Comments on: Here Is Why I Don’t Give The Listing Agent Feedback http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/ A Blog About Issaquah Highlands by Larry & Kathleen Cragun - REALTORS(R) - 206.618.3724 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:10:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Larry Cragun http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1901 Larry Cragun Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:32:06 +0000 http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1901 Thanks Debra, I thought you were headed for Europe or something fun. And here you are reading blogs. Thanks Debra, I thought you were headed for Europe or something fun. And here you are reading blogs.

]]> By: Debra Sinick http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1899 Debra Sinick Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:07:27 +0000 http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1899 Hi Larry, Good post. I do agree with much of what everyone has said, especially Paula. I do ask for feedback as a listing agent on behalf of my seller. If other agents don't get back to me, that is certainly their perogative. If agents call and dish too much, that's okay, too! I figure as a listing agent I have nothing to lose by asking and everything to gain for my seller. As a buyer's agent I am always careful at the responses I give to other agents. My first responsibility is to my client and feedback to other agents is based on how it works for my client to be giving information to the other agent. Hi Larry,
Good post. I do agree with much of what everyone has said, especially Paula. I do ask for feedback as a listing agent on behalf of my seller. If other agents don’t get back to me, that is certainly their perogative. If agents call and dish too much, that’s okay, too! I figure as a listing agent I have nothing to lose by asking and everything to gain for my seller.

As a buyer’s agent I am always careful at the responses I give to other agents. My first responsibility is to my client and feedback to other agents is based on how it works for my client to be giving information to the other agent.

]]> By: Larry Cragun http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1897 Larry Cragun Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:50:07 +0000 http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1897 Thanks for your experience Paula. Lar Thanks for your experience Paula. Lar

]]> By: Paula http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1896 Paula Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:42:52 +0000 http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1896 Larry - I am a listing agent who asks for feedback and am amazed at the agents who provide more information than they should, especially if you can get them on the phone. I am guilty of sending the emails:)Time spent on the phone is better spent marketing my client's home. When I represent buyers, I simply state the home won't work for my clients at this time. If it is significantly overpriced, I state so. If my clients are interested in the home, I may even suggest the price is too high - works for my buyers. I am neither for or against feedback. I do agree a broker's open or agent tour is the best remedy for getting professional feedback. Problem here is getting the agents out to the Broker's Open. Larry - I am a listing agent who asks for feedback and am amazed at the agents who provide more information than they should, especially if you can get them on the phone. I am guilty of sending the emails:)Time spent on the phone is better spent marketing my client’s home.

When I represent buyers, I simply state the home won’t work for my clients at this time. If it is significantly overpriced, I state so. If my clients are interested in the home, I may even suggest the price is too high - works for my buyers.

I am neither for or against feedback. I do agree a broker’s open or agent tour is the best remedy for getting professional feedback. Problem here is getting the agents out to the Broker’s Open.

]]> By: Larry Cragun http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1892 Larry Cragun Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:19:58 +0000 http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1892 Wendy you state the case well. Lar Wendy you state the case well. Lar

]]> By: Wendy Hughes-Jelen http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1891 Wendy Hughes-Jelen Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:20:51 +0000 http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1891 When I got started in residential sales I was taught by my mentor to never provide feedback to listing agents. He said there's no reason why we should be doing the listing agent's job for them. If there are no obvious defects and it is properly priced then the reason would be personal. End of story. I don't ask agents who have toured my listings for feedback either. I may know it is overpriced and may not be able to do anything with an obstinate seller who hasn't been worn down yet. Why give another agent power by asking their opinion? If an agent does manage to get me on the phone, normally it is a couple of days later and I DON'T remember which house it was. With that many numbers/addresses running thru my head I would have to refer to my notes. And I am not getting paid to shuffle thru my papers and give them my opinion. When I got started in residential sales I was taught by my mentor to never provide feedback to listing agents. He said there’s no reason why we should be doing the listing agent’s job for them. If there are no obvious defects and it is properly priced then the reason would be personal. End of story.

I don’t ask agents who have toured my listings for feedback either. I may know it is overpriced and may not be able to do anything with an obstinate seller who hasn’t been worn down yet. Why give another agent power by asking their opinion?

If an agent does manage to get me on the phone, normally it is a couple of days later and I DON’T remember which house it was. With that many numbers/addresses running thru my head I would have to refer to my notes. And I am not getting paid to shuffle thru my papers and give them my opinion.

]]> By: Larry Cragun http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1890 Larry Cragun Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:11:45 +0000 http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1890 Geordie, Civility, Professionalism, and Courtesy toward fellow agents certainly helps everyone. None of these require my giving feedback on your listing. Consider the last time you requested feedback and didn't receive it. Did you write down that agent in a book? Probably not. You have no idea if they were just swamped or ignored your call. Just swamped happens to all of us. Now as a listing agent, I want to talk with the buyers agent. My role is different here. I won't hold it against you if you ignore my call. I might even respect you for it. I understand stubborn sellers. They make it difficult if they price too high, ignore the smell, won't clean up the place. For this I go back to the office agents or brokers open for support. This will give you the ammo you need. In considering this post I reviewed all of the times I have been able to find out information I should not know, by a friendly conversation with the buyers agent. To me, agency overshadows feedback. Thanks for your comments. Sorry to disagree with you. Larry Almost Always Courteous Cragun Geordie,

Civility, Professionalism, and Courtesy toward fellow agents certainly helps everyone.

None of these require my giving feedback on your listing. Consider the last time you requested feedback and didn’t receive it. Did you write down that agent in a book? Probably not. You have no idea if they were just swamped or ignored your call. Just swamped happens to all of us.

Now as a listing agent, I want to talk with the buyers agent. My role is different here. I won’t hold it against you if you ignore my call. I might even respect you for it.

I understand stubborn sellers. They make it difficult if they price too high, ignore the smell, won’t clean up the place. For this I go back to the office agents or brokers open for support. This will give you the ammo you need.

In considering this post I reviewed all of the times I have been able to find out information I should not know, by a friendly conversation with the buyers agent.

To me, agency overshadows feedback.

Thanks for your comments. Sorry to disagree with you.

Larry Almost Always Courteous Cragun

]]> By: Geordie Romer http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1889 Geordie Romer Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:43:30 +0000 http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1889 Larry- I disagree with you too. I am happy to give feedback if it doesn't interfere with my agency obligations. I appreciate feedback on my listings and I try and give honest feedback when I can. If there is a strange smell in the house or the orange carpet is a distraction, why not tell the listing agent. Sometimes we listing agents need confirmation that our advice to our sellers is on track. By maintaining good relationships with my fellow agents in a small market, I increase my client's chances of getting their offer accepted (even if the price is a little low.) Larry-
I disagree with you too. I am happy to give feedback if it doesn’t interfere with my agency obligations. I appreciate feedback on my listings and I try and give honest feedback when I can. If there is a strange smell in the house or the orange carpet is a distraction, why not tell the listing agent. Sometimes we listing agents need confirmation that our advice to our sellers is on track. By maintaining good relationships with my fellow agents in a small market, I increase my client’s chances of getting their offer accepted (even if the price is a little low.)

]]> By: Larry Cragun http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1888 Larry Cragun Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:58:45 +0000 http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1888 Agent Orange eh? How can you be sure? I consider one of my greatest skills is the ability to read the other side of the table. How do I know the client that says they aren't interested won't change their mind? I don't.. . To me it became a matter of agency. Do I owe the listing agent professional courtesy more than what I owe my buyers. Those things you say are nice to hear about need not come from the buyers agent. If you as the listing agent aren't sure, take some agents from your office through. Hold a brokers open house and get feedback.. . I know I am not alone on this point. I would say that sometimes less than half of the agents that view my listings return my calls. If it took a couple of days to get to them and they saw a dozen homes they don't even remember my listing. Also, how can you count on their statements. If they are interested, they may say the price is too high. That happens. One point of this article is to say, being nice, being professional is a good practice. Feedback to listing agents, probably not. Sorry to disagree with you, Lar Agent Orange eh? How can you be sure? I consider one of my greatest skills is the ability to read the other side of the table. How do I know the client that says they aren’t interested won’t change their mind? I don’t..
.
To me it became a matter of agency. Do I owe the listing agent professional courtesy more than what I owe my buyers.
Those things you say are nice to hear about need not come from the buyers agent. If you as the listing agent aren’t sure, take some agents from your office through. Hold a brokers open house and get feedback..
.
I know I am not alone on this point. I would say that sometimes less than half of the agents that view my listings return my calls. If it took a couple of days to get to them and they saw a dozen homes they don’t even remember my listing.
Also, how can you count on their statements. If they are interested, they may say the price is too high. That happens.
One point of this article is to say, being nice, being professional is a good practice. Feedback to listing agents, probably not.
Sorry to disagree with you,
Lar

]]> By: Agent Orange http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1887 Agent Orange Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:56:50 +0000 http://ihighlands.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2007/12/05/here-is-why-i-dont-give-the-listing-agent-feedback/#comment-1887 Regarding listing agent feedback - it just seems like a matter of professional courtesy. Obviously, if you clients are interested, you should keep your cards close to your vest, and not give out any information that would hurt your future negotiating position. However, if your client intends to pass - for whatever reason - it sure is nice to hear from another professional the reason why. Was it deemed overpriced, too small, too cluttered, - perfect but too expensive ? This feedback can help everybody achieve a more efficient market. To ignore fellow agent phonecalls and e-mails seems short-sighted, petty, and unprofessional to me. Regarding listing agent feedback - it just seems like a matter of professional courtesy. Obviously, if you clients are interested, you should keep your cards close to your vest, and not give out any information that would hurt your future negotiating position. However, if your client intends to pass - for whatever reason - it sure is nice to hear from another professional the reason why. Was it deemed overpriced, too small, too cluttered, - perfect but too expensive ? This feedback can help everybody achieve a more efficient market. To ignore fellow agent phonecalls and e-mails seems short-sighted, petty, and unprofessional to me.

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