Big Bear Bank Owned Homes And Bad Agents

Originally Posted At www.bigbearilluminated.com

I just wanted to rant a little bit about something that happened to me this weekend, and since this is my blog and I can do as I please, here goes:) I was out showing bank owned Big Bear homes to a very nice couple on Saturday. Since they were walk-in's and already had a list of homes they wanted to see, I didn't have time to plan out our excursion. Given time, I can usually call ahead and be ready with all codes etc. There are many bank owned properties up here that are listed by off the hill agents. They don't want to take the time or spend the money to join our board. This means that the houses don't have lock boxes that work with our supra keys. If we want to show the home, we have to call the listing office, find the listing agent, and then try to get the code from them. Let me tell you, it's a real pain.

So, there we are, standing in front of a large house in Big Bear City. Of course there isn't a lock box I can use. It's one of those combo lock boxes. I call the list office and, guess what, the listing agent isn't in. The receptionist doesn't know the code and can't be bothered to find it. She does, however, agree to transfer me to the listing agents cell phone. Of course, the listing agent doesn't answer. It's Saturday afternoon, the busiest and best time for selling real estate, and the listing agent can't be bothered to answer her phone. I leave a message telling her that I am in front of the property and to please call me back so I can show it. We wait around 10 minutes, still no call back. We decide to go to lunch and wait for her call. Lunch is over, still no call back. I try again. No luck. It's been two hours and the other agent can't be bothered. She is really doing a disservice to her client. I wonder how the bank would feel if they knew the listing agent that works for them has made the house unshowable to local agents and refuses to answer her phone or her messages. It is now Monday at 12:30 pm and she still hasn't called me back.

As Realtors we have a duty to our clients to represent them to the best of our abilities. Taking a listing in an area where you are not a board member is not a good idea. Not having the home on the local MLS, is not doing the right thing. Not answering calls so the home can be shown is not doing the right thing. Never calling back an agent who has clients interested in your listing is just plain wrong. Maybe the home has multiple offers on it, or is pending. Keeping it as " Active " and not returning calls is showing a complete lack of professional courtesy.

I just want anybody reading this to know, if you list your Big Bear home with me, I will do everything in my power to get it sold. I will have a working lock box on it right away. I will have a sign put up right away. I will put your property on numerous websites. I will answer my phone if humanly possible. If I can't answer that instant, I will call back the second I am off the other line. I guess that is the difference between a full time, professional Realtor and a weekend warrior.