BiggerPockets

Trying to submit a purchase agreement on a property but my agent doesn't work on weekends or weekdays after 6PM.

I have bought a few investment properties in the past and never had this issue with previous buyer agents. Just thought I would share.

Not going to bypass the agent since they did find the property, but if the deal goes south I'm definitely on the hunt for a new agent.

Your thoughts?

I am dealing with an agent right now who, it seems, is very knowledgable about the area. She is an investor and always has good insight with the properties I have approached her about. As just starting out I value her input, a lot. The problem is I find property and run the numbers and email her about wanting to setup a showing and discuss. Yet she doesn't respond. I eventually call her and then we talk about the property but I would think, even if its the weekend, she should respond by simply stating we can do something Monday. I just got finished with purchasing a property through her so she knows I am not simply wasting her time.

Bottom line, agents cant take the weekend off. A simple email about doing something on the next weekday and following through would be all I need. Hire an intern or something do it for them. I just dont get the mentality of people who I am trying to give money to.

I am definitely on the hunt for other knowledgable agents.

Jeff, i had a investor client like you before. I printed off a few dozen blank contracts, taught him how to fill it out correctly and gave him the information he needed to submit offers directly when desired.

If you want to be a workaholic, all the power to ya. That said, the agent receiving the offer more than likely isn't moving any faster with the paperwork now that they have it.

I understand if you want to take weekend off but the realtor I have been working with told me up front she and her staff are at the office until 1am working and on the weekends to get caught up. She stated I could call her anytime. After the contract was signed the service was gone. And honestly, the transaction was very very little work on her side. Only after that first deal have I stepped up the communication with her to find the next one.

Its ok. I understand its a holiday weekend. Just think if you say something up front you should follow through. I do my real estate investigations on the weekends and late at night because I work full time. I think most startup investors are the same. Which is why I think its hard for realtors to take the weekend off. Guess I just need to get used to it.

If I could look in MLS myself for comps and let myself into the properties I want then I wouldn't bother her at all, well at least a whole lot less.

It sound real pretty to say I take the weekends off. I respect the agents and investors that do, I like the ideal that they do. Its labor day and that is what we did today (LABOR). I sleep three to four hours a night. I go out late at night and early in the mornings inspecting the latest home that hit the market. I try to have my offers in while everyone else is out looking for the first time. Crye-leike agents go home at five, we start showing houses at 5, thats the time some of our customers get off work. I have a generator in my truck to show at night if I need to. We are willing to go that extra mile and sacrifice now while we are still young. I made $3,500 last christmas eve putting a hardwood floor in a study. It was a gift for his wife. I had three guys and it took us half the day but we got it done.

I wanted to add that by doing my own investments I create a stream of income where I can pick and choose as time goes on how hard or little I want to work and what listings and buyers I work with.

As a broker/agent it becomes less and less predicated on achieving the NEXT CLOSING.

My ultimate dream is to have monster cash flow,travel every month or so,and take listings only when the seller is realistic.

To me, day of the week as an agent is kind of irrelevant. If I have a buyer that can look at properties on a Tue morning, then that's when I'll show him properties. Same goes for a Sunday afternoon. If I have a dude that works odd hours but wants to see properties at 5 AM, and it's worth my time, I'll show him properties then (and I'll remember to bring my flashlight). Since the client is what drives the business, it is the agents job to accommodate the client's schedule, not the other way around.

BUT

I also get to pick who my clients are, and what priority I schedule showings with them. If you're a verified cash buyer for $1M+, my schedule clears up pretty quickly. If you're an FHA buyer for $200K or less, I'm probably going to have a harder time fitting you in, but you'll still find me very responsive. If you're a dude who knows a guy who has deep pockets but for some reason NEEDS you to tell him what properties to buy, you're lucky if you get a call back. My point here is that if you prove your value to me as a client, I will see you and I will raise you with my value as an agent.

As for those people that have their phones and emails stop working at a certain time... that's just dumb. I pay for 24/7 phone and internet- why would I give free money to my phone company and internet company by refusing to use them at certain times? Maybe I'm just young, single and naive though ;)

Here's one for ya...last night I got a call at 7:30 pm. A woman saw my house on craigslist and drove over to see it. While at the house she called me and asked if she could see the inside. I said sure and drove over (at 8:00 on Friday night). She loved the house, but told me she was having trouble getting qualified because her credit score was only 610. I told her Wells Fargo can get her done. She called my guy over there. He got her qualified today. I called her to tell her the good news, at which time she thanked me and said her real estate agent would be submitting an offer to mine. What!?? SHE found the house through MY advertising. I got her qualified for a mortgage. And now the real estate agents get a commission!? BTW...mine was in Columbus at the Ohio State football game through all this. Weeeeeee!!!!! It's fun to be a Realtor!

In the end I guess I'm the fool. I should have just gone to the football game because I'm sure her agent would have eventually answered the phone and called my agent and left her a voicemail so she could eventually call him back and set up a showing. Oh wait....that wouldn't have happened because her agent didn't think she qualified for financing!!!!

To each is your own I guess. I personally hate it when agents do not respond back, I think it is not only bad business practice, but also rude and inconsiderate. be that as it may, time can be a tricky thing. For me, I don't acre what day of the week it is, if there is money to be made, then I am on it. I like the saying "money never sleeps".

On the other hand, I also make sure to take time off for family and for vacations and getaways - they are needed, and when I do, I am not available.

For agents (I am not one), unless you are rolling in it, I find it hard to understand how many don't return calls or provide the very best service to their clients or potential clients. Seems like shooting yourself in the foot to me, but that is just my opinion.

Update...buyer called and agreed to proceed without agents. Crisis averted.