I think about this all the time, but I sincerely doubt investors, homeowners, and others of the real estate ilk really, really do. Your listing, as in the real estate offering you have hired your agent to “work” for you, is out there, in theory. Mostly thanks to a sign in the yard and many autofed databases. But is your agent answering their phone? Returning calls? Or my absolute favorite: do they work weekends and/or evenings? The answers may surprise you, and this is why you should hire me – or someone just like me.
Don’t get me wrong. If you want to see a lease listing at 730 on Friday evening, I’m probably not going to show it to you. Why? Because you’re not serious. Really? 730’s all you got? ‘Cause I got Sat morning, Thursday 530, whatever. But you start talking about dinner and sleep, you are not a serious shopper. Too, whatever I’m going to show you is likely occupied meaning we’ll have to interrupt bathtime or “Good Night Moon.” But this is from the perspective of the lessee/buyer. The real a-ha is seen from the lessor/seller.
Did you know New Orleans’ most successful (read: volumous) rental office is not open on Saturday or Sunday? Not open! And you can say, “Well, they don’t have to be. They’re the most successful. They can choose to work when they want.” Uh-huh. And how does their success and therefore choice of hours benefit their lessor clients? It doesn’t. Most people that can afford any rental: work. And most people who work do so Monday through Friday 9 to 5. So by Friday evening at 730 they’re likely more interested in Applebee’s and the multiplex – or – if you’re in New Orleans (and I hope you are) Reginelli’s and the Prytania. But Saturday morning and/or Sunday afternoon rolls around and what have you? An audience. A-ha! But wait. If the office you’ve hired isn’t open, then what’s the point? That lessee client will find what they’re looking for, but yours likely won’t be one of the candidates.
So, ask. Ask your agent when their broker’s office is open. I’m pretty sure you will be surprised and then hopefully begin to wonder why you haven’t hired me – or someone just like me. And just for kicks also ask how often they lose their client’s showing keys. Notice: I didn’t offer “if” they’ve ever lost the keys, but “how often.” I can tell you from personal experience trying to show other broker’s listings, especially leases, the keys somehow vanish. Now how the hell do you expect a prospective tenant to see your place now?
Bottom line: Call me. Email me. Or someone just like me. You will be glad you did.
