My clients actually don't expect me to work on holidays. I wrote a contract last night for a purchase, because it never occurred to my client to ask me to do it on Thanksgiving Day. As for listings, it's one thing if an offer comes in,  but otherwise what can't wait? When did this become a 24/7 profession for fiduciary purposes? Attorneys and investment advisors are fiduciaries and they are not available 24/7. I tell all my clients up-front that I don't work on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. No one has ever objected.

         My office is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  Also New Year's Day, Veterans Day, Columbus Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Confederate Memorial Day, President's Day. 

      And every Sunday, with rare exception for out-of-town clients.

      Nobody has ever objected when I tell them to leave voice mail / text / or email because we are closed for the Holiday.

      I make a good living.  

I would not expect a response on Thanksgiving.

My CLIENTS don't work holidays. 😎
Others' clients may need to be advised to anticipate delays in response due to the holiday. Banks, title companies, city & county offices are not open. Quite fine for a RE office to be closed for a holiday.

I cannot imagine that people would be offended if there was no response on the major holidays. But agents with buyers need to make sure they let their buyers know this as well!

I am facing that issue with insurance agents right now. Seems they are all off duty until Monday. 

I am in the camp that we need to be responsive and transparent with our clients ... let them know we ain't working on certain days ... many are not. 

It is what it is Mr. Richie Alan Naggar - we are left to manage the best we can with what we have to work with. 

No, it's absolutely not to much to ask during a holiday week, Richie - perhaps the actual holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas & Easter) but, not the day before Thanksgiving.

My clients don't phone me on the holidays but, if they did, I would certainly take their call, assuming that it must be very important. On the actual holiday, I have my sellers' permission to return calls with texts, telling any agents who may phone me about their property that I will reach out to them first thing Friday morning. 

I would never duck calls from other agents without my sellers' permission to do so.

I feel like holidays are really the only time I can JUSTIFY taking a day off with my clients.  Clients do expect a lot and I’m willing to do that BUT holidays are off limits and I’m taking those days off

You'll find many different business models.

Is it too much to ask?

I think the problems exists on the side of the one who 'expects' others to drop everything for their needs.

Just becuase it is possible or even legal does not make it right.

I do not work on holidays nor do my clients expect anyone to.  We do not inconvenience our Sellers on holidays and they appreciate that.  I am NOT a 7/11 store and our reputation speaks for itself.  Just say no!

The beauty of this business is we are our own boss. We make the rules, therefore, we can break them. I answer my phone most of the time.  We have the ability to establish our own business model.  My clients know I am available but NEVER take advantage. 

There are some things in this business you can't schedule.  If a call comes in on a listings, take it!  My goodness, I WISH my phone was ringing off the hook, holidays included, with inquiries. 

In fact, today I've been working with sellers who are in the middle of a home inspection repair negotiation period.  The clock doesn't stop on holidays, pre-holidays or the heaviest shopping day of the year.  And thankfully, we are dealing with a contractor that is in town and able to work on Friday.

Richie,

We agree with Nina Hollander . 

I think-even though I do it too-that at some point you need to step away and unplug. BTW-who is calling about a house on a holiday? It won't wait?

What do you need to know that is not in the listing details Richie?

I get few inquiries during times like these, any buyers that come in I quickly forward to our buyers agent and then back to my other activities.

Set reasonable expectations up front about your availability and clients will understand. I've never had an issue taking time off for the big holidays! But if something came up I would take care of it.

I would take a client's call even if it was a holiday. You call me on Thanksgiving & I am figuring it must be important. But Clients don't call me to discuss business on major holidays. I think it's just a matter of respect. They know I am socializing with family; probably mid stream at a party. If the house isn't on fire it's ok to call me tomorrow. 

The agent could be travelling and didn't think to put a message on their voice mail about that, nor a forwarding number for someone else to take the calls.  Not everyone thinks ahead of the game.  Good luck!

If a team member gets a call from a buyer and/or a seller, that agent will answer; have a discussion and make an appointment to meet.... period.

Maybe on Thanksgiving itself or Christmas Day I can understand not being available.

As a business person, we each decide when to work. Will our decision turn someone off? Probably. BUT, I think the vast majority would not have an issue with us celebrating an American Holiday.

We all have the flexiblity to run our businesses how we see fit. I wouldn't dream of calling a listing agent on a major holiday to get information - most things can wait. If someone calls me today, though, about one of my listings, I'd respond. I want to get those babies sold.

Richie, I often ponder the question why I worked nearly every holiday that came along for more than 40 years. I have never had anyone buy or sign a listing contract on a holiday. How this monster ever came about I'll never know and BTW Happy Thanksgiving!

Richie, all my business is referrals. I turned away an out of state buyer who wanted to view properties this holiday weekend. I will see on Monday if next weekend will work for both of us. If they don't understand so be it. 

You can try, but many agents are traveling to spend Thanksgiving with family. Offices are closed. There are many reasons to switch a property to " Temp Off" in MLS. Funerals, weddings, accidents, etc. Sellers give the instructions. I'd work on holidays to a certain extent, but sometimes showing instructions prevent it. We need to be flexible.

Two days I never worked are Thanksgiving day and Christmas.

Unless I am n a desserted island, i answer emails, will return messages and even answer my phone despite it being a Holiday. With existing clients, they know they can email with questions and I will answer. Phone calls I may let go to voice mail and prioritize. But in years pats i have sold homes, listed homes and it was because i answered an email or returned a call. I wrote an offer last night, sell countered and buyer will me know this morning, I am happy to sell a home any day

I agree with Nina

Richie, it depends on the person, just to give you an idea today I was in negotiations for  getting an offer that we are trying to get accepted before Monday.... Holiday or not... and I was also trying to keep another deal together... amazing when you respond good things happen....Happy Thanksgiving, Endre

I had never shut off my phone over the weekends or holidays but that's not saying I'd be willing to leave the house either Richie Alan Naggar . 

It's all about communications and expectations. I do not - and would not - take business calls on most holidays. When I was younger I did, and I soon learned it really didn't pay off, but rather took advantage of someone willing to answer their questions on their timeframe, even it was unrealistic.

I would also set an expectation with a seller that I will not be bothering them over the holidays and to encourage them to spend time with their families. I would also assure them that if someone really wants their home, they will wait. It's not like they would have a whole team of peolpe eager to work over the holidays to get an offer in (that may or may not actually turn into a sale). If sellers - or buyers - are unrealistic, I am ok with letting them find someone else who is less experienced or does not value their time.

I do think it is too much to ask. It is only one day. I personally think it is disrespectful to ask people to take time away from their families and have to work on major holidays. I am talking about Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. Even in our early years when we worked nearly 24/7 we took those 3 days of the year off. And that was pretty much it. With that said, we do still check our email, voicemail and texts so if something MUST be dealt with we will handle it. But most things can wait until the next day. That is only fair to our family. -Kasey

My office is closed from today until Monday. I'm off today but I will answer questions by phone and by email, until  such time that friends and family come over to my house. Tomorrow is business as usual for me.

If agent are out of pocket they should always have a back up plan in place.

I have an investor client that wants to write on a house.  Sent me an email saying "Tomorrow let's write this, enjoy your Thanksgiving."

Time the showing when the Thanksgiving Table is set !

For some, it may be too much.

Absolutely there should be DAYS off as well as holidays.  Just as there are work hours and work days. As for reference to this somehow violating a fiduciary responsibility? 
Would you say the same to an attorney who took vacations, holidays, days and hours off? I doubt it...

If your clients expect you to work 24/7 365 its because you have allowed them to believe this and if you expect this of other agents it seems a bit unreasonable there are plenty of work hours to take care of business. There needs to be time off as well.

I see both sides, but agents need to be better all the time on returning calls

I answer my phone all week while on vacation.

I can understand maybe not answering on Thanksgiving Day, but if you went out of town with active listings, think you should have coverage.  

I won't work only at Christmas - this day for my grandson. 

No, we answer phone all the time. 

And it is common sense to not call on Holidays. 

There is nothing in the work world that couldn't wait until today.   I chose to "turn work off" for the holiday & was happy to receive well-wishes from clients and nothing more.  Today - back to the salt mines.   

I've sold houses on holidays.  Today in fact.