*The below is from a WRAR member who wishes to remain anonymous.
I believe it should be an agents obligation (and in the Code of Ethics) that a REALTOR® who shows a home provide feedback after a showing. I believe they owe this to the listing agent, and more important the seller. eShowings makes this very easy!
Sellers leave lights on, leave their home, take their pets for walks, make their beds, mow their lawn, etc. At a minimum, a buyer agent should respond to the showings automatic email with “not interested”.
Without running any numbers, my guess is that buyer agents are providing feedback on less than 50% of the showings down here at the beach. This really upsets sellers.
Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks, and hope you’re having a great week!
Your CEO’s response:
Dear Anonymous:
THANKS for the post. You are right on target.
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Thomas O. Tucker
When showing as Buyer’s agent, it is very limited as to what should be said – if anything – regarding my client’s comments…that is why I decline feedback ordinarily, not out of lack of respect or courtesy.
CEO - Jerry Panz
Tommy, THANKS for the comments.
Do you think it appropriate for the buyer’s agent to explain why feedback is important to a seller, that a sample “feedback” form be given to the buyer and allowing the buyer to choose how the agent could respond might be appropriate? For example, if the buyer believes that the property is overpriced because of its condition and wants to respond in such a manner, could such a response be helpful to the seller?
Sam Graham
I understand the Buyer Agent’s concern that any feedback they provide might be used against them. However, as Mr. Panz pointed out, honest feedback can really help to give the seller realistic expectations.
If there are specific reasons that a property did not make your client’s short-list, such information can be incredibly valuable to a seller.
When improvements could be made to the price, or to the property itself, chances are the Listing Agent has already pressed the seller to do so. However, by providing feedback, you can strengthen the case for a price improvement, renovation, staging, odor-elimination, or whatever is necessary to get the home sold.
Also, after reading the opinion that less than half of all agents provide feedback, I did a bit of fact checking.
For what it’s worth, I reviewed the data for appointments scheduled for all WRAR listings since 1/2/2009, when eshowings began serving the entire Association. I found that we have received feedback for 73.94% of all appointments scheduled thus far.
While we’d all like to see 100%, I’d have to say that this rate is very good. Still, there is room for improvement. Please remember that providing feedback is considered by many to be a professional courtesy; again, it can also be instrumental in aligning the seller’s expectations with realistic market insight.
I hope you find this insight to be helpful.
Sam Graham
Director of Member Services
eshowings, Inc.
Teresa Clontz
In keeping with a professional image for Realtors overall, I think feedback is VERY important. Theres nothing worse than telling your seller that you have phoned the agent several times for feedback and did not receive a response. This forms a negative image for the seller for Realtors overall. We should not have to defend our profession over such a small courtesy.
Lori Speight
I agree 100%. It only takes a few minutes with ESHOWINGS automated emails and it means so much to our Sellers. Even when I have shown 20 houses in one day I do it. We need to help each other out and keep our professional image!