Business hours?

Hmmmmmm...... yep, exactly how I wanted to start this blog. Does a real estate broker have business hours? I think most would say "yes" with the strong subconscious answer of "NO".

Why would you say that? Clients call/text at all hours with little to no remorse. I mean if you wanted to call your attorney would you think they will pick up at 8pm? Would you even dare calling at those hours or days? What about the back to back phone calls if you don't pick up the first time?

I mean is there such thing as text "etiquette". What happened to the the use of "e-mail". I remember the days when your grandparent or parent would tell you, "you are not calling at this time and hour". What of those days?

The numerous calls/texts received by clients, prospects, brokers, lenders, in network partners at 10pm, 12am, 7am, on a Sunday morning or other days.... the list goes on. You may be reading this and neither don't believe it or can remember the times you yourself did this. I think in ways we have all been guilty of it.

Why is it that clients believe that brokers can answer at all hours of the day? Is it because brokers have!? I think the answers is "yes". No it's not entirely the brokers' fault but they haven't discouraged it.

The sad truth is our industry is over populated with agents with little to no experience looking for a deal. Those agents are picking up the phone at all hours and doing all sorts of extra services that really don't fall in the "real estate services" category.

This not only makes the industry look "cheap" but it places major stress into experienced brokers' personal lives. At times the blur between personal and business becomes "gray" due to these reasons.

We live in a society of instant gratification and many selfish wishes that are acted upon. At the end of the day it falls on you and you only to make firm boundaries. However if I turned tables around and I called on a broker and they picked up all the time; I would wonder if I was the only client they were tending to.

Knowledgeable brokers know they are good at what they do & have respect for themselves and family. Many phone calls or text messages should be emails or only done in moments of emergencies. We all know real estate can have plenty of

"emergencies".