Comments on: Mom, I Need to Go To the Bathroom Right Now! Can You Hold it For 3 More Miles? Yes.

By: Atlanta Real Estate

Atlanta Real Estate — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:41:28 +0000

My last client was looking at $1.5M homes and the wife was a stay at home, beside the pool and play golf wife. This was her description, not mine, and it was accurate!

So, needless to say, she had way too much time on her hands. With said time, she would call me with anything that was going through her head. After a month of this, I started to know the routine and started slacking on my response times.

So she started leaving voicemails AND following that up with text messages. Not one single topic in two months was ever an emergency, but she thought it was my duty (or something) to immediately respond to her at all times.

Sometimes ($1.5M) you just suck it up and give ‘em what they are whining for. ?

Rob

By: Mariana

Mariana — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:42:16 +0000

Matthew – I have been in various professions, and it seems like real estate has way more pseudo-emergencies than anything else I can think of.

Teresa – I am still trying to find out whay IS a “real” real estate emergency… Have yet to find one.

LNARE – A happy medium would be great.

Benn – Yes. Finally.

Aria – “Growing up as a child of a Real Estate family, I’m a big proponent of priorities after taking a back-seat to clients and their so-called emergencies.” I really, really, REALLY do not want MY kids saying this … EVER.

Vicki – Thanks!

By: Vicki Moore

Vicki Moore — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:48:11 +0000

Sitting here now – having to go to the bathroom – I’m lauging out loud. Love your observation!

By: Aria Schoenfelt, Austin Real Estate

Aria Schoenfelt, Austin Real Estate — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:42:51 +0000

Running any kind of business takes great skill in prioritizing. Growing up as a child of a Real Estate family, I’m a big proponent of priorities after taking a back-seat to clients and their so-called emergencies. There is a huge difference in treating a client fairly and kindly and spoiling them rotten!

When you get an urgent task, prioritize and don’t feel bad for waiting an extra 5 minutes to keep on your current task (and to keep your sanity!). In the long run, I find that I’m more productive this way.

Of course, I did take an ‘urgent’ work call at 11pm last night. There are exceptions to every rule!

By: Benn Rosales

Benn Rosales — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:38:37 +0000

are we there yet?

By: Late Night Austin Real Estate

Late Night Austin Real Estate — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:37:12 +0000

Sometimes I feel like there are two groups of agents. Those of us that run around frantically all the time worrying about not responding quickly enough. And then agents that respond several days later if at all. I guess the trick is finding the happy medium.

By: Teresa Boardman

Teresa Boardman — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:15:50 +0000

You are dead on. Many of the emergencies are not emergencies. I have some clients right now who could run me ragged but I have explained to them what is and what is not an emergency. If you think about it there really isn’t such a thing as a real estate emergency.

By: Matthew Rathbun

Matthew Rathbun — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:23:22 +0000

I like the “Touch it once” theory, but it seems to not apply to Real Estate. Too many directions and too many people tugging at your coat tails.

As frustrating as it can be at times, I think that good agents really do feed off that energy involved in handling priorities. However, everyone has their limits and it’s good to have a relief system in place for when you’ve had enough.

By: Mariana

Mariana — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:15:09 +0000

Jennifer – There is definitely a professional responsibility to be timely and available. However, in most cases the professional responsibility covers 10 minutes to an 1 hour-or-so without being that “unavailable” agent.

By: Jennifer Rathbun

Jennifer Rathbun — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:59:03 +0000

Amen! Boy do I agree!

And yet…

And yet, I often wonder what is taking so long for other agents to call me back? Why are lenders taking so long to make a decision? Where is that form from my clients that needs to be signed? Patience is good. But at what point does it become prolonged? And in your example of a bathroom break, when does it lead to an infection from waiting too long???

By: Mariana

Mariana — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:47:58 +0000

Maureen – You are right, there are very few actual “real estate emergencies” …

John – Even “time is of the essence” can have a 10 minute buffer, and other items can have a longer buffer.

Jon – Sometimes the agent who rides their entire monthly income on one deal WILL see each little thing as an emergency, but I don’t think that most items are a real emergency.

By: Jon Sigler

Jon Sigler — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:32:33 +0000

John said it right, there is no life threatening real estate. What we have is emotion from all parties. Buyers and sellers are selling both their largest investment, but also “home”. The professionals (Realtor, Loan Officer) often are talking about a months worth of income on one transaction which will create the same “emotion” of needing it “right now”.

By: John Lauber

John Lauber — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:03:57 +0000

One of the best lines I heard is “There really is no life threatening real estate”. Sometimes you can “hold it”. Most people will understand that you’re not waiting by the phone for their phone call, etc. Contract dates, “time is of the essence”, but most emergencies, may not be. Gotta go, the wife is calling.

By: Maureen Francis

Maureen Francis — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:21:57 +0000

Mariana, recently I have been laughing (in my head) about the “real estate emergency.” They are exactly what you are talking about. There are very few actual real estate emergencies, yet we agents tend to respond like most everything is urgent. Gotta go…a client just text messaged me…