BiggerPockets

I assume you are an agent. Call the broker and raise Kane. If you can't get through, tell your broker and follow that lead.

I would be calling the MLS office in a couple of days if my call was not returned and file a complaint.

Small shops list them, but ignore calls if they have what they think might be a buyer, very unprofesional and such conduct is not in the public good!

If no help from your broker, and it's a call/lock box, you called, if no answer, go to the home. If the home owner is there, tell them you can't get the listing agent to return your calls and that you have someone who would like to see the property!

If it's an appointment only, and your calls are not returned, I'd go alone to the house, knock on the door and make the appointment to show.

When I had to do such things I would always have to remember that the seller could very well be related to the jerk listing agent and that's why the listing agent is doing such a poor job, because they just can't lose the listing! Never complain about another agent with a client, ethics, but if they open the door to your opinion, you might carefully explain how things are suppose to work on the MLS. Good luck...Bill

In case #2 where the office is the contact of the Realtor, they are one & the same. I'm figuring the other person must be a member of BP because just after I posted my question & it hit Facebook, I got a return call. You guys are awesome,thanks for the advice. I've spent 10 yrs as an appraiser, new as an agent & I can't believe they will return calls to get value but not to get a buyer.

Jimmy, that's too bad. When an agent says they are too busy, to me that translates to I really don't want to make money or do what the owner has asked me to do which is sell the home. Second agent just responded to me with something similar. My response was a nicer version of this: I appreciate you for getting back to me, I will let my pre-approved buyer who is approved for more than the purchase price know that this home is not available for viewing & if after seeing all the others we have on our list, he should decide he wants to see it, we will then contact you again to see if you or someone in your office can find time to show it. Turns out it does not have a combo lockbox on it as listed.

I love being busy but my standard is, if I can't open it on the day you're requesting, will this day at these 2 times work for you instead? I love feeding my family, I'm going to find time to sell your home.

I'm a Realtor as well and I hate it when another Realtor won't get back to me. I usually have that problem on REO properties or foreclosed properties when the property has gone into multiple offers and the agent doesn't care enough to let you know. I wish there was a status for that in MLS because the properties show as active when really there not. It doesn't make the buyers real happy either.

Tamara

Slightly off topic Kellie but i am an investor from Australia and i am looking to buy rental properties in the USA.
I have the same issues getting agents to talk to me or to look at a property to give me a report.
Do you have any cheap properties in your area that would make a solid rental return?
I have been looking in Atlanta Alabama and Las Vegas and Hollywood.
I intend to build a large portfolio so agents i can trust and rely on is more important than location.

regards andrew from oz

Hey Joel ---Is the buyers agent pawning their client off on the listing agent a common issue? I've never experienced it in my area.

Kellie-

I've run across this issue before, and generally (as has been mentioned) this is a symptom of REO brokers who are far too busy. However, since they are so busy, they often use the same combos on all their lockboxes. So if you need a combo, you just have to know who has the listing, and more than likely you can get in even if they don't return calls.

If you haven't shown their properties before, call on one of their listings with a high DOM, and you'll probably get a call back. Then follow it up with an "oh, btw, I have a client interested in 123 Main (the original property you wanted to show), do you have the combo for that too?"

Yeah, it is somewhat disingenuous, but it gets the job done and allows you to combat their laziness.

I don't understand why an agent wouldn't return your calls. If somebody wants to see my listings your darn right I am going to let them in.