Welcome to another episode of REALLY??!?! with your host, Christianne Gordon.
This week's story comes to us from the sunny foothills of Reno, Nevada. Let's tune in....
I was working with buyers who found me on ActiveRain via my blog last week. We went out Saturday and saw 6 properties. They dialed in on 2 and we went back out Sunday morning at 9am to see them again.
They selected one, and wrote one hell of an offer! Great earnest money deposit, 20% down, very well-qualified, fast closing...you get the idea.
I call the listing agent and inform him that I have an offer and ask how would he prefer I send it to him. He says email. (Do you hear the UH-OH echoing in the room?)
I email it over at 12:30pm. It never bounces. It's Mother's Day and I go out to dinner with my husband and my two boys. First thing in the morning today, I call to confirm the listing agent's receipt of the offer. He doesn't answer his phone...I leave a message.
Later, I receive a text message that says he says he never got it and submitted the other offer he received without mine. REALLY??!? I ask him how this happened because my offer was sent over at 1pm the previous day. Why didn't he call me to ask me where it was?
His reply is key..."Listen, I have a lot of REO properties and I simply cannot be expected to remember who is submitting offers and who is not. I just can't keep track of all my conversations."
REALLY??!?! - At this point, I proceed to send it again via e-fax to his email via my assistant since I'm out showing property (and yes, I'm flipping out because my clients REALLY want this house). He calls me back - no receipt. She sends it again, he calls her and says not here. Finally, we fax again (the 4th attempt) and at this point, he calls back and says he has it.
Did I mention this agent uses the same line for his phone and fax...so he never answers his phone. He always lets it roll to fax and then he calls you back...if he wants/needs to.
I decided to take matters into my own hands and call the broker. I really found it completely unacceptable that he moved forward without our offer knowing it was coming, not to mention how he responded to me. That was not in the best interest of his client, regardless of whether the technical fault laid with me for not calling to confirm yesterday afternoon or because I sent it via email.
Finally, via the broker, I found out that our offer was submitted, it is the highest and best, and we should have an answer tomorrow. (I was surprised that the broker divulged that information to me.)
The bottom line is - if you are going to be a listing agent, regardless of the type of client you represent, you should follow 3 rules:
- Answer your phone!
- Make notes to remind yourself when an offer is being submitted (so you can track it down if it is waylaid)
- Communicate with the buyer's agent...
As an REO agent myself, I know I do these things. I actually had an agent call me up this morning and tease me saying "Christianne, if you're going to be an REO agent, you really have to stop answering your phone!"
I think that's really sad. If only banks knew - or cared...REALLY!
Posted By: Christianne Gordon - Northern Nevada Real Estate Agent - Realtor
with RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, specializing in Carson Valley Real Estate and Northern Nevada Real Estate.
