Disclaimer: I use an internet feedback service, FeedbackCentral.com, to obtain input from Buyer's Agents after showing one of my client's homes. This allows the Buyer's Agent the option to uninhibitably hit "delete" if they do not wish to respond, and provides a venue that satisfies my clients' desire to know what potential buyers, and their agents, think about their home in comparison to others that they've just seen.
My #1 Policy: I represent the buyer, so I am not going to share anything with the seller's agent that may negatively affect my client's negotiating strength (just in case they make an offer on the home). I have used a feedback comment seemingly inane as, "my clients loved the second kitchen because their mother is going to live with them - this is the nicest one they've seen" to my seller client's advantage when an offer from that same buyer was presented.
Policy #2: If you are the listing agent's assistant calling me for feedback, please don't bother. Why should I give feedback to someone who has never even seen the home him/herself? You are taking up my valuable time and precious cell phone minutes for naught. I suggest instead that you take a tour of your boss's listings and provide him/her with your own feedback. If you do this often enough, you may become a more valuable team member because you'll be experienced enough to assist your boss with CMAs.
Policy #3: If you ask for price feedback, then I will tell you the same thing that I tell my own seller clients. "Homes are still selling. If your home is not sold yet (read "under contract"), then you are priced too high to sell right now." In today's market, it is ALL about price, followed by condition and location (the old mantra of "location, location, location" has been stood on its head). Homebuyers are becoming exponentially price savvy in this current real estate climate and advice from talking heads and those of us in the blogosphere abounds.
Exceptions to the rule (you knew it was coming): I will provide feedback relating to real estate matters. Like, if your keybox is located in the flowerbed with a sprinkler head pointing right at it. Like, if you have listed a home as having four bedrooms, but the 4th bedroom doesn't have a window, closet or door. Like, if your remarks section says that my client has to use the seller's title company (but that's a whole 'nuther topic).
Pet Peeve #1: Email a copy of the listing to me, don't call. I show an average of 21 homes to each of my buyer clients. I will not remember yours without a visual aid.
Pet Peeve #2: Leaving me a message like, "Hey Kim, it's Samantha with Biggs Real Estate. I have a question on a listing" when you want feedback. Yeah, that only works once before I know to screen your calls.
Pet Peeve #3: If you call me for feedback, and it is in my client's interest to provide it to you, and I do share their and my insight, please don't become argumentative or get incensed about my opinion - remember that you're the one that asked for it.
Anyway, you get the drift.
Kim Novak is a real estate broker with RE/MAX Masters in Salt Lake City and Layton, Utah. She holds a BSBA with an emphasis in Sales & Marketing and has achieved the designations of ABR: Accredited Buyer Representative, CRS: Certified Residential Specialist, CSP: Certified New Home Sales Professional, GRI: Graduate of the Realtor® Institute, SRES: Seniors Real Estate Specialist and ePRO: Internet Professional. Licensed in 1995, Kim has closed over 500 sales during her full time real estate career. ActiveRain Profile LinkedIn Profile Facebook Me!
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Kim Novak is a Realtor® and Broker Associate with RE/MAX Masters in Salt Lake City and Layton, Utah. Licensed in 1995, Kim has closed over 500 sales during her full time real estate career and achieved industry recognition as a Lifetime SalesMaster and member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame. She holds a BSBA with an emphasis in Sales & Marketing and has achieved the following designations/certifications:
ABR: Accredited Buyer Representative, AHWD: At Home with Diversity, CDPE: Certified Distressed Property Expert, CHS: Certified HAFA Specialist, CRS: Certified Residential Specialist, CSP: Certified New Home Sales Professional, ePRO: Internet Professional, GRI: Graduate of the Realtor® Institute, SFR: Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource, SRES: Seniors Real Estate Specialist
I don't do the whole feedback thing either. I mean, how helpful is it for me to tell you. "My clients said, "nope, this one isn't IT!"
I know! I kinda think that the lack of response, even to a formal request for feedback, is feedback in and of itself :-).
I used to think feedback was a waste of time until I started using an online feedback system. Just today, I had 3 agents tell me thier buyer's didn't like how open the floorplan of one of my listings is. I spoke with my seller and a kneewall with a breakfast bar is going in tomorrow to help correct the openness.
I also recently had a situation where the feedback was, "buyer's dining room furniture won't fit in the dining room". My seller offered to buy a new dining room suite for the buyer and they ended up making an offer. Without feedback, we never would have been able to overcome that objection.
Tina in Virginia
Hi Tina,
Thank you for your comments! I love feedback for my sellers, and any email feedback system that another agent uses to solicit showing feedback from me and my buyer clients. I just don't like the archaic "calling for feedback". I usually get the calls while I'm in my off site office (aka car) and cannot provide quality feedback under those conditions anyway.
I still feel strongly about the agency issue, though, and simply will not provide feedback on any home that my client is considering making an offer.
JMHO
I give some feedback about the home in general... but never the price!
I'm sorry, Kim, but I couldn't disagree with you more. It is a good business practice to give constructive feedback and it is my responsibility as a listing agent to seek out feedback from agents showing my listings. My business is relationship based. That includes my relationship with my clients (sellers or buyers), customers (sellers or buyers), agents in my market, etc. You get what you give and there is no harm in having a conversation with another agent either about your listing or about theirs. I appreciate the fact that an automated feedback system is convenient, but maybe all the conveniences are removing the human face of our business. I love chatting with agents because I almost always find something of value, and yes, sometimes that chat begins with a call seeking feedback. Do unto others...
That's what makes our chosen career field so great. We are as different as the clientele we serve and generally are chosen by like minded buyers and sellers. Most of mine are engineering types or fighter pilots, in case that wasn't obvious :-).