A few questions came up when I read your post. You said a substandard program can you give us some examples. What would be your expectation other than what she gave you there? Second has she hooked you up with MLS emails (usually daily or weekly that come to you from a database) that show new listings or listings that have shifted in price? If so, maybe she is waiting for your response here. If not, I would have to question whether this Real Estate agent is up to snuff on how agents are working with long distance or even just local clients these days. I'd probably dump her on that alone. It sounds as though something similar to this might be the substandard system and she is not answering you questions you post on the site she links you to. (I had this happen with a long distant real estate agent as well in Texas a few years back and it infuriated me.) I drew the conclusion she never even looked at my responses and I think this is what is wrong with that site set up. They give it to you, link you up and don't give it a second look, but we think they ARE reading them and looking at our responses and questions on them! I will never understand this sort of unprofessionalism. My new one just sends me the up-to-date email listings instead. If I have questions I email.
Do you have a visit lined up with her yet? Have you made it clear when you will be visiting? If not she may be awaiting for you to take the lead here. I say this as I have a long distant agent and basically found out they shined when I emailed this person, told them our visit date, and asked them about how many houses we could look at in this time frame and where. He emailed back with clear direction, time frames and recommendations. I made a list of MLS homes based on the emails that came to me and sent them to the agent and asked that the agent exclude or add a few based on their recommendations. They were fantastic when we showed up. Laid the foundation for the day, discussed route and homes, went over any questions. They of course prepare all the information for the homes for each of you to consult as you are looking. By the way, the Texas real estate agent (the one that too did not answer my questions on the site link to homes as I assume you also have) was a nice lady, but still very negative and not overall inspiring or motivating when we looked at homes. She gave us info., yes but I felt dissatisfied as she never really helped me with problem solving my needs and overall did not provide solutions. So I guess this present inattentiveness now with your agent may be an overall sign to pay attention to. In the end this worked for us I guess because we didn't end up moving to Texas and now I am grateful, with my impending move up the coast in California. Had we had the right agent, I might be closing this with ya'll :-).
Far away, with my present agent--not the Texas one--, it was somewhat low client relations though with the exceptions of the MLS listings in the email as well as basic answers to my questions (which I asked rarely, but in bulk, as, to be honest I wasn't quite sure intially how serious we were. I was clear about this with the agent upfront.) Sometimes they are also aware that you may not eventually move here, so sometimes they can be a little low on the energy side until you really start looking at houses. The face to face time was efficient, helpful and very professional. If you get ANYTHING OTHER THAN THIS professionalism and efficiency, dump, dump, dump. Real estate is not a people pleasing venture on the client's side as you know.
If you take the ball and outline everything clearly (expectations, needs, timing of a visit, expectations of what you want to accomplish in that visit) you may see her spring into action, if you do not, run.
I dumped our first real estate agent when we were trying to move from another town (San Diego in fact
. She was horrible and completely self centered and not looking out for our needs (can you say Barbie got money from a divorce and kept driving by her mansion in the Palisades bragging about it and then drove us to a refrigerator crack house telling us how we can get nothing but this for our money and then back by her manse to point it out again and yet again!! LOL. If it didn't pis- me off so much at the time it would have been hilarious. I swear she was also hitting on my husband!!!!
) Needless to say I was very depressed and angry when we got back to San Diego and fired her immediatly (Now I would have done it on the spot and maybe slapped Barbie for good measure
. I was newly married and it was our first home purchase too. Then I got back on the horse (or web) and I found a real estate agent couple that worked together and our first time out with them we bought a home. Yet, in each situation a date and time was set up to look at homes. Make sure whatever agent you do decide on signs you up for the MLS emails that come in the form of current listings. This is critical. If it is the site they link you up to ask them if they review your feedback and if not why not. Atleast now you'll both be on the same page.
You said you picked her because you liked her. Why did you like her?
You may be better off if she is not working for you. If so call her thank her for her time and tell her you have choosen another agent. Don't spend another second on the phone except to wish her well. Then do your footwork on the web, give people a call.
Really interview them. Tell them what was not working with the other agent (NO NAMES and if so wait until you get to know the agent better in person. Don't get bogged down in this. If they do question their time and energy taken away from your home hunting mission and research to please their gossip needs. It is not about the old agent, it is about YOUR house hunting needs.) and ask how they work with out-of-town clients.
In a way this situation could really work for you, because now you may really know the questions to ask the new agent. You know it is no longer about who you
like, but who does their job well
for you. It is a learning process and sometimes we find out really quickly what our needs are and don't flinch with the next person about being clear and up front.
Understandably it is your first home buying experience and you are feeling a fish out of water. If she doesn't: hop in getting you those MLS listings I mentioned (please then get rid of her ASAP, but it sounds as though she hooks you up with something), offer clear direction and time frames regarding looking at homes and areas to cover when you tell her you are coming down to look at homes, and also if she does not answer your questions when you email her just don't waste another minute. Move on. In fact move on in absence of one of them. Home buying is stressful enough when you don't have the agent doing their job, doing it efficiently and with experience.
They may be a bit busy, but should get back to you in a resonable time frame. If they don't find that you are a serious future buyer, they may not be attentive. Why should they? (some will argue here and say you may be one day, but I disagree.) Many are busy putting new houses on the market and/or taking care of their serious clients or potential serious clients. But once it is established you are serious, then there should be no BS. Notta.
Good luck and may you find a fitting and wonderful first home. What area are you looking in? Maybe there is a good real estate agent on this site (probably many
. I am sure they would also have great advice and suggestions.
Sorry about the long post. I am having long post syndrome weekend. Thank God it is Sunday
. I also felt this being your first home, it would be nice to hear others have gone through this crazy process and have fired their first agent their first time around and it was a great and important move to do so.
Keep the faith and do the footwork. It will pay off. Please forgive redundant advice in areas you already are in the know about
. Next thing you know you'll be answering someone else's post on their first home purchase with suggestions and advice. It is all learn as you go for everyone the first time around. Hopefully you also get sage advice along the way. Posting this question in this forum tells me you are a person that is excellent in finding solutions to concerns or problems
Kick butt and remember . . . location, location, location and know what are your real day to day habits and get the best place that fits what you really like to do both as a couple and individually (be very careful about too much commute time). In the end it is about you two learning to be in a marriage right now. That is what is most important and above everything else. The first year of marriage can be stressful (maybe even filled with fighting) or it can be a long honeymoon, but buying a first home IS a given stressor for many reasons. Give each other room to make mistakes here (and dumb as- assumptions about one another) and learn together. You'll be doing it together for a lifetime.
Just call me Dear Abbey. LOL!
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Realtor Expectations
. I know your experience will serve you well in this marriage and move!
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