Ideas On Following Up With Listing Agents

[Tim Tafel]

What would be a great way to systematically follow up with listing agents? When I call an agent they either accept my offer price for their house or they don't even if they have been on the market for months and their asking price is clearly way above market value. Do I come back to those agents after a while or do I just move on to agents who are going to hopefully be more likely to say yes? If I do return to the agents who have said no but still can't get the property sold, how often? Anything advice any of you could offer would be great. 

[Bradley Buxton]

@Tim Tafel

It's important how you are following up rather than how often.  If your offers are so low then the agents are likely not taking you serious. In a competitive market like Reno, NV flips are rare and generally get multiple offers and are in contract in a week. So following up in 2 weeks would not be useful. Are offering the seller something they need besides price? Properties that have been on the market a while you might get more of a response and there is no set number of times to follow up. If the timing is right they'll take your offer.  It's how you are approaching the communication. Are you courteous and profession which is different than being nice.  There are so many listing agent personalities that each situation will be slightly different and you'll need to practice too get better. There are plenty of books and podcasts on negotiation and communication that will give some good tips. 

[Preston Dean]

@Tim Tafel

I couldn't agree more with @Bradley Buxton when he said "its important how you are following up rather than how often"

Just sending an email saying "following up on this" won't get it done. Personally as a listing agent I have had plenty of low ball offers that are completely ignored because they are so outrageous. 

Why not work with a realtor? They are going to have the private notes and documents in the MLS that you won't be able to see

[Tim Tafel]

Okay. I guess it's easy to over think it. Just go or it, try to keep the focus on what's going on with the agent themselves and let that inform me on where to go from there. 

A realtor? Interesting! I haven't really thought doing that. I'll definitely give it a whirl. 

[Matthew Morrow]

Quote from @Tim Tafel:

What would be a great way to systematically follow up with listing agents? When I call an agent they either accept my offer price for their house or they don't even if they have been on the market for months and their asking price is clearly way above market value. Do I come back to those agents after a while or do I just move on to agents who are going to hopefully be more likely to say yes? If I do return to the agents who have said no but still can't get the property sold, how often? Anything advice any of you could offer would be great. 

When you first make an offer and it's rejected, it's a good idea to ask the agent if you can stay in touch. This shows you're still interested without being pushy. You might consider setting a reminder to follow up every 30 or 60 days, depending on how fast things move in your market. Each time you reach out, keep the tone friendly and professional. You want the agent to think of you positively and keep you in mind for the property.

During these follow-ups, you can gently remind them of your previous offer and let them know you're still ready to move forward if anything changes on their end. If the market shifts or similar properties are selling for less, bring this up as it might make your offer more appealing.

However, if after several attempts there's still no movement and you feel the deal isn’t going anywhere beneficial, it might be wise to focus your attention on other opportunities. Sometimes stepping away from a deal is the best move. Remember, building good relationships with agents is key in real estate, and being persistent yet respectful can help you in the long run.