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How long to wait for a realtor?


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We are living with my parents right now, and are very anxious to move. Last Friday morning, I called our realtor with a list of properties that we would like to look at. She said that she would research the properties for us and get back to me Friday evening.  I realized that it was Easter weekend, and I didn't expect to hear from her until Monday. She e-mailed me yesterday afternoon and said that she would contact me this morning about scheduling viewings. Well, it's 2:30, and I still haven't heard from her. How quickly should a realtor respond to a request to schedule viewings? I wasn't expecting to see them today, but I don't think planning for some time this week is unreasonable.

 

This is not a JAWM. I am really curious about how long I should wait before contacting her again. There is a property that we are really, really interested in, and I wouldn't want to miss out on it because she moved too slowly.

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I've only used one realtor before, both to buy and sale our home, and he was very, very, prompt. If there was ever any issue with him not being able to do what he said on time, he called, and his wife (his secretary) followed up with an email with an apology and another set time. 

 

I would think, being in Real Estate is a pretty competitive job, if your realtor is overbooked right now, perhaps you can find another who is not so busy.

 

I would make sure your current realtor, knew the time crunch you are in and ask her if she can meet those expectations. In a nice way or course.

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I would contact her again. When our realtor has seemingly not responded quickly, it's usually do to email glitches on her side or mine (sending from iPad either not actually sending, or my iPad not receiving). Since she said this morning, I'd contact again before close of day, just in case. Although with scheduling, she might be waiting on others to get back to her, before she gets back to you. 

 

When we have scheduled showings, though, we've said "We would like to go out Saturday morning, what time shall we meet you to go look at properties?" and then had her fit things around that. If she then had conflicts, she would get back to us with an alternate, but it makes it a firmer thing to reply to rather than a vague "I want to see these sometime...." 

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I would move on to another realtor if I had waited that long with out very clear communication as to why.  If there is a house you really want to see you need someone that will make it a priority to schedule that for you asap and communicate clearly while they are working to do that.  

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I would think, being in Real Estate is a pretty competitive job, if your realtor is overbooked right now, perhaps you can find another who is not so busy.

 

I would make sure your current realtor, knew the time crunch you are in and ask her if she can meet those expectations. In a nice way or course.

 

Our realtor is a family member, and there is the potential for hard feelings if we switch. I am trying to think of a nice way to get out of this if she doesn't respond soon. Maybe an "Oh, I know you must be quite busy this time of year?"

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Our realtor is a family member, and there is the potential for hard feelings if we switch. I am trying to think of a nice way to get out of this if she doesn't respond soon. Maybe an "Oh, I know you must be quite busy this time of year?"

 

 

That does make things a little tricky. Then, i would probably call again and say, "Aunt Sally, I know you must be so busy right now, but we are really needing to get out of mom's house, and need to get out and see some houses. Is our time crunch going to be to much for you?" 

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Our realtor is a family member, and there is the potential for hard feelings if we switch. I am trying to think of a nice way to get out of this if she doesn't respond soon. Maybe an "Oh, I know you must be quite busy this time of year?"

If she's a family member, shouldn't she be going out of her way to be prompt and efficient?

 

If you switch realtors, the only person who is entitled to have hard feelings is you, because she didn't meet her responsibilities.

 

Don't put yourself into a position where you're feeling guilty because she didn't do her job.

 

I would give her one more chance to straighten up -- let her know that it's important that you get to see houses quickly, because you don't want to miss out on anything good, and if she doesn't take you seriously, politely tell her that you understand that she's too busy, so you're going to use a different agent.

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Move to another realtor. She has delayed enough to show she is not taking you seriously.

 

If she were reliable and reputable, it still may have taken until today for showings to be set up, but you would not have been given get-back-to-you dates that pass without contact.

 

FWIW, anyone serious about the business would not let a holiday weekend stop them from working with a client, even if they chose to not schedule anything for Good Friday or Easter Sunday. She shouldn't have let Saturday pass without getting together with you. If this agent doesn't think your business is important, find one that does.

 

Just my pair of pennies from someone who's worked with a LOT of real estate agents.

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Oh, I see she's a family member. Gently I tell you, that's not always wise. If you have to get firm about anything, it's harder to do with a family member. If the realtor is slacking in details - and there are so so many details in residential real estate transactions - you can't follow up in the same way.

 

I'd rather face the hurt feelings of changing realtors than the hurt feelings of a big screwed up financially significant real estate investment.

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Oh, I see she's a family member. Gently I tell you, that's not always wise. If you have to get firm about anything, it's harder to do with a family member. If the realtor is slacking in details - and there are so so many details in residential real estate transactions - you can't follow up in the same way.

 

I'd rather face the hurt feelings of changing realtors than the hurt feelings of a big screwed up financially significant real estate investment.

 

 

Oh, I know it wasn't the wisest move, but I kind of got the feeling that it was expected, and why would we do otherwise? Kwim? And I have no doubt that she is a good realtor. She is one of the biggest names in our area. I did give her 4 different properties that we want to see. Maybe she is still lining the viewings up.

 

I sent an email asking (sweetly) for updates. Hopefully we will hear back this evening.

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Ok, whew! I just got an email back from her. She is referring us to one of her colleagues. I am relieved, to be honest. I know that the price range we are looking in isn't what she is used to dealing with, and felt a bit like we were wasting her time for such a small commission, but I still felt like we needed to use her... family loyalty and all that. Also, we are looking outside the county where she usually deals, so having a realtor that knows that county should work much better. And if we don't like the person she is sending us to, I have no problem with moving on to someone else.

 

Thanks for the advice, hive. I think the house-hunting anxiety is getting to me!

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Thanks for the update -- I think it's pretty amusing that you were stressing over possible family problems if you ditched her and hired a different realtor... and she dumped you first! :D

 

I'll bet you're so relieved that you didn't have to be the bad guy. :)

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I didn't read all the responses but my realtor has always gotten back to me w/in hours. He would have an appointment set up w/in 24 hours to view a property.

 

It is not acceptable for a realtor to take days to get back to you. In the scenario you mentioned my realtor would have had info for my by the end of day Friday with showings booked for Saturday or Monday at the latest due to holiday.

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Move to another realtor. She has delayed enough to show she is not taking you seriously.

 

If she were reliable and reputable, it still may have taken until today for showings to be set up, but you would not have been given get-back-to-you dates that pass without contact.

 

FWIW, anyone serious about the business would not let a holiday weekend stop them from working with a client, even if they chose to not schedule anything for Good Friday or Easter Sunday. She shouldn't have let Saturday pass without getting together with you. If this agent doesn't think your business is important, find one that does.

 

Just my pair of pennies from someone who's worked with a LOT of real estate agents.

 

I have to agree. I juggled showing some new listings to some buyers and writing an offer for them between family obligations last weekend. Answering questions about other listings I have...and worked with one of my sellers via the phone. Yep, I worked even on Easter Sunday. :)  That's my job and I'm happy to do it.

 

OP, I'd get back to your realtor...explain you thought she understood you were READY to move on buying a house.

 

Now, my question to you...are you ready? Have you talked to a mortgage person and gotten a pre-approval letter?

You aren't ready until you've done that. :)

 

I hope the third house you go in is perfect for you and perfectly priced for you, too. Have fun!

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OP, I'd get back to your realtor...explain you thought she understood you were READY to move on buying a house.

 

Now, my question to you...are you ready? Have you talked to a mortgage person and gotten a pre-approval letter?

You aren't ready until you've done that. :)

 

I hope the third house you go in is perfect for you and perfectly priced for you, too. Have fun!

 

Oh, yes. We are ready and then some. We aren't first time buyers, and I know the drill well.  I sent her a copy of the pre-approval when I contacted her last Friday morning!  So there was no reason to not get moving on this.

 

We were supposed to hear from the new gal yesterday afternoon. Big surprise- she never called or emailed. Dh called up his old oboe teacher (real estate is her day job) and boom! She is on it already, and says she thinks she can at least get us into our first choice by the end of the week. Ahhhhh.....That's better.

 

Thank you for the good wishes!

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We used a gal in our church once after the pastor said she was hurt we hadn't asked her help previously.

 

Yep, I pretty much did the research and she just called to get time to see things. Frustrating. Next move I didn't use her or tell her until we had moved.

 

I expect prompt response and you should ask if she's very busy right now . If so find someone else

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dd worked with two realtors (one was patronizing and kept suggesting lousy properties, so she dropped him.  but he was reasonably prompt).

the one she used was even more prompt.  (dd was looking in a you snooze you lose area.  promptness was essential.)

 

you can either let this woman know you need for her to be more prompt in getting back to you as you don't want to miss out on an opportunity waiting for her.  is it possible her 'researching' is more involved than it needs to be?

 

remember, you're the buyer and your agent should be responding to your needs.   it's called being professional.  if not, do not hesitate to get a new agent, and don't feel guilty if you do.

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So! The oboe teacher/realtor has us an appointment for 9:30 tomorrow! Hooray! Wish us luck!

 

The thing with my cousin is getting kind of comical. (Or it would be if we weren't so eager to get a house, move, and be done!) I finally got an email from the realtor she handed us off to this morning. And what did that realtor have to say? Only that she was out of town, and wouldn't be back until some time tomorrow, and would contact us then! :confused1:  Um, no, no thank you. We are already dealing with someone else.

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We are living with my parents right now, and are very anxious to move. Last Friday morning, I called our realtor with a list of properties that we would like to look at. She said that she would research the properties for us and get back to me Friday evening.  I realized that it was Easter weekend, and I didn't expect to hear from her until Monday. She e-mailed me yesterday afternoon and said that she would contact me this morning about scheduling viewings. Well, it's 2:30, and I still haven't heard from her. How quickly should a realtor respond to a request to schedule viewings? I wasn't expecting to see them today, but I don't think planning for some time this week is unreasonable.

 

This is not a JAWM. I am really curious about how long I should wait before contacting her again. There is a property that we are really, really interested in, and I wouldn't want to miss out on it because she moved too slowly.

If you really want a better deal, look at each property through its listed Realtor.  If the Listing Realtor gets the sale also, the commission is higher.  Hence, the incentive to work quickly with you and be open to your deal.

 

Waiting 5 days is too long.  The good stuff goes fast. 

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