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The #1 complaint consumers have with real estate companies, whether they are listing their homes to sell or they are looking to buy, is poor communication between the company and the client? Yes, that line of communication is critical; but, imagines how critical it is for a buyer's agent to be able to reach a seller's agent.
Consider this scenario. Mr. Sell Right, a well-known buyer’s agent, is driving through your neighborhood on a Saturday morning with his qualified buyer who is anxious to purchase a property. Mr. Sell Right selected two homes in the neighborhood that he felt would be good matches for his buyer client. Mr. Sell Right shows the first home and is on the way to the second home as he drove his client passed your house that you recently listed.
The buyer client notices your home and comments to Mr. Sell Right that, from the outside, it looks like the perfect place, The client then requests to take a look inside. Mr. Sell Right reaches over and picks up his cell phone and attempts to reach the listing agent only to reach a voice recording. He leaves a message, waits 15 minutes for a call back which does not come, then drives away in frustration.
Mr. Sell Right and the buyer decide to move on to the next home. The motivated buyer-client likes the next home and decides to make an offer. Several hours later, after the offer has been accepted, Mr. Seller right receives a call from the listing agent offering to make the home available for showing. The seller (you) of the home is never informed of the incident, forever ignorant of the potential lost sale.
There is nothing more frustrating to a buyer's agent or to a buyer, and nothing more damaging to a seller, than to have an interested buyer miss out on the opportunity to preview a home because they were unable to reach the listing agent at a critical moment - such as when that client is driving through a neighborhood, notices a for sale sign, and requests an immediate showing. Most agents who have been in the business for any period of time can relate to this frustrating moment. The caveat here is: if you list your home, be sure your agent is accessible.
The good news in our area Realtors now have access to a recently expanded centralized showing system. Most companies do or will soon participate. With one call to a centralized number, properties can be scheduled. Even so, it is extremely important that your agent can be reached by other agents for questions, concerns, feedback and, most importantly, so they can receive an offer to buy from the buyer’s agent the moment the buyer wants to present one.
After all, until the offer is presented AND accepted, the offer may be withdrawn by the buyer.
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