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Michael Elliott, Burlington, New Jersey Residential Sales (Fathom Realty)

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Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I know an agent who is also a member of another group I belong to. She NEVER returns my calls relating to the other group. Because of that I wouldn't ever refer a sale to her. Maybe she's responsive to clients, but as far as I'm concerned, the way she does one thing is the way she does everything.

Jun 22, 2024 05:05 AM
Rainmaker
8,050,276
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

That is one of the reasons that the average income for agents is so low.

Jun 22, 2024 03:50 AM
Ambassador
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Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I have never understood that either, especially when I see these types of agents thriving.

Jun 22, 2024 05:29 AM
Rainmaker
5,396,037
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Roy Kelley nailed it and the ones who practice it have no clue!

Jun 22, 2024 03:58 AM
Rainmaker
1,596,160
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, ePRO
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
Serving Coastal San Diego, Veteran's & Seniors

They are at their "day jobs" - that is how they survive (and why they are so hard to reach). That, or they lean on their spouse's income that funds their unprofessionalism.

Jun 22, 2024 06:52 AM
Rainmaker
1,086,452
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Some of them don't survive or not for long. And sadly those are agents you don't really want to deal with anyway. It sucks for the client but it might be for the best.

Jun 22, 2024 05:04 AM
Ambassador
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

 

In my market, those agents typically are the listing agents that list a lot of properties and the goal is to double-end them ... so why bother returning calls from other agents? 

Jun 22, 2024 07:35 AM
Rainmaker
933,689
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Same. Some even put in the agent comments to not call them. 

Jun 22, 2024 06:23 AM
Rainmaker
1,265,127
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Broker
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

I am with you, go figure but I sometime wonder what other agents think of my business practices.  Not.

Jun 22, 2024 04:15 AM
Rainmaker
1,620,786
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker

I agree with Kathleen--they just want to double end the transaction.  Sometimes it is best to disable caller ID to get them to answer.  I truly do remember every agent that doesn't return phone calls.

Jun 22, 2024 12:57 PM
Rainmaker
5,188,266
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

I have no clue why agents don't answer their or return calls. You can't fix stupid and Roy just nailed it!

Jun 22, 2024 09:43 AM
Rainmaker
667,211
Greg Large
ERA Real Solutions - Grove City, OH
A Tradition of Trust

I don't think there is one single reason but some of the top ones IMHO:

some are just obtuse enough NOT to realize your response and positive interactions with other agents can have greater impact on their livelihood than they could possibly imagine.

as Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets mentioned, some have a full time job outside of real estate that is more of a priority for them than actually serving clients in a way all clients deserve.

some simply play the numbers game of obtaining listings and not servicing them, if it sells it sells...and will continue to "play the game" of real estate until they run out of victims.

there are full time agents, part time agents and sometimes agents and sometimes it just isn't convenient for them to care about what is best for the client.

Some just don't give a d@mn the COE or about "raising the bar" in the profession and do more harm than good.

and that's not all I have to say about that but will stop there.

Jun 22, 2024 09:10 AM
Rainmaker
2,820,830
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

This is one of my non-negotiable, passionate subjects i.e. ANSWER your phone/contact. We are in the customer service industry. Demonstrate that!

Jun 22, 2024 05:35 AM
Ambassador
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Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I know a lot of agents that I feel like this is a hobby vs. making a living.  Generally they are drawing a pension from a former career.

Jun 22, 2024 11:51 AM
Rainmaker
5,112,417
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I know,   I get voice mail so many time and can not believe they are with clients of at closing all the time.

 

Jun 22, 2024 10:00 AM
Rainmaker
1,640,413
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC • Short Sale • Probate

If an agent takes a very discounted fee on a listing side, they will likely try to double end to be paid better. In other words, if the seller signs a contract to pay the listing agent 1% or less, they might get offers presented by that agent only~ not ethical but there is the reason to expect someone to work for free or very little. I do not judge and still try to get some kind of response. The most annoying for me personally when you submit the full offer and you can not even get any way of confirmation or a receipt.

 The coming shift with fees might change that. 

Jun 22, 2024 08:58 AM
Ambassador
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
The best agent in Southern Utah!

If that happens, I will call the broker until the agent is notified. One time an agent ghosted me and I called the brokerage to ask if he was in an accident or had a family emergency. It worked!

Jun 22, 2024 08:32 AM
Rainmaker
5,948,833
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I have one right now, he lives in TX, lists in Denver and almost always his VM is full.

Jun 22, 2024 07:00 AM
Rainmaker
1,527,674
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

It is a mystery, for sure!  I do what you do, I list out how many times I've tried to reach them, by method, and over the number of days.  That satisfies the clients.

Jun 22, 2024 04:01 PM
Rainmaker
2,273,448
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

List properties, know your sellers and deal direct with them Michael Elliott ! Part time buyer agents, buyer agents from four hours away that are not in your market place are not worth chasing. List, market, sell, repeat.

Jun 22, 2024 04:32 PM
Rainmaker
5,224,390
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Truly, Michael, a question for the ages! And to add insult to injury... how about when you call some agents and their voice mail box is full?

Jun 22, 2024 01:22 PM
Ambassador
5,409,304
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Oh, I'm with you 100%, Michael!

Then there are some who play online all day and sell an average amount of real estate. THOSE are the folks who project their perfect behavior to others online. I've called and gotten a voicemail that's full! Hmmm...I guess they were too busy playing online, commenting about how perfect they are, to answer their phones! 😁

Jun 22, 2024 08:18 PM
Rainer
401,749
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

I've never really encountered that in my market.

Jun 22, 2024 02:05 PM
Rainmaker
915,183
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

It's inexcusable. Those people don't belong in any business or organization.

Jun 26, 2024 05:45 AM
Rainmaker
779,819
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

They must have a referral base that is strong and don't need new business.

Jul 16, 2024 11:23 AM
Rainer
360,414
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

This is a service business- and agents need to remember that. Like you- I am left scratching my head at the lack of responsiveness on impossible to reach agents. 

Jun 26, 2024 10:53 AM
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