agent response times

Hello John,

I am sorry to hear of how hard it was for you to get a hold of any of the agents on the listings that you were interested in. Generally speaking listing agents are doing their clients a disservice as well if they are not calling you back to set up showings on their properties. To answer your questions... how long you wait it up to you... when you call and you have left a message (I would also text them), and you haven't heard back from them within 24 hours I would call their broker and see if you can get the answers you are looking for. At that point the broker will usually set you up with a buyers agent to schedule a showing for the property. This doesn't of course excuse the listing agent not getting back to you, and the broker will want to know.... but it will still give you an opportunity to see the property by asking to set up an appointment with a buyers agent :)

Hope this helps :)

I can sense the frustration in your post. Yet, you have maintained your composure. Fortunately for you, the Houston Association of Realtors® has many eager potential buyer's agents available to guide you through a smooth home search. These agents will present you with information about Broker Services of which let's you know who represents whom in a transaction. What many people don't know is that when you come across a sign in a yard, that broker or agent listed on the sign represents the seller. However, upon deciding and working with an agent and signing a buyer's representation agreement, and as a client of the agent the house hunt will be less stressful on you. Your agent can then conduct specific searches on your behalf, set appointments to show you properties and so many more functions. I hope this helps!

You are not going to reach agents like that. I got hundreds per day. Most are other companies trying to get our business. If you want to reach a realtor® call their cell phone listed on HAR. Text them is probably best way . I know many realtors® who turn off the har notifications because after a while you are literally getting constant spam .

First of all, I know it's frustrating when someone isn't responding to you promptly. It's important to note that many agents are not full-time. Their inexperience can sometimes lead to them drop the ball or not take their job seriously. That's why if you do choose to work with a Realtor®, it's important to remember that you have the power to interview agents. Choose an agent that aligns with what you're looking for in someone who would be representing you. Ask an agent how they would advocate for you. If you're a buyer, you want to know how that agent will handle going up against other Realtors® in a multiple offer situation, among other things. If you're a seller, ask your agent how they plan to market your home, ask for their track record in getting houses sold quickly, and so forth. A Realtor® who respects their client and is a consummate professional can be invaluable to the buying/selling process, and an agent who doesn't can make things very difficult. So my advice is, find an excellent agent to represent you and let them deal with the headache of trying to contact an agent or homeowner who is unresponsive. (Note that as a buyer, a Realtor® is free because the seller pays them.) Chances are, they will find you something even better than what you could have found on your own if they're doing their job to the best of their abilities.

A good agent know that communication is critical and should be timely. Whether you are the agent for the seller of the buyer it's an important courtesy to return a call.....timely The very least send a text to acknowledge receipt of the message and return call at your earliest convenience. Lack of communication can break a deal because the client will feel like they are just a number.

As a Realtor®, I do my best to respond within the hour. If you don't hear back by day two, I would definitely reach out to the brokerage office or another team member. They may have a distressed situation.

A good Realtor® knows that response time is key! Typically that is one of the differentiating factors that determine an agent you'd want to work with!

What a frustrating experience. Listing agents can and should respond to all questions, however, keep in mind they represent the seller. I would suggest keeping your questions and comments factual, don't share your eagerness or any emotion. That being said, while the listing agent can answer your questions, you should seriously consider hiring your own representation. Keep in mind, the listing agent has already negotiated what the seller will pay them to list the home. Not having your own agent does not guaranty that you will get a reduced price. Check out my podcast or YouTube channel for other real estate related questions.

Unfortunately, some agents will ignore requests from buyers if they aren't working with a realtor®. The same thing happened to me when I was buying my first house. I sent several messages through HAR to realtors® and never heard back from any of them. They just don't take consumers seriously if there isn't a buyer's agent involved. The best course of action would be to find a realtor®. It usually doesn't cost you anything as the buyer's realtor® fees are typically paid by the seller. A realtor® will guide you through the entire process from beginning to end, and they will negotiate for you! Consider finding a realtor® to represent you and I think you will fare better. You can always call their office/broker, and they should be able to find a realtor® to work with you, but then you aren't picking your own realtor®...you are being assigned one. I like to choose my own!
Please let me know if I can help you. Just click on my name for my contact info. Best of luck!

So sorry to read this is happening to you and most Realtors® do not understand intermediary status so they avoid the possibility of putting themselves in that position. I provided a link for you to read should you want a better understanding of Intermediary. With that being said your best alternative is to hire a Realtor®. I can do a search based off of your criteria (save you time) or provide you my branded app for you to have a search option at your fingertips via your smartphone. Let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Many listing agents prefer a customer represented by a buyer agent. They feel a represented customer is more serious and safe. Safety is an important issue today. If you are interested in home searches to buy, I would recommend you get an agent to represent you. If you are just wanting to know more info on a listing, I would recommend you look up the home on HAR or other real estate platforms. Also, because many agent will not represent both sides of the transactions they may be hesitant to answer inquiries. I like to answer all calls because I can make sure the inquiring customer gets a good agent from my brokerage if I am listing the interested property. If you need more information about a property you can contact me at 713-550-4670. I am always happy to help-Renee Sharp

Hi John,

I would expect the listing agent to respond same day or at least within 24 hours. I would say always use the agents listed phone number as that in my opinion would be the best point of contact. I'm sorry you have had a lack of response from a listing agent.