I typically try to be on time for all of my appointments. However, I am typically BARELY on time or perhaps five minutes late. My wife claims that I don't know how long I take to get ready (showering, etc.), but that's not exactly true. I simply don't allow enough time to get ready before leaving the house. So there.
At any rate, I arrived about 15 minutes early today for my showing appointment, which is rare for me. I know that some of you reading this will disagree with me, but I feel like I am wasting my time if I show up too early. So, while I was waiting, the phone rang, and it was my client calling. It turns out that they were running late.
Of course they were. I could have predicted that. In fact, I was there before they even left their home to make the trip.
That happens to me almost without fail. If I arrive early, they are running 15+ minutes behind, and I get to hang out and wait while listening to the radio or making some calls.
However, in the instances when I am more than a couple of minutes late for whatever reason (maybe 10 or more minutes), those are the days that my clients will definitely choose to arrive 45 minutes early, and "just drive around the area".
During their perusal of the neighborhood, they will develop a list of 5-9 homes that they would like to take a look at later, depending on the price. Of course, being the consummate professional that I am, I promise to look up these particular properties to see why they didn't make it onto our list. Maybe they are too high in price, or too small for their needs, or missing a bedroom, or inferior in some other way. No matter what, I can guarantee that this will prove to be a futile endeavor, because I ALREADY MADE A GOOD LIST FOR THEM.
Secretly, when they find these "gems", they seem to assume that I am hiding some of the current inventory from their curious eyes. Perhaps I don't really want to sell a house at all. Maybe I am a real estate hobbyist, not a full-time real estate broker supporting my family on this income. What have I done with the past eleven years of my life?
No, instead I will provide the details for them to see why I didn't choose to show those in the first place.
I guess the moral of this post is to arrive on time for your appointments, but I am in no position to teach this, or to judge anyone else for their habitual tardiness. Instead, just be prepared with a good book (or your wireless notebook) if you are too early, and be aware that you may end up answering a series of questions about unsuitable homes, or drainage patterns, or unkempt adjacent subdivisions if you are a few minutes late.
Thanks for reading!
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Heavens you're good. You pegged it. I feel the same way although you made me laugh about it and I can honestly say I don't usually do that. We do love shooting ourselves in the foot don't we? We got into this business so we "wouldn't sell a house". Whatever...
Later in the rain~Deb
BRIAN - Sounds like you and I are kindred spirits.
DEB - Thanks! I always appreciate your kind compliments. I realized I left a few words off of the end of the post just now. You were fast with your comments!
ANDREW - No problem. I have taken the liberty of preparing an extensive list of questions for you which I will now proceed to pelt you with.
Jasonizer, Isn't this a part of being a human or someone with a life?
ANDREW - Figures.
MANA LISA - Pretty much. I just thought it was worth writing about.
Jason,
Don't be so hard on yourself!!! You are almost working yourself into a minor crisis here. You are doing fine... but you are right about how it goes... either I'm early and they're late or the other way around. After years of going through this dance, I just try to do the best I can. Sometimes I think you have to remind people that you ARE doing the best you can for them. Usually your best will be enough (and more than they would get from the average agent). Sometimes no one can do enough to make certain types of people happy.
One thing I try to do is keep something interesting to read or an educational or motivational cd in my car to pass the time if I do have to wait on customers or other agents. Just a thought.... Thanks for a good post!
Crouch - This is good man, darn good.
"Maybe I am a real estate hobbyist, not a full-time real estate broker supporting my family on this income. What have I done with the past eleven years of my life?"
God forbid you are actually good at what you do...and get paid for it. From what I've gathered, you are pretty darn good at what you do. I don't fall asleep to it, I fall intrigued by it. Personally, I fall asleep reading Lenza and holding Bukaty:-) In Real Estate matters in Austin, I'd just hire Crouch.
I don't feel I'm very good at keeping myself occupied when I'm waiting for someone. I try to show up a little early but not too early.
I believe it is the law of attraction Jason, you know, what we dwell on we create, what we try to avoid happens. I would create a new mantra for yourself... " I and my clients are always right on time!"
Just food for thought!
Susan
My thought for the day..... I am going to pass my Real Estate exam with flying colors! You will know tomorrow whether it works or not!
Jason,we let our clients pick out the houses and if we see one with a problem or too high, or for some reason didn't meet their needs they told us about we have a discussion on why they chose this. Too high etc...
Yea, my husband can't judge his time very well either, always takes him longer than he thinks.
Murphy's law for you on showing up early? I take a book or use my blackberry while waiting.
I'm almost always early...and hate it when my clients are late. Especially when I've scheduled several homes to see. I'm always worried that we will have to rush, or inconvenience the seller, or make several calls to reschedule everything, which is a huge pain. But, stuff happens sometimes...
I used to never show up for anything on time...sometimes I just didn't show up. It all changed about 5 years ago when I became an entrepreneur
a complete freak about punctualityand started caring about it. These days, I am only 7 minutes late and I write myself up for it everytime. Next time it happens, I'm fired.And of course your list is good...you're a PRO!
Jason,
Or do what Todd Clark does...use voice recognition to compose your posts when you're early and waiting!!! Thanks, Fran
Jason- What a great post. I hate being too early too and it drives Nestor crazy! He hates being late or even on time! He expects to be early. But then when the other person is running late it seems like they are really late because you have already been waiting 10 minutes!
We have many different cultures down here, if your clients are from the Islands you can expect them to be at least 30 minutes late. We have adjusted our schedules accordingly.
Now, I always have my stuff ready in case I have to wait. Great time to do scripture study, catch up on my notes, write thank you notes, draft posts and ideas for my blog, and my favorite- AUDIO CD's- My university on wheels with all the great mentors of self improvement and leadership, etc. I LOVE THAT TIME!
REAL ESTATE HOBBYIST!!! I finally have a name to put on the part time PIMA's that bog down my family time and schedule throughout the week!!!
Nice article - it is funny how people think you might be hiding a listing from them...ha! Have a great weekend!
Hi Jason,
I too am a 5 min. late guy. So I am easier with my clients when they are late :)
You might want to do a single line area search and bring it with you to cross out the area houses that you didn't select and why.
I have to go, I am late :)
Kevin
White Plains, NY
I don't know about anyone else, but I seem to run late because I am trying to do "just one more thing" before I leave. Or I am on google maps trying to figure out where the heck I am going! Then I tell my clients that I would have been on time, but there were too many cops on the road, and I had to drive the speed limit.
On the rare occasion when I am early, I may try a mini-meditation session, or more likely, play a game on my treo!
With new clients, I am (almost) always on time. I dress better the first time I meet clients as well. Hmmmm, maybe another blog post!
I actually know several agents who have told me they are late on purpose because they think that act makes them appear to be important. I wanted to say to them it is better to be important ( which comes with a good reputation) than to just appear so.
Hope you are doing well.
Trey
Jason - I have the opposite problem. I'm always early... some little 'ol lady might have to kick that walker into high gear to keep from getting a derriere full of chrome crossing the intersection, but I will be on time darnit.
Jason:
I have a back ground in Corporate America and I was early and still am when scheduling appointments. I find that it is a sign of respect to honor another person time. I have been in this industry long enough to know that most meetings, seminars, and other events that are attended by real estate agents and brokers are usually never started on time.
Jason: I hate it when buyers think I'm holding out on listings they passed on the way into the neighborhood where we are going to meet. I love to go back and say, "Mr. & Mrs. Buyer, that one on Maple Street is actually under contract," or "Mr. & Mrs. Buyer, that house you inquired about is listed out of your price range by about $75,000." Why would we hide inventory? UGH!!!!
Glad to hear that others have been in the same boat at some point. It drives me crazy when I'm late... but it still happens from time to time. My husband calls me "the slow leaver." He even has made up a theme song, which only makes me more mad!
Do the best you can, don't shoot yourself in the foot. No one is perfect, play it off and keep moving. Move forward. It .... happens. Life goes on. Not the end of the world. Be pleasant and make up for lost time. lol
good post
Ahhh...the never-ending timeliness scenario. You're early. They're late. Or vice versa.
I just started something new, and it is going well. We always meet at my office, and go shopping together in my car. We get to know each other better, and there's no waiting in the car for either party. If anyone has to wait, its me....but I can carry on my work until they arrive.