent will not return calls. Especially, today when we are getting calls too few and far between.
It happens all over the country. It would be nice for customers to see the business side of real estate every now and then - especially how some in particular operate.
Joan; I'm with you; I DON'T know how some of them get that #1 "anything" on their little business cards or title. That's why when I see #1, Top Producer, blah...blah...blah... I take it with a grain a salt. RUDE is the KEY word here to describe this Realtors lack of professionalism.
Thanks for stopping by.
James; EXACTLY!!! I KNOW most of is are NOT that busy that we can't return a call and take 30 sec's out of our day.
Thanks so much for commenting.
Heath: Well, this is one of those cases that give "some" Realtors a nasty name in the business. I think they need to find another profession if they're busy for this one.
Kat - I have experienced that many times and it is very frustrating. I give them several opportunities, and am very persistent. Eventually, I just move on to the next house after several attempts and explain to my buyers that the agent didn't respond. What else can we do?? It would be great if we all just worked together!!!!
Kat, I totally agree with you. I've experienced a number of realtors in the past several months who would not return calls. I even called one agent who said in her voice mail that she didn't have time to return calls and that if someone actually left a message she would return the call ONLY at her convenience. I left a couple of messages and she never returned my call.) These unprofessional agents just seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately. What's up with that?
Kat,
Usually I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but with this one,I'm with you! This is just common courtesy! If the agent was away on vacation or ill, hospitalized, I would understand. However, when you have seen that individual blogging or commenting on AR in the same week that you were leaving messages, that is a bit much and very unprofessional. I know someone on the mountain that never returned my calls either...perhaps it's the same realtor! When it comes to your clients...Kat, I know you roll out the red carpet & go to bat for them. I am sure that you were able to find your clients another beautiful home on the mountain!
Vicki: I just don't get it. I KNOW for a fact, as does the nation, that MOST Realtors aren't that darn busy that they can't return a call. AND, if by some stroke of lucj they are, then they really need an assistant I say. EVEN in my busiest of times, I MADE time to return calls. Yeah, they seem to be coming out of the woodwork. BTW, STILL NO CALL BACK from THAT REALTOR.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Vicki!!!
Michelle: WELL, you COULD be right---this Realtor is from YOUR favorite office! It bothers me...oh it so bothers me. Can ya tell?
Kat,
Now that explains everything, doesn't it! Forgot to mention,how I liked the picture of your telephone cans! Brings back great memories. Maybe the realtor just didn't get your message because he used the wrong can on his end! Instead of the Campbell's soup can he must have used a sardine can! ;)
Michelle: LOL.... That could very well be the problem; which end to use, not knowing which end is up.
You know, in all fairness, THAT company does lists and sells more than any other company in the world, maybe the Realtor really is too busy. LOL
Hi Kat, You're right--it would only be professional to give you a return call! I've had problems with an office that does tons of REO listings and you have to call for the lockbox combo to show the property--I had to keep calling and calling because I had set an appt to show it and didn't want to have to bail on my buyers. Argh. Cheers, Harley
Harley: ARGH is right! I have to wonder IF these agents that don't return OUR calls, if they return their clients? So unprofessional! Thanks for stopping by.
Well...has the agent returned the call yet? I didn't think so, but I thought I would try anyways. :0)
Michelle: NOPE....and SHE was on ActiveRain yesterday commenting on fellow Realtors posts. Amazing, isn't it?
Did you call my broker?