The other day I received a text inquiry from a real estate agent about one of my Destin Florida listings. I tried to call her back. Of course, she didn’t answer and I left a message on voice mail. Then I responded by text.

I provided the agent with some of her requested information about one of my Destin condos for sale. She had asked whether owners’ pets were allowed. Of course, there are always restrictions (pet size, number of pets, type of pets, dogs, cats, etc.), so asked if I could have her email address. She had only given me her name in her original text, and I wanted to send her more details from the condo documents. I simply asked for her email address for the sake of brevity (after all, we are not writing a book via text).

I received the most terse reply.

“NO SPAM”.

Excuse me?

I was taken aback and wondered who the agent thought I was? Maybe she had so many text messages going at once, that she thought I was an unsolicited phone call, or some junk advertiser?

It took me a few minutes, and I responded:

“Ma’am, this is a real estate agent. I am going to email you the condo documents pertaining to your inquiry. This is not a spam company. This is Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty”. (Did she actually think I was going to shower her with incessant emails about my listings or some-such?)

This behavior made me aghast. I question how a business person could operate successfully in this less than collegial manner. Who knows what future encounters she may have with the recipient of her admonitions. It seemed a less than lovely way to start a professional relationship.

Perhaps it was an innocent error? Unfortunately, I doubt it.

The post Text Decorum – Down the tubes first appeared on Rulnick Realty.

The new “jump and respond” mentality of texting by real estate agents is out of control.  9:00 p.m. at night – text message: “Can I show xyz Destin Florida listing tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.?”    Texting during contract negotiations: “Can the buyer move in early?” “Why not?”  Texting during the short sale, “Any news?” Who is this texting me, anyway?

Anyone who texts knows it is an instant interruption to whatever the receiver is doing. Texting is not like  emailing. You can open your email when you want. Texting is an instant DING on your phone with the blaring message THERE demanding a response NOW.  The real estate agent/sender knows this. They want an answer IMMEDIATELY. They know you got their message right THEN. You cannot open it at your leisure, like checking your voicemail after lunch, or doing a send and receive when you have time to check emails. It’s in your face.

I understand URGENT messages, like, “About to take off on airplane – the buyer accepted the counter!” That is one thing, but some agents have taken to constantly texting and expecting an immediate response. What do I do? I don’t respond via text. I will EMAIL the agent back. It’s a HINT.  If they text me to show one of dozens of my listings (like I’ve memorized all my showing instructions), I have my staff call them on the PHONE to arrange the showing. If they ask me if I got their text, I tell them why I am responding another way. Some of them get it. Many do not.

Etiquette has left. Texting has replaced it.

It’s Wendy!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.                      

The post Real Estate Agent Texting – Jump and Respond! first appeared on Rulnick Realty.