Let the Games begin

It should come as no shock to anybody really that the market has slowed down here in Toronto.

It's a Buyers market - but buyers ain't buyin'!

What is shocking is that the same level of unprofessionalism and apathy is out there as there was during the boom times.

To wit (or in this case - witless):

You have a listing. Maybe you actually worked at getting it.

In a building with plenty of competition. (because everyones trying to dump their units now)

Your client wants it sold or even leased! It's vacant. No one living there. So what do you do?

1. tell a Co-operating Broker that wants to show it to try after 4 pm , even though the property is vacant. Sorry! My Corporate client was in town at 9 and wanted to make a decision by 11. We went for the unit a few floors below yours - and got it.
2. leave the key at your office and tell anyone wanting to show it to pick it up first and then proceed to the building. (Uh, not going to happen. Get a lockbox and put it on the premises, or leave the key with the concierge like everyone else is doing. I'm not driving 30 minutes out of my way to pick up a key) Especially when there are close to 30 other units available in the building.
3. your office confirms an appointment saying the key is at the concierge. I call from the building at the appointment time saying that the concierge does not have the key. Your office pages you and tells you to call me IMMEDIATELY because I have a confirmed appointment to show your listing and can't get in. You ignore it. You never call me. We secure another property - same building, at a higher price than yours is listed at.
   

Big surprise that your unit is unsold/unleased huh? You know what? I work with Triple A clients and you lost 2 opportunities to sell your clients home. Especially since #1 and #3 above are the SAME Agent and the same property!

Another Agent who we'll call Apathetic Annie calls when I want to book an appointment to show her 3 million dollar listing. Is then disappointed to find out we're ONLY interested in leasing (even though it's also listed for lease) and "wont' bother" to come out to meet us.

Yes, why bother coming to meet someone interested in spending $10,000 A MONTH to rent your clients' home?

I arrive to discover the door lock is broken and anyone could walk right into the home, which is vacant.

1. I call the Listing agents office and ask them to page me saying that the door cannot be locked.

2. Call the Listing agent directly and leave a message on her voice mail and tell her whats going on.

3. Call the Listing Brokerage office when I leave saying that the premises are unlocked due to a broken door.

No one calls me back. Not even to thank me for letting them know.

Seeing a pattern here?

I currently have a listing. Great place, in a building right downtown. Everyone that shows is instructed to remove their shoes, leave a card and turn the lights off when they leave. Guess what? The floors are dirty and the lights left on by persons' unknown as there aren't any cards on the counter.

Except my own.

Same old story - you call and ask for feedback on your showing and perhaps ask them to read the signs and follow instructions - but the Agents never call you back.