Real Estate Pain Killers

Days Like This

As a Vancouver real estate practitioner one of the things we do for buyers is arrange a schedule for viewing homes. The objective – to best manage the buyer’s available time by maximizing visits to the greatest number homes in the shortest period possible. After all, everyone is busy these days and time is at a premium.

Some days, and this was one of them, as arrangements for viewing houses are in process, you talk with ‘some’ selling agents that simply leave you with a headache and a vacant time slot.

Ringing

- 09:30 selling agent answers “Hello”.

Responding: “Hi my name is Larry Yatkowsky, I’m an agent with Amex and I’m phoning to arrange a viewing of 123 Butterfly Lane at 5:50 pm today” “Would that be possible?”
She says: “You mean 5:45?”
Me: “No, — I mean 5:50 – as in 5 5 0.”
She: “Oh you mean 5 o’clock.”
Me: Silent sigh! “No – as in 10 minutes before 6 pm.”
She: “Oh, you mean 5:50.”
Me: “Right! – Can I show the home at that time?”
She: “Ah, no, I don’t think so.”

Without pausing for breath and with enthusiastic enlightenment, she tells me that she volunteers. “Splendid” I say, “such a worthy commitment of your idle time.” “Now about the showing?”

“Oh that”, she says, “ummm that’s not possible before 7:30 and well I’m sure you will understand that I’m quite tired after my volunteer work.”

Not breaking stride she continues:

“But the day after tomorrow is a much better day for me.”

“Sorry” I say, “the buyers are scheduled for other showings.”

Not Giving Up

Under an incorrect assumption that the sellers motivation was more inclined toward the objective of selling their home I ask:

“Is there a possibility that the sellers would be home and they, would allow us to view the home?”

She: “Oh, I’ll check and call you back.” Click!

Silent Snap

20 minutes pass and her returned phone response is that “the sellers have plans!”

“Truly unfortunate!” “It would seem that there are a number of forces influencing the process of getting this home sold.” “Perhaps another time,” I say; “Thanks for your time.”

Now in case you were wondering. The snap you thought you heard – that was the lid opening the bottle of pain killers. On days like this, they are much needed. In correct proportion they temper a bruised brain as it tries to comprehend why some agent’s view of a real estate sales person’s service is contrary to the process of selling their client’s home.