A day in the life of a Metro Realtor

A couple of weeks ago one of my first time home buyers was getting close to getting a clear to close on his loan. I emailed the listing agent on a Monday that we wanted to close on Thursday. I never got an email back from her at all.

The next day I talked to the mortgage loan officer and we determined it probably won't happen Thursday. I email the listing agent that it wasn't going to happen on Thursday but I would let her know when it could take place.

Wednesday about noon I called and emailed the listing agent that we wanted to close on Friday. Late in the afternoon about 5 the agent called and said it could not happen on Friday because the title company could not do it.

I emailed her back and said I couldn't understand in this economy on how they couldn't fit a closing in. My first time home buyer was anxious and wanted to move in. He wanted to close.

• Unfortunately the listing agent has been in the business too long and has forgotten that clients are first.
• Unfortunately the listing agent let the title company dictate when the closing should take place.
• Unfortunately I found out that the listing agent was in a relocation class that week. She most likely didn't want to miss class.

I emailed her and asked why the title company didn't hire a contract closer to close the loan. Thursday morning we communicated and said her office was trying to get it done but doubted it could be done. In her years of experience she said title companies couldn't be ready to close in 2 days!!!!!!

What was she that out of it? Even in the refi boom of 2003 I knew of title companies doing 1 day closings here in Michigan. In this economy they can do next day closings all day long. Unfortunately this listing agents office called me at 3:45 on Thursday afternoon to say we could close on Friday.

By that time the mortgage company couldn't guarantee documents to arrive at the title company until 4:00 on Friday nite. Not a good situation. Not a smart move to try to close with trying to rush documents at 4:00 on a Friday nite. It took the listing agent almost 8 hours to get it scheduled after they decided they could do it.

Again the listing agent was in her relocation class. She relied on her office to take care of the setting of the closing. Do you think she even took the time from her class to make a call to the title company? No I don't think so. She was too busy. She didn't care. I have always been able to set a closing with one phone call while I was on the phone. I didn't have to wait 8 hours to set a closing.

So we said we would set it up for Monday at 1 in the afternoon. I emailed the listing agent again to confirm the closing and to send me the address of the closing. Again no response from the agent all day Friday. Saturday I sent off this terse email.

I know you say you have an excellent reputation and you do your best. But again yesterday I sent an email about the closing time on Monday and GOT NON RESPONSE AT ALL. I don't know if you are still in the relocation conference or showing clients homes, but we would like to close up this current deal. Hopefully you got this confirmed with your title company. From past experience trying to set a closing with your title company I know it takes 7 hours - 24 hours to see if they can fit it in.

Can you confirm the closing time at 1 and the address of the location on Monday.

She sent me an email saying the lady in her office that was setting the showing said the title company was going to confirm with me. Unfortunately they never did.

My suggestions to this agent are:

1. Respond to emails..... it's common courtesy
2. When you take a deal see it thru. Don't go to a class or go out showing houses if there is work to do on a deal that is close to closing
3. Fire the title company.... if they can't schedule a closing to fit your and the clients needs then they aren't very good. The days of a title company controlling closings are gone. Too many good ones out there that do great jobs.
4. Fire your helper. She didn't do a great job. If it takes 8 hours to schedule closings then she is eating too many bon bons, or she is overloaded in work. If she needs help get it for her or better yet do some yourself.
5. Step up and do what needs to be done to help get the deal done.

The bottom line is your reputation with me and my buyer is in the dumpster. It is trash. You were too busy in class. You put your needs in front of a clients. You didn't take action and didn't even have the common courtesy to respond to emails. It only takes a minute to reply to an email but you didn't.

Unfortunately as a Metro Detroit realtor we do not always deal with real estate agents that are professional or do what they are supposed to be doing. We sometimes have to push the other agent to get their end done. But the bottom line is that we are closed on Monday at one. Not when we really wanted to close but it will close.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent

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