How to educate my agent to be punctual?

Question

I am a lawyer, we are dealing with real estate agents. Most of them are hardly punctual.

Agreed time is 5pm. They came at 6pm.

Tell me how to educate them / teach them lessons to be punctual, to always be punctual.

Answer 1

Has it occurred to you that the buyer/seller is the one who is not punctual ? The agent(s) involved may well be waiting for THEIR tardy client to show up. This is not a perfect world. Things go awry on occasion, and there's nothing YOU can do about it.

As a side note, I am a real estate broker, and I have had issues with tardy ATTORNEYS. Take a chill pill and learn to live with it.

Answer 2

There is no law that states you can't start the closing without the Realtor's present, and I would make that CLEAR when the closing appointment is initially booked.

I don't know of any attorney's in my area, that would delay a closing b/c of a Realtor being late.

You can also communicate directly with the buyers/sellers that they are expected to be on time, or the firm reserves the right to reschedule the closing FOR A FEE. That is another common policy around here.

That way you don't have some Realtor claiming their clients didn't show up on time...there is no reason why everyone can't meet at the closing.

Answer 3

Start without them. Leave if they don't show up. Are they paying you? Charge extra for the waste of your time. Refuse to do business with them if possible. Make them wait until you finish dealing with clients who cared enough to show up on time.

You shouldn't have to put up with that in a professional environment.

Answer 4

Bill them for your time.

When they receive the bill, I am sure you will get a call. Take that opportunity to explain that you know their time is valuable, as is yours, and timely arrivals are expected. As a courtesy, waive this bill, but impress upon them that further tardiness is not acceptable.

Answer 5

If they are late one more time,fire them.I think that will give them the message.