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Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS, South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker! (Fathom Realty Washington LLC)

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Rainmaker
402,032
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA
Movoto - Laguna Niguel, CA

Sometimes people have a personal situation and buying a house drops off the list or isn't a priority at the moment.

Could they be cheating on you with another realtor?  Sure.  It happens.  

If you have them on an email drip and you see that they're still accessing the emails, try turning it off for a short time.  That often generates a phone call from the client and you can get to the bottom of the situation. 

Dec 08, 2015 05:56 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,257
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Paul S. Henderson, Realtor, Tacoma Washington Write them off when they tell you to stop calling or when they change their email address, and phone number. I would put them in a drip campaign. They may call again.

Dec 08, 2015 05:17 AM
Rainmaker
1,713,581
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Probably one more attempt at a contact and ask them the reason for the disappearing act. If nothing move on and if they contact you again it is a total bonus.

Dec 08, 2015 06:40 AM
Rainmaker
2,848,479
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

When feelings of stalking start to surface....pull-out

Dec 08, 2015 06:37 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Don't lose touch.

Acknowledge you have noticed a change in their engagment, inquire, but don't cut them lose.

Keep the personal touch goiing,,

  • I trust things are better for you
  • Now may be a better time
  • This house made me think of you
  • Did you get the (whatever)

Seometimes two years after going dark they call and say, "We're ready."

Dec 08, 2015 05:45 AM
Rainer
223,950
LUXURYSOCALREALTY COMPASS La Jolla
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network

My answer comes from a Brian Tracy recording I heard when I first got int he business 12 years ago.  He  told a story about a new young insurance sales man who wouldn't leave a prospect alone.  The prospect asked the salesman "When will you leave me alone?"  The salesman's answer, "When one of us dies."  I have gone by that philosophy my entire career.  

Dec 10, 2015 12:08 PM
Rainmaker
1,157,841
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Sometimes, extremely urgent matters arise and buying a property moves down to the bottom of the priority list.  This includes responding to communications or even looking at emails.  In such cases, only "must handle" issues are dealt with while handling the urgent matters.

Dec 08, 2015 07:16 AM
Rainer
216,960
Sharon Altier
Coldwell Banker Realty - Elmhurst, IL
Luxury Property Specialist, CSC, SFR

Perhaps drop them a holiday note, expressing best wishes for great new year and let them know to contact you, should they be interested in you helping them with their real estate needs.  If they don't contact you,  you have the answer!

Dec 08, 2015 06:38 AM
Rainmaker
1,650,342
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC • Short Sale • Probate

If they just disappear, I'd try to find out what have happened. 

I'll never understand why not to be honest and just explain a professional who worked for you closely what have happened. 

Dec 08, 2015 05:59 AM
Ambassador
3,763,935
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

I've never had this happen to me, but it does happen.  I think you just have to let them go and move on to the next.

Dec 08, 2015 05:58 AM
Rainmaker
5,774,100
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Yes,

It has...you just move on.  One time we found out our client had fallen off the roof he was clieaning and died...his brother called us.  Otherwise we would not have known.  A

Dec 08, 2015 05:44 AM
Rainer
94,155
Val Evans
Scottsdale, AZ

They would get bumped down a notch in my CRM program. Nevertheless, I would still communicate with them until they flat out told me to stop. That's the difference between real estate agents who sell 10 homes a year vs. those that sell over 100 homes a year. The low production agents give up way too easily.

Dec 08, 2015 05:25 AM
Rainmaker
5,311,875
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

I've not had that happen with an actual client, but I have had it happen with what I thought was a solid prospect with whom I've had quite a bit of communciation. I will try to touch base for a month. After that, it's up to them to come back to me.

Dec 08, 2015 08:36 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,227
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I would email them asking if it is ok to send information if I come across a great buy. If they say no, I move on.

Dec 08, 2015 08:17 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,862
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good Wednesday morning Paul. I have had that happen often with real estate agents. It makes me wonder . . .

Dec 08, 2015 05:18 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,473
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I write them off when I get told off

Dec 08, 2015 01:39 PM
Rainmaker
917,576
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

Hello Paul.  Guess I have a mean streak.  I will continue calling for months at least once a week if I have spent any time with me at all.  Not because I expect business but because I want to irritate the heck out of them, with nice, since they do no have what it takes to 'man up' and return my calls...no matter the reason.  Just seems rude.  So I have my fun with it.  lol  Mark

Dec 08, 2015 12:52 PM
Rainmaker
789,384
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Call, Text & Email for about 6 Months then get them on the monthly newsletter and move on.

Dec 08, 2015 12:09 PM
Rainmaker
4,322,035
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

I'd say, Paul,  just move on.  Or keep calling every other week with a drip campaign. 

Dec 08, 2015 11:15 AM
Rainer
67,369
Evelyn M Epperson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Johns Creek, GA
A Tradition Of [Excellence, Trust & Service]

Yes and I even had a buyer brokerage.  I continued to call but after 6 months I figured he dropped me.

Dec 08, 2015 09:54 AM
Rainer
231,279
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

this may be the biggest mystery.i really dislike it, i wish they would say go jump in a lake or something. personally i TRY to forget them, move on, and when they resurface, i TRY not to work with them. if they dont have the common decency to respond. you can almost bet they will do it again when you least expect it. they may call you when they get into REAL ESTATE trouble with a deal..then i say..now you need me.

Dec 08, 2015 09:47 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,138
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I will keep trying. I have a seller I am working with and hadn't heard from him in about 3 weeks. We were supposed to have his home on the market the first of November and he has put me off and doesn't respond. Every few days I reached out and finally got a response yesterday that his plans had changed and he won't be moving as soon as he thought. So now we are on for the spring.

Dec 08, 2015 09:43 AM
Rainmaker
2,444,554
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

I like Jill Murty's answer

Dec 08, 2015 08:45 AM
Rainmaker
6,003,885
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I usually check in once a week, probably for 2 to 3 weeks, and then let them contact me.   I may try and contact again (if there had been good conversation) in 6 months.

Dec 08, 2015 08:10 AM
Rainmaker
617,985
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Paul,
Not quite that dramatic. I wouldn’t write them off. I would try to check on them through a mutual friend or drop an email of concern expressing that even if they have changed their minds I would like to be a friend and resource.

Dec 08, 2015 07:50 AM
Rainmaker
1,751,737
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

I give them a few solid trys, if no further response, I block them from accessing my website. If I still don't get a response, I hunt them down and steal their hubcaps.

Dec 08, 2015 07:34 AM
Rainmaker
8,150,772
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I would leave them on the email list to receive current listings. You never know what is happening in the lives of others.

Dec 08, 2015 05:43 AM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

In the auto business it is until they buy or die!

I just keep calling, texting and email once a month until they say no!

Dec 08, 2015 05:30 AM
Rainmaker
979,796
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Paul - Well after a couple of weeks, I would say you did your due diligence. I would place them on a drip campaign and continue to contact them until, well forever. After all, it won't cost you anything, and prospects do resurface sometimes.

Dec 10, 2015 03:42 PM
Ambassador
6,687,212
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Its a mystery but some people will literally drop off the edge of the earth and try as you may you are wasting your time trying to find them.  Best to just move on if you can.

 

Dec 09, 2015 03:21 AM
Rainmaker
4,737,902
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Yes it has happened.

As far as writing them off -- the answer as is often case here is "it depends".

If you have enough person and don't have a personal connection or reason to maintain a relationship, you may move on.

If your business is good buyer-deficient you may likely to let them linger.

If you maintain a drip campaign system -- they may re-surface.

Stuff happens.

It's nice to have choices.

Dec 09, 2015 12:45 AM
Rainmaker
3,074,389
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Coldwell Banker Realty

Never...  We had one resurface 4 years later - just kept the emails dripping...

Dec 08, 2015 10:42 PM
Rainer
150,466
Michael Thacker - Re/Max Real Estate Center - Louisville
Re/Max Real Estate Center - The Thacker Group - Louisville, KY
Your best friend who just happens to be a Realtor

Happens often, then they all of a sudden resurface and buy. 

Dec 08, 2015 10:30 PM
Rainmaker
922,304
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Yes, its happened a couple of times and there is usually a reason, mostly related to geography e.g. looking in a different state for a vacation home (mountain vs lakes or ocean vs lakes) or job transfer.

Dec 08, 2015 09:23 PM
Rainmaker
552,029
Brenda J. Andrew
ULTIMA REAL ESTATE - Willis, TX
Professional Realtor in N Houston & Corpus Christi

I think it happens to everyone.  I usually just reach out to them one final time letting them know I am there to help or I'll send them an email asking if everything is okay.  If I don't hear back, then I continue to send them listings, but do not continue calling.  Most of the time they call back after a little while and act like nothing ever happened, or tell me what did.

Dec 08, 2015 08:56 PM
Rainmaker
634,582
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

I persist with out being a pest. Weekly or every other week I send an email or call. After several months they would go on my drip campaign if I haven't heard form them. Never had that happen though.

Dec 08, 2015 05:32 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,789
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Paul. Probably one last email that says, if I don't hear from you by _______________then I would write them off.

Dec 08, 2015 04:53 PM