As 2016 ended with just over 18,000 listings on the market, we saw the lowest year-end inventory in many years. While this statistic can bring good news on some fronts, it also creates additional challenges for subscribers and consumers alike.
Recently, Realcomp has received a higher than usual number of phone calls from consumers questioning why they are receiving calls on their property. While the practice of following up on expired listings is not new or unusual, it seems that in some cases, it’s being taken to a whole new level.
We are hearing from consumers who are currently on the “Do Not Call” list. Others are saying that calls are being made to their family members when the homeowner cannot be reached. And, often times, the property has already been re-listed.
Please take the time to check on whether a property has already been re-listed and is in the MLS under an Active (or even Pending or Sold) status before contacting the homeowner. Properties are frequently taken off the market and immediately re-listed to acquire new exposure. Also, before calling a homeowner, please be sure to reference the “DNC” (Do Not Call) list or flag that may display in your lead generation software.
It is important that we work together to make sure consumers view our industry in a positive light. If you have suggestions on what Realcomp can do to help with this important challenge, please contact me directly. You can email me at kkage@corp.realcomp.com.
|