Part Time Realtors And Part Time Real Estate Agents

Part Time Real Estate Agent

Excuse me for a moment, it’s hard to type with this suit of armor I have on. You see after some agents see this I may be on the hit list of a number of them. However, don’t worry too much. If they are as proficient at hitting a target as they are at being real estate agents, I shouldn’t have much of a problem.

Now before I begin, let me make the requisite disclaimers:

1. If you hired an agent either as a buyer or a seller and the agent disclosed to you in advance that they were only working part-time then this article may not apply.

2. If the agent you hired announced that they were only working part time and has other agents that service you while they are working at their other job, then this article may not apply.

3. If your agent is a friend of the family or is someone you have worked with in the past and has reduced their hours down to part time status and you are aware and ok with that, then this article does not apply.

On the other hand, as many of my newer clients have found, that the agent you hired did NOT disclose that they were working the first shift at Walmart and could not take calls about your property until after they completed their shift, then that’s where I have a problem.

While real estate may be a business that can be done on a part-time basis, why are so many working part-time, not disclosing this information to their clients yet still charging full price? I feel this hurts our credibility and is basically dishonest.

Personally, I feel that real estate is NOT something that can be done on a part-time basis… especially in these economic times.

Here are several reasons that I feel it is not prudent to use a part-time real estate agent:

1. Who is answering the phone? When someone calls on your property is there going to be someone there to answer? Think so? Go ahead and try it. In fact you should be calling your agent at least twice per day to see if anyone answers. Also have a friend call about your house and see how long it takes to get a return call. What’s the old saying? Time is Money..yeah that’s it. When you are trying to sell your house do you think the buyer or buyer’s agent is going to sit around waiting for your agent or perhaps is there a ton of inventory for the buyer to choose from?

An agent should be focused on selling your home, not pricing marshmallows on aisle 7! You have every right to ask the real estate agent if they are part-time or full time.

If an agent says they can work part time and fulfill your needs for your real estate transactions, then ask them why they need a second job? If they are successful at what they are doing then they wouldn’t need to be stocking shelves with toilet paper.We all know why someone needs a second job. It means that their primary source of revenue is not sufficient to pay the bills. If they need a second job to pay the bills at home where do you think your home falls in the priority line.

Don’t let the sale of your home or the purchase of your home be a lottery ticket for a sub par real estate agent!

2. What’s Their Priority?As mentioned above,if they have to work a second or third job and did not disclose it to you it was because they did not want you to know. Why didn’t they want you to know? There’s only one reason. It means they are not successful. If they are not successful, then what is their priority. Does a call from a client take precedence over refilling the aquarium tanks? Which scale take precedence?

If you want an open house or want some marketing done is it second to your home selling or buying process. Has working at 7-11 actually become their 1st job?

That’s one of the HUGE problems. They say they are taking a “second” job when in reality they have just taken a “first” or primary position and guess whose home selling or home buying process has been rendered secondary in importance?

3. Funds To Actually Be In Business!I bet when you spoke to the agent that you hired that they said they had this great marketing program. They were going to put your house in front of millions of people and there would be ads galore. Well if your agent is learning how to work the Fryolator because they are not making any money actually selling or helping buy any property, and they need another job to make ends meet, how are they going to pay for the marketing of your home?

The longer your home sits on the market un-promoted and the more homes you miss out on as a buyer because your agent is indisposed, the more opportunity or money you are losing.

4. Educational Deficiencies.If the agent you hired can’t afford to educate themselves on the latest technologies or can’t afford either the money or time to further their continuing training, then you will be dealing with an agent who is not capable of servicing your needs in the most proficient manner.

Do you realize that less than 3% of all agents have a website or blog and that fewer still have any idea as to how to utilize the computer in a manner that is advantageous to you as a buyer or seller?

In these times of economic hardship, there are many who are finding themselves in need of a short sale proficient realtor…do you really think the guy working the drive thru window at Burger King is going to be someone who can expertly handle your short sale in a timely fashion? Don’t kid yourself. Most full-time Realtors are struggling with their ongoing training in regards to distressed properties. A part-timer is toast!

5. Timing Issues. What happens when you have a showing scheduled right smack in the middle of the lunch rush at Red Lobster? Do you think the part-time agent has the flexibility in their schedule to simply leave work and go play realtor? Well, I doubt it, but I could be wrong. If the agent doesn’t show up for showings and can’t be there when YOU need them to be what’s the point in using that agent. Yes, charity starts at home. I just didn’t know it started with YOUR home.

6. Locked In Exclusivity. Do you have the proverbial pay me now or pay me later arrangement with your realtor? I mean when you find out that John is the king of Grande Latte over at Starbucks and you want to fire him, are you sure you can? Most agents, even part-timers, usually lock you in.

So not only are you beholden to a part-time agent, you are stuck paying him whether he shows up or not. Read your agreement carefully. There basically is no performance metrics that he has to meet. This is what allows the PT agent to run this game. The agreement doesn’t hold him to any specific accountability. Gotcha!

Make sure you ask for and put in writing that you want an agreement that you can cancel at your discretion. I call that PT Deterrent. Works great on a lot of sub-par full timers too!

The average real estate agent does less than 2 transactions all year. It is clear from an economic perspective that the majority of real estate agents do not earn enough from this business to survive.

If your doctor worked at Jiffy Lube or your attorney worked at Subway, how much confidence would you have in their ability as a professional in their chosen line of business? would you want them working on your next surgery or lawsuit?

Of course not! So why are so many people entrusting what is arguably their single, most valued possession to the guy running the ride at Space Mountain?

Doesn’t make much sense does it?

The National Association of Realtors is basically a union. They don’t necessarily seek to look out for your best interests. If they did they would do more to warn the general public about the part time real estate agent. I think it’s a shame and causes those of us who do seek to provide exceptional service on a full-time basis a black eye.

Do yourself a favor and begin asking questions and demanding answers. Some in writing. And do it now because you’ll never know if the realtor you hire may be the same guy seating you at the movie theater this evening.