So frustrated trying to find a REALTOR!! (Greenville, Anderson: sales, real estate)

[Disney Dreamer]

Do realtors not want to work anymore?

We've been down in South Carolina for almost a year now. We LOVE living here!

We've been renting and had been planning to rent for possibly a two or three years (save up even more money) and then start looking for home/land.

Well, we're ready to start looking now. We didn't know when we rented the place that an intersection of a train is right behind our house and the train lays on the horn at every crossing!! The thing is, it's just a driveway that the train tracks cross not even a road but blow they must and do. The second thing is a drummer for a neighbor. He beats on those drums all hours of the day and night and hearing them through my walls is like chinese torture!!

We're ready to make a purchase!! Here's what we're running into.

We find a piece of property, we get a referal of a realtor from a friend. Take the actual piece of paper w/ the printed out description of the house to said referral. It goes something like this: Walk through the door.
Realtor says, "Can I help you?"
I say, "Yes, we'd like some information on this property and so and so referred us to you. We're ready to buy a home."
Realtor says, "I'm right in the middle of something. May I take this from you and look into it and call you back?"
I say, "Sure. That'd be great. Thanks." And then I leave. Whole interaction takes less than 5 minutes.
Then we NEVER get a call back!

Get tired of that, go to next realtor just walk in from the street.
Can you help us? The story goes, we get a little farther from this agent who is only in it part time. We decide not to go with that house but the realtor seems nice enough we'd be happy to work with her to find a home. But guess what? We call, leave emails. Don't hear back from her again.

Call another realtor on the phone, ask about a property that we found that they have listed, girl says, "I'm right in the middle of something. I'll get that info from you and call you back." Two days go by and STILL NOTHING!!

I just don't GET IT!!!! And it's not like we're demanding, pushy people. Making huge demands. Wanting something for nothing. Making the realtor work like a dog!!! All of our interactions are less than 5 minutes!! We call, ask about a property that we took the time to find and let them know we're interested in purchasing a home. They're always SOOOOOOOO busy and promise a call back but we get NOTHING!!

What would you suggest?? I'm open here. We work at Clemson University and we're looking anywhere from Pickens to Powedersville to Townsville to Anderson. We'd just like a realtor to help us!!

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[businessperson]

You sound like the type of clients that Realtors dream of having. The problem is they aren't all like you. The reason many Realtors are "busy" is because they've spent hours on top of hours with clients that are just looking. They've spent time and money researching the mls and driving people around only to have them go to another agent or to a FSBO. The reason many agents are only part time is because they don't have enough paying customers to make a living and have to work another job.

Most Realtors would drop everything and work with someone they could trust. Let them know that you are serious and ready to buy. Find one good agent and stick with them. Ask them to refer you to an associate if they're really too busy. If you take the time to build a relationship with an agent you'll have an agent for life, and one who will most likely do anything for you.

Good luck. I hope you find the home of your dreams.

[DJShymansky]

That sucks. Too many people got into the business in the boom of 2004-2005 looking to make the 'fast buck". Sadly, many of them lacked any skill or drive whatsoever. Now that the market's turned, become more competitive, they're dropping like flies, and rightfully so.

There are great agents out there, I promise. If you need yet another referral, let me know. I'll check in with them beforehand and make sure they're committed.

[geoffandliz]

As a home seller this infuriates me. I would think that in this market, a realtor would be very anxious to help. Hopefully you will find someone to help you in that area. My coworker's husband is a realtor, and he lives in Clemson. You can send me a PM if you would like his information. Too bad my beautiful house is in Mauldin , or I would say you HAD to come see mine. LOL
Good Luck,

Liz

[South Carolina Guy]

Are you serious? I can hardly believe my eyes. I thought real estate was about as competitive a business as you could find anywhere.

It doesn't make me feel very good knowing that if I decide to move, the real estate agent might not even get back to potential buyers!

I know several good ones. I don't want to post my regular email address, but I just set up a temporary email address for you. need_an_agent@charter.net.

Send me a note via email and I'll make some recommendations.

[Disney Dreamer]

Originally Posted by businessperson

You sound like the type of clients that Realtors dream of having. The problem is they aren't all like you. The reason many Realtors are "busy" is because they've spent hours on top of hours with clients that are just looking. They've spent time and money researching the mls and driving people around only to have them go to another agent or to a FSBO. The reason many agents are only part time is because they don't have enough paying customers to make a living and have to work another job.

Most Realtors would drop everything and work with someone they could trust. Let them know that you are serious and ready to buy. Find one good agent and stick with them. Ask them to refer you to an associate if they're really too busy. If you take the time to build a relationship with an agent you'll have an agent for life, and one who will most likely do anything for you.

Good luck. I hope you find the home of your dreams.

This is a great suggestion. Perhaps we need to be more assertive and let them know we really ARE serious about purchasing a home.

We did meet one prospective agent today. We drove to Century 21 not even knowing if they'd be open but really, we are desperate now really ready to buy. We've been talking about it constantly now for about a month and we know we're ready. We know what we can afford, we know what we want in the way of a house. . . we're just ready. KWIM? There was one agent on duty and because they seemed to be slow today she was able to sit down and speak with us which I appreciated! DH really seemed to like her but I'm not so sure. But at least I had the option to even be able to interview someone potentially to work with.

Originally Posted by South Carolina Guy

Are you serious? I can hardly believe my eyes. I thought real estate was about as competitive a business as you could find anywhere.

It doesn't make me feel very good knowing that if I decide to move, the real estate agent might not even get back to potential buyers!

I know several good ones. I don't want to post my regular email address, but I just set up a temporary email address for you. need_an_agent@charter.net.

Send me a note via email and I'll make some recommendations.

Saddly, it's true. This has been our experience w/out exageration. 3 time's by 3 seperate agents we've not received one call back! Basically, we call (with the exception of that one time I actually walked into the one office and the girl we had that little bit of interaction with) and inquire about a property that we happened to see and immediately the response has been I'm busy but I'll take that info from you and call you back. But then they never call back. I'll say to DH, "Did that realtor ever call you back?" And the answer has been no.

By the way, South Carolina Guy, an email is on it's way. Thanks for your help.

[South Carolina Guy]

Originally Posted by businessperson

You sound like the type of clients that Realtors dream of having. The problem is they aren't all like you. The reason many Realtors are "busy" is because they've spent hours on top of hours with clients that are just looking. They've spent time and money researching the mls and driving people around only to have them go to another agent or to a FSBO.

I agree that a buyer who goes to another agent is not acting in good faith. But a FSBO? If I'm buying a house, my loyalty is to my spouse who wants the best house at the best price. If my dream house turns out to be a FSBO, what am I supposed to do? Pay the commission out of guilt?

No doubt that there are bad buyers, but that doesn't excuse not getting back to a potential buyer. As you probably know, a cardinal rule of sales is not to pre-judge a prospective buyer.

[drinkwat]

Well, this goes along with our experience. Initially, we were looking at relocating to the Raleigh/Durham area. Contacted a realitor for a relocation packet and presto, all the info you could want (FREE) a phone call and actually met with us on our visit in April. Spent quit a bit of time talking and giving us really great maps and info to go drive by ourselves and check out.

The area didn't "do it" for us. Then found Greenville. Again, contacted a realitor.........NOTHING! Had to pay for a relo packet through the Chamber of Commerce. After our visit in August, we did decide that Greenville does do it for us. We briefly spoke with the receptionist in a Century 21 office, but nothing serious. I really can't believe, in this market, that realitors aren't falling all over themselves to make a sale

[businessperson]

Originally Posted by South Carolina Guy

I agree that a buyer who goes to another agent is not acting in good faith. But a FSBO? If I'm buying a house, my loyalty is to my spouse who wants the best house at the best price. If my dream house turns out to be a FSBO, what am I supposed to do? Pay the commission out of guilt?

No doubt that there are bad buyers, but that doesn't excuse not getting back to a potential buyer. As you probably know, a cardinal rule of sales is not to pre-judge a prospective buyer.

If you want a FSBO that's fine, but trust your agent and allow him/her to work for you. A good buyer's agent can negotiate a commission with a FSBO and still represent you.

[karoga]

We just moved to Anderson 2 mo ago. Our Realtor was wonderful! Very dedicated (because we were still out of state he even spent 3 hrs with a home inspector at a house we were considering buying!) If you want his info you can private msg me.
Good Luck!