Please update your listing remarks!
I had some buyers interested in seeing a small fixer upper in Wailuku Maui. It's listed by a rather obscure company. The agent remarks said it was vacant and easy to show... it even gave the lock box number. I arranged to show it to them at 3 in the afternoon. I called the agent's cell number to confirm the appointment and all I got was a message stating his voice mailbox was full. Tried to call his office number, but wait it's the same number! Must be a one man office. So I emailed him about the appointment and let him know he needed to clear his voice mailbox.
A couple of hours later I got a call from the listing agent. Guess what? No showings until he can get in touch with the tenant... oh yes, there's a tenant living there now. He'll get back to me when I can bring the buyers around. So, do you think I'll ever hear from this agent again? It's already been 2 days. Would it kill him to update the remarks and try responding to his phone messages?
Just had to get that off my chest. Thanks for listening. If you're looking for an agent that will promptly respond to your questions, please give me a try.
Aloha from Maui....
Georgina M. Hunter R(S) e-Pro 808 283-0635 EMAIL
Georgina, i understand your frustration. I set up appts for 4 properties this week and now I find out that they are all pending. The agents are in violation of our MLS by not placing pending within 72 hours. My buyer was upset and I don't blame him. Good luck with your next showing
Glad to be able to let you get that off your chest. LOL
Seriously, it is very difficult to do a good job when there are agents who consistently don't do a good job. And think about how this makes the rest of us look to our clients. It's very aggravating so I completely understand how you feel.
~Kathy
"rather obscure company". You are so polite. What you probably mean is "a rinky dink, fly by night operation"
My favorite not updated MLS tricks:
1)Not updating tenant situations.
2)Not updating active status..
3)Not updating listing remarks.
a. Great value... sure to sell quickly when on the market for 180 or more days.
b. Lowest priced listing in neigborhood. (200 days later it is 4th or 5th on the list)
The really sad thing is the disservice these people do to their sellers. "Oh, I'm doing all that I can to sell it" yeah right.
So true! Some still have the photos from LAST Christmas....
Unfortunately, I see this happening all the time. Where are those agents fiduciary responsilities??? Totally agree withPete's comments above, especially 'a'.
One man offices are hard to deal with. I sometimes feel very sorry for their clients because if we can't get a showing set up then how are they going to sell the house.
My clients and I were at a vacant active listing last weekend when the home inspector showed up. Yep the house was under contract and had been for 4 days! And of course my clients were very interested in it.
This must be a national problem, you'd think with the real estate market the way it is more agents would work harder to get things moving!
Cindy- that is horrible, Murphy's law, of course they loved it!
I walked into a vacant listing to find people in the bedroom. Never again have I gone into a home vacant or otherwise without ringing the doorbell.
Yes, don't you just hate it when this happens. We have ended up walking in on vacationing people who were there with permission in a "vacant" home. Geeze.
Just another Manic Monday. Wait, that was Wednesday, and that sure wasn't a Wordless Wednesday!
I had a situation once where we were scheduled to do a home inspection on a vacant home, except the home wasn't vacant. Totally surprised the buyer and buyer's agent because it was vacant just last Friday.
Georgina - they also need to update when the home has been foreclosed on and the lockbox is no longer a MLS electronic but a bank owned combination - you get there after letting them know you are going to show the property and can't get in!
I love the ones that say "Hurry! This one won't last long".... (days on market: 363) priceless.
That was very amusing. I hate it when thing slike that happen to me. Thank you fo rsharing that with us. It must be nice to get that off your chest!
I found an occupied bedroom in one home that was supposed to be vacant, but still furnished. Imagine my clients reaction when we found a lady with a broken leg sleeping in a house....oh, and the dog was there too! I understand your needing to vent!
Wouldn't be a wonderful country if all agents all did their job. Not going to happen, we get to pickup the slack. At least you did you best to get your client in. Aloha
Please update all mls there nothing worse then walking in on people
Please update all mls there nothing worse then walking in on people
In this market of ever increaing part time agents service and respect for one's fellow agent is at an all time low. I've gone to pick up keys for 3 properties in the last month alone and found the secretary with nothing to give me but a puzzled look. And people wonder why consumers complain about the commissions and liken us to used car salesman. This job is more to me than a paycheck. I love the people I work with and the job I do and this makes me mad!
Guess it is just as bad everywhere. I am in Ohio and we have the same problem with getting the agents to do anything they are supposed to do. I guess MLS rules don't mean anything anymore!
How annoying! Been there done that.
I think a public flogging would be a good deterrent.
There is many agents like this one. I guess just lazy. Good for us-he won't stay long in business:)
Georgina- I understand your frustration. It's no wonder some members of the public think we're overpaid for what we do/don't do.
Another peeve of mine with regard to listing content is pictures that aren't updated to reflect the change of seasons. I can't help but shake my head when I see listing after listing with pictures taken with bare trees and yellow grass, and it's no longer winter! Agents are marketing a product and a big part of that marketing is getting YOUR listing to stand out and shine. That's difficult when you see barren trees and dormant grass when it's gorgeous outside!
The problem here Georgie is that you are preaching to the choir. It's the people who aren't on-line, don't blog or work part time that generally are guilty...But if you feel better after venting :-)
I agree that its always the same people who don't update. My favorite is whan the pictures show snow and its summertime. It takes two minutes to update your listings. Pleeeese do your job!!!!
I feel it is so important to keep the MLS listings updated, I want to keep the sellers happy, and provide reports on the activities, that includes updating listing(s).
That is frustrating. Its certainly not going to help the seller get the place sold.
What's going on here? So many comments on this post! Thanks for all your comments, and I will try to respond to everyone.
Jean - we have a similar rule, and it's usually pretty effective
Kathy - I feel much better!
Ellie - well I wouldn't go that far, since I'm not familiar with the company at all
Pete - yup it can get pretty amusing at times
Keith - maybe that really is all that they can do!
Teresa - just the other day I saw a listing with Christmas stockings in the pictures, and I thought, hmmm that's a little early to hang up stockings. The DOM was almost 2 years! In the past 2 years they have not updated the pictures (or maybe they just roll out the old pictures each year at this time).
Lisa - that remark is pretty stale these days isn't it?
Russ - it must tough to be doing this business all alone... how can you take a vacation?
Cindy - did you tag along with the home inspector and get the full scoop?
Kim - you would think so wouldn't you?
Leolinda - OMG - what were they doing?
First off, how cool is it that you live in the prettiest state ever?!
And yes, I know, even though I only sell houses part-time I am always amazed at how hard it is to get ahold of an agent and the MLS remarks, as you mentioned can be very frustrating. My favorite of late was one that said you had to make an appointment with the tenant and then the tenant never called anyone back. Lots of fun.
Aloha,
TD
Georgina - yep, that grips me too. I see this sort of thing fairly regularly, especially on homes that have been on the market for a while. Love when they say vacant and there is a tenant. Or a big dog.
Jeff
Go right ahead and VENT all you want! I never understand how agents can be so sloppy with their work. The MLS data is critical and should be taken very seriously! It is the major tool for marketing the home and fastest and easiest tool for communicating with other agents.
Take a deep breath and tomorrow will be a better day!
Debbie
It's so frustrating when agents don't keep their listings up-to-date. I've learned through the school of hard knocks to always check with the listing agent personally before writing an offer - too many cases of writing on something already sold.
Sometime I wonder when an agent doesn't respond to a phone call for 2 days if they are thinking that the buyer will call them directly.
Bob and Carolin - I guess it always pays to knock first! Hi - we're coming through, get out of the way!
Russel - who needs those surprises?
BJ - so it was a short sale first, did they even disclose that?
Alan - yeah that's a good one.
It is tough I agree but do you ever think it will change. It seems like with it being as slow as it is that they would have lots of time to make plenty of changes.
Some agents just don't get it, as you said. I hate having things that are inaccurate in the MLS
Georgina,
Check your MLS rules and regulations (or ask your MLS administrator) if this broker violated the rules by not keeping the information current. If he did, file a complaint. That will get his attention and win you a lot of friends from the MLS Committee, the Grievance Committee and the hearing panel. If his behavior is not a violation of the MLS rules and regulations, you can file an ethics complaint citing Article 11, competence.
There is something you can do about this behavior but it is up to you to pursue it.
Oh my.. that is not a good situation... Should be a fine for this agent. What if you had gone to this home thinking it was vacant and the tenant was there
Georgina, My favorite is the summer pictures with snow on the roof, but is also begs the question "Is the seller looking at it from time to time, and if he is, why would he tolerate it?"
Don't get me started withe the inaccruate listing remarks and full voicemails. I have had situations like that a few times! So frustrating to say the least!
Funny story, Georgina! Isn't it interesting how lax some agents can be? I think it is a symptom of these discount brokers getting into the industry. Seriously, you can't leave a message cause the voice mail is full - come on!
Geez Louise - thanks again for all the great comments!
Georgia: I really enjoyed your post.
1. Would it be too much to expect Realtors to be true professionals?
2. To follow up?
3. To earn their brokerage fee?
The #1 complaint from Realtors clients is "Lack Of Followup".. Years ago I was taught that there is a fortune in followup.
One great thing to come from this shift in the market is that it will cull the herd big time!
Enjoy the holidays,
Michael Ronnie
I feel your pain....I don't understand why these people want to be agents if they're not going to attempt to do a good job. They're difficult for other agents to work with and not representing their clients very well.
OMG, I am so agreeing with all of you! Let's do our jobs people! My other favorite, is completely horrible pix on the MLS with clutter and junk all around. What's up with that???
So easy to do, so easy to forget. Thanks for the reminder.
Georgina, sounds like an agent who doesn't want to sell! I've encountered the same thing here with agents from big box agencies as well. It all boils down to whether of not you are in the business to make business or if this is just a past time.
Isn't it nice to run across and agent who is professional and handles their business, like a business?
Love it when that happens!
You have hit on one of my biggest pet peeves! I see listings that have lingered on the market for hundreds and hundreds of days and is it any wonder? It's winter time and the pictures are from the spring. It was new construction when the listing was taken and 3 months later, there are still no new photos. Do your job...or just give me the listing! LOL
How's the remarks that say First Open House....February of 2007. lol!
Hi Georgina...Itis possible that some agents are taking on so many listings that they can't keep up with them althoughfor there are always agents that enter a listing and never look at it again unless the price changes or the status.
Kate
Update - still waiting to see the house!
One of the most frustrating things for me is seeing snow in a listing iin the middle of the summer.
It is amazing how little work some agents do once they get a listing.
This is what gives agents a bad image in the public's eyes. Managing listings is a job and should be treated as such.
Happy New Year everyone!
It is pretty amazing. Not sure how these agents expect to sell their properties with inaccurate info. I can see an honest mistake, but come on.