I had an experience while showing property this past weekend that made me as upset as this Tiger that I am featuring above. We agents have to go through several steps in order to arrange showings of various properties to our clients. This takes numerous phone calls, scheduling and juggling in order to make things run smoothly. Personally, when I am out showing property to clients, I want everything to go according to the game plan that I lay out during my preparation.
Last Saturday, I made arrangements to show clients of mine 5 properties in Palos Verdes Estates, ranging from $2.5-3.7 million in price. All but one of the listings were appointment only, meaning that I as an agent would need to make arrangements in advance with the listing agents.
Turns out, that one agent had all of the listings that I wanted to show. This agent is so successful, that he has 5 assistants that handle showing property as well as setting appointments. This same agent actually has several of Donald Trump's properties listed in the area near the golf course.
Long story short, the assistant that I was referred to failed to make the appointments. He said that he would be meeting us at 3:30 in the afternoon. When 3:30 rolled around, he was no where to be found. I began to phone him, and everything went straight to voice mail. Then at 3:45, he sends me a text message saying that he won't be making it and that he had an emergency...Meanwhile, I have clients who are very serious about buying, standing in the driveway of one of the houses that I wanted them to view. How embarrassed to you think I am at this point?
Rather than getting discouraged, I take the initiative and knock on the door of this home as well as the other which this young assistant was supposed to set up for my clients and I. Needless to say, the homeowners weren't jumping up and down about the fact that 6 people are standing in their driveway with no appointment made. I asked each homeowner whether this assistant had phoned them to alert them that we would be coming by on this date and time. Both owners said that the young man NEVER called.
Not only did this guy not make the appointments, but he lied about having a family emergency. There was no emergency...He FORGOT! How do you think Mr. Trump would feel if I told him that his listing agent's assistant dropped the ball on making an appointment and consequently I wasn't able to get my client in to see the house. I'll tell you what he would say...
"You're FIRED!"
Sometimes going with the real estate agent that has ALL of the listings in the area can backfire. This listing agent has so much business, that he is trusting his untrustworthy assistant to get things done. On top of dropping the ball, the guy didn't even own up to it.
Thank goodness I can tapdance and think quick on my feet.
