I'm sorry, but I really have to get this off my chest...
I don't work with buyers often but my buddy Pam, in the Reno/Sparks area, asked me to take care of one of her good clients, so of course I agreed. When they came into town, I pulled a few properties to show them. To make sure it went as smooth and easy as possible, I sorted through and eliminated properties that weren't vacant and short sales where I didn't know the agent. That left about eight properties that we could get through quickly and easily without wearing my clients out (being they are in their 70's).
So here's the issue. We got to one of the REO properties and there was no key in the e-box. OK, that happens, but when I took another look at the MLS sheet, it stated there was an e-box but in the agent to agent remarks it stated "Key is missing from the lockbox". I pulled the MLS sheet on Wednesday night and showed on Thursday. A little annoying, but OK maybe the agent found out the key was stolen/misplaced and wanted to let other agents know until it could get resolved. That happens.
My clients wanted to go back an look at it again on Friday, so I checked the MLS again and now it says no lockbox and the agent to agent remarks say "***NO KEY IN LOCKBOX***". Really?????
I looked at the MLS again today and it still says no lockbox and "***NO KEY IN LOCKBOX***"
In all honesty, it worked out GREAT for me because the first time we went to view the property and found no key in the e-box, I pulled out my keys and just happened to have a key that worked on that door.
It helped that I knew what asset management company it was. So, I was probably the only agent that was able to get into the property. We submitted an offer on Saturday and as of this morning (Monday), our offer was the only on they had...I wonder why????
So here's the issue now. If I were the asset manager, that agent would be FIRED because the first thing I would ask is "How are you marketing my asset if nobody can get in to see it!??!?!" Now this asset management company uses a notionwide property preservation company, but seriously would it be that hard to go make a copy of the key and put it in the e-box???? Or does it make more sense to leave it inaccessible over a weekend, waiting on the property pres company, after a price reduction????
The REO agent community is not as small as it was a few years ago, but other agents still lump us all together and that kind of stuff makes us ALL look bad. Take some initiative and reslove those little problems!!! Don't wait for the property pres company for something as simple as that!
I'll be totally honest. I know who the agent is and he/she is a rookie REO agent and the way it was handled shows it. That's the kind of thing that makes asset managers look for "experienced" REO agents. Don't lose an account over something stupid like that. Have answers or solutions for issues that arise. Submit bids for damage when you report it. Throw away the junk that's left at the door. Dust off the surfaces. Do the little stuff to set yourself apart from the rest!
I'm still annoyed, but I do feel a little better. Thanks for listening, put it on my bill. :)
Comments
As for you string of keys, I to keep a wad of keys I have gathered over the years and it has gotten me into many houses. I had one where I was to do the BPO, the agent insisted on being there. We get there and NO ELECTRONIC BOX - new door knob to boot. I had a key that fit, here supra box was on the kitchen counter with the old door knob in it! She was a happy camper to get here $100+ box back in one piece.
Other ways to deal with it are:
Put lockbox on side of house and tell property crews and AMs where it is, but then put an ekey box on the front door. That way you know who is entering the property. You can also buy a LB with shackle lock to prevent it from being removed. Still, nothing is perfect, and if an agent is PO that you got the listing or accepted another offer instead of theirs, then you can do little about it.
The REO manager should do regular checks on the property anyway.
Also,how about these realtors or their clients who steal everything. Let's see?? Realtor leaves sliders open. Next day, ceiling fans are gone, or a stove. How about the windows being popped out of their frames from the inside? Once again, either a realtor or their client who has the LB code, or worse yet-- a set of keys!
My latest peeve is the stealiong and trashing of my signs. I have been finding them in the trash on trash day, inside the property in the trash, torn up and on the side of the house (I went to corrugated plastic since it is cheaper) and on and on. Expenses pile up. Sometimes I would rather have the bvuyer since my expenses can be so high and the listing commission so low, whereas the buyer's side can be twice as much.
Yeah! It can be tough some days! Let's all be nice to each other and walk a mile in the other guys shoes before stringing him\her up for dereliction of duty.
The only thing I would say about your key incident is that I have put my keys in other agent's boxes and called and told them it is taken care of. I also put signs back up and call agents when I find their properties unsecured or broken into. In that respect I feel we are all part of the same profession and we ALL look bad when after a storm you drive through a neighborhood and all the signs are lying in the street or you show up at a property and the front door is wide open cause the last agent didn't check to see if it was secure. That's when FISBOs happen.
OK, I realize this is going on and on and on...but this is even worse than I thought. I went by the property again today to get a couple photos for my clients. I pulled out my keys and thought wait, let me check the combo box to make sure my contractors can get in. When I opened the combo box BOTH keys were in there!!!! At this point, I can't come up with any excuses to save this agent. Two keys were in the lockbox on one little key ring just like when they originally rekey and install the lockbox. That's either TOTAL inexperience or just plain LAZY!!! How annoying!
I have to change one comment I made previously...don't "just do it"...DO IT RIGHT!!!
Again, thanks to all those that do it right because I know there are a lot of you out there.
Monica, I know you are a conscientious agent and it will pay-off for you. BTW, I do remember that I owe you a recommendation. Hope things are going well for you!