Upon occasion, we get calls from people that see an ad or sign but they don't know the address of the house. They can give a color or a landmark, but the ad ID number wasn't written down. What then follows is an excercise in forensics and trianglulation which can take away from more pressing matters. In rare occasions, we get a wiseguy to say some version of "how can you not know the house? It's your listing." Some of those people are serious.
This is especially problematic with an ad, but rather than complain, I'll offer this advice to the buying public: if you see a house in person or online, write down the address, MLS ID or any other identifying feature of the home so that the person answering your call or email can get you better information faster. It isn't easy to do when driving, but if you can write the phone number of the yard sign down, just takle another moment to write the address or description down. Online ads are easier, because they usually have the address and MLS number.
Help us help you! The more information you have about what house you are inquring about the better we can help you. Moreover, anyone who calls our company to get a price or description is not given the cat-and -mouse give us your life story in exchange for the details. We know that if we give value, people will use us.
- We Are Westchester County, NY Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.
- J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. 2010 Vice President, Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service.
- I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS.
- J. Philip Serves Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, Croton, the River Towns, Westchester County, and the bedroom counties of New York City.
- Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent.
- I am hiring agents.
Jerry Maguire couldn't have spelled it out more eloquently. Thanks JP!
We get calls from boaters on the lake wanting to know prices and they have no idea where they were. If they are at the property we can usually figure it out, but if they wait until they get home and only remember "well it had a boathouse" and your sign on it, that makes it hard. Recently one customer had actually taken a photo and emailed it to me and of course I instantly knew which house it was from the photo, so that's another way customers can help us to help them... A picture is worth a thousand words.
"How much is the house you have for sale?"
"Umm ... What is the address?"
"I dunno. It's the yellow one."
Yup. I love those calls.
"The old Simpson house" is one I get a lot. I'm 35, I can't go back 6 generations for every property in my area. I wasn't even a thought when Joe Simpson owned it. It's always good to hear new ideas for old problems.
J Philip:
Why not, we are professionals and are supposed to know everything, not! I agree, it should not be a song and dance to get information.
Ty