SUBTITLE: WHAT EVERY PHILADELPHIA HOME SELLER SHOULD ASK THEIR AGENT BUT DON’T.
Or is your home just listed for sale. Has your agent made it impossible for other agents to show?
One of the questions we are asked at every listing appointment is: How are you going to market our home? What is your marketing plan? Of course we have a comprehensive marketing plan. BUT what every seller should be asking: How will other agents be able to make appointments?, how will you track the appointments?, how will you get feedback?, how will I know what’s going on? No one ever asks this. I think that sellers feel it’s just part of the process and they don’t have to worry about it. Well read on.
I have out-of-town buyers coming into town this weekend to look at homes. They are only going to be here Saturday and Sunday, they have identified 20 homes they would like to see. They need to buy quickly, every sellers dream.
I divide the homes by neighborhood and day and start to make appointments. The 1st two appointments go smoothly, the agents use eshowings, which is a professional showing service for Realtors. Eshowings tracks appointments, calls sellers if necessary for confirmation, sends out requests for feedback, and also sends the sellers weekly activity reports. Why wouldn’t every Realtor use eshowings you ask? Ahhhh because they have to pay for it!
The next three are okay. They all use the office receptionist and it goes pretty smoothly, only one is rude. What you should be asking yourself at this point is: If they use the office receptionist how does one make an appointment after hours? Eshowings is available 7 days a week, 360 days a year and also one can make an appointment online.
NOW on to my favorite type of agent. Under appointment phone number nothing is entered. I call the office and the snotty receptionist tells me to call the appointment phone number. I tell her that there isn’t one and she transfers me (without telling me) to the agents voicemail. Does he answer? Hell no I get my most favorite message:” I’m not available but your call is very important to me so please leave a detailed message and I will get back to you as soon as it’s convenient. “Convenient to whom? But wait there’s more. He then proceeds to say: “If it’s an emergency you may call my cell phone”. I just leave a message and hang up knowing there will be no call back. What constitutes an emergency to a Realtor? Yes it’s an emergency I might want to sell one of your listings, oh wait it’s probably your only listing. Hang in there it gets better. The only reason I’m showing this house is that it’s 2 doors down from a home my clients have requested to see, it’s priced similar so I think we should see it. Not that I know that from the pictures because he hasn’t bothered to have any (that post ranting about no pictures is coming soon). AND I notice that he is related to the sellers…whoops. I can’t say this enough, do not hire your brother, sister, aunt, cousin to sell your home unless they are good at what they do and can prove it.
I have to email an agent to make the next 2 appointments and a few back and forth emails later I’m all set. I think online appointment centers like eshowings are more efficient and easier but I understand the personal touch and hey she gets back to me in 10 minutes.
The next one I think is my personal favorite of the day. In the Multiple Listing Service under Realtor remarks: “vacant, easy to show”. I go to make an appointment on-line…so far so good…and this is what I’m confronted with:
Well obviously there are no weekend showings and the possibility of getting in anytime looks slim so I just filed that one.
The next time I am asked about our Marketing Plan I’d like to say: forgetaboutit we actually make it possible for agents to show your home and that is our #1 marketing strategy. Yes it takes more than that but think about how important this is.
SELLING YOUR HOUSE? MAKE SURE YOU HIRE PROFESSIONALS
Technorati: philly home sellers, homes for sale, how to sell your home, hire the right agent
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