Missing Piece In Vancouver Real Estate
Posted May 12th, 2008 in R.E. Stories, Real Estate | 
It’s Sunday night during dinner with my family when the phone rings.
RIIIINNNG! RIIIINNNG!
“Hello, it’s Larry speaking, can I help you?”
Unidentified Voice:
“Hi, is this Larry?”
(Thinking to myself did I not just say “Hello, it’s Larry speaking…?”)
– “Yes, this is Larry”
Unidentified Voice:
“Say, are you the guy who does the Halloween event down on ABC street?”
“Yep, that’s me!” I say. “How can I help you?”
Unidentified Voice:
“Well, I just listed my property with Reg Realtor for $1 million and change and I was wondering how much you got for that house you sold on XYZ street?”
Long Pause – Deep Breath
Wait a minute! There’s a disconnect here.
- You don’t have the common courtesy to identify yourself.
- You just listed your home which is two blocks away from the XYZ property, it is comparable to yours and Reg Realtor has not included the XYZ property in your market evaluation. Can that be correct?
- You call on a Sunday at dinner time (it’s the only time Realtors are home with their family), asking me to offer a trusted opinion. Why? Don’t you trust your Realtor?
“Yes, it sold for $XXX million.”
Unidentified Voice:
“OK! Bye!”
“You are wel………..”
Is there a piece to this Real Estate puzzle missing? You decide!
I’m just sayin……….
Got a Vancouver Real Estate question? I’ll do my best to answer it. Call or send me an email.
Yeah, I’ve had calls like that. They only way I know of them is that they leave a message. If I do not recognize your number (or likely have it programmed in the phone so it shows up with the name) I don’t answer it after 7pm. If it’s important, they’ll leave a message. Family time is always important.
Hi Will
I always answer my phone if I’m up. It’s kind of a personal mantra.
Whew! I was thinking I was just getting lucky. It’s the lack of courtesy that bothers me most. We have so little of if left in our society and it just seems to be disappearing at an ever increasing rate.
It’s such a simple act of civility to let the receiver know who is calling.
– Hi my name is Bill and I’m calling about -
Where has that gone?
Yup. I agree. And if someone calls up and just goes straight to the matter without introducing themselves (like I am google or some information source without a heartbeat) well, then, take a pause and ask who you are speaking to. People will treat you as you allow them to, right?
That’s not to say you should be cold. I’ve had people call me up wanting my opinion on things after they’ve written a contract with their realtor. I have no qualms giving it. Sure, it stings a bit they didn’t contact me first (since they called me as a trusted voice even though we’ve not physically met), but I know that being cordial and helpful is a whole lot likely to help my karma and lead to future business than to be firm and cold.
Who knows? Maybe that listing will become your future listing, right? Or maybe they will refer their neighbours to you. I mean, you don’t know their reasons for choosing the other realtor.
Thanks for concurring.
You could take the position dictated by parenting 101 and never talk to strangers. We could be friends but, it helps a lot when you introduce yourself. I get a lot more warm and fuzzy when I feel I’m talking to a real person.
It a personal observation that Realtors have become door mats.
Information sharing: I’m all good about talking with strangers but I would not be as forthcoming with them as I would be with a friend.
My point is that we don’t have to be strangers if we grasp and hold on to that moment of courtesy. It’s not a burdensome task as it lays the foundation of a relationship. Even a 20 second phone call is a relationship.
– Hi my name is Will, I’m a Realtor?
It’s as simple as that.
It’s the lack of honest transparent courtesy that I’m shouting about.