Quality Service

I work with an equal share of buyers and sellers, and I like it that way. But sometimes the workload far exceeds the number of hours in a day. When this happens, it only stands to reason that something, or some things, will fall by the wayside. While I do my best to return every call that comes in and keep my schedule as flexible as possible, I can't help but wonder what my clients think when they call me and they get my voice mail. Does this come off like I am avoiding them in any way? If so, then why? Do people actually think that an individual can in no way spend an entire day on the phone? And if not, then why are people so hesitant to leave a message, and rather, are so quick to call right back?

How does one know when they are providing their clients with the highest level of service, aside from just asking their clients? Isn't safe to assume that, if one is doing, or has done, everything that his/her client has requested, then one is providing a high level of service to his/her clients?

What message does it send his/her client when an agent is always on the phone and/or with other clients and can't answer?

Random Acts of Stupidity

Why is it that buyers insist upon calling several Listing Agents when searching for a home, rather than working with one Buyer's Agent? It doesn't cost the buyer anything to have someone represent him/her, someone that he/she feels comfortable with and trusts. I realize that not everyone is aware of buyer representation, but most people are aware that it exists. I have worked with buyers who had no problem picking up the phone and calling a Listing Agent in order to see a home or ask questions, even though they know we have an exclusive agreement to work with one another. I have even had buyers call me and ask for information about a particular property, then two sentences later, they tell me that they are currently working with an agent, under a signed agreement for representation. After confirming what I thought I had heard, they go a step further and tell me that they "didn't want to bother their agent, as he/she is very busy". Excuse me?? Did I just hear what I thought I heard? Correct me if I'm wrong, but when that buyer closes on a house, isn't their agent getting paid a commission for providing a service to them? And they don't want to bother their agent, as their agent is busy? And what exactly does that imply, that I'm not very busy? I just sit around and wait for buyers to call with questions that they really should be directing to their agent, right? Not even! So, can someone clarify this for me, please . . . so, it's not okay to call your agent to ask some questions about a particular property because he/she is very busy, in spite of the fact that he/she will get paid at some point in the near future, right? BUT it is okay to randomly call some other agent, who is also very busy and ask questions about a property, knowing that this other agent will not be getting paid because you made it to the closing table, correct?

Can someone shed some light on this for me, please??

Boy, Have I Been Busy!

You know that saying "Time flies when you're having fun"? Well, that also applies to when you're working like a madman. So, it's March now. And I am posting for the first time in about 2 months. So, sorry that I have been busy. I've been working my butt off. Anyway, enough of that already!

Dallas Foreclosures Increase 67% in November 2006

"After two consecutive months of decreasing activity, Dallas foreclosure filings spiked in November, surging 67% from the previous month and placing the city’s foreclosure rate back on top among five of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas, according to the RealtyTrac™ U.S. Metropolitan Foreclosure Market Report.

The eight-county metropolitan area reported 4,653 new foreclosure filings during the month, a foreclosure rate of one new foreclosure filing for every 286 households — 3.4 times the national average.

“These latest numbers are a complete about-face for Dallas, which over the past couple of months had been running counter to the nation as a whole in terms of foreclosure trends,” said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac. “Dallas foreclosures took a major upswing this month, placing the city’s foreclosure rate back in top position among the five major metro areas we track each month.”

Dallas returned to the top spot, a position it had occupied for most of the year, replacing Chicago as the major metro area with the highest foreclosure rate. Foreclosure rates in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York also registered below the rate in Dallas."

provided by Realtytrac, 12/19/06