New oxymoron ...Its just a drive-by, w/interior inspection

[Elliott]

Beside's getting this request, LOs and Realtors
are expecting quick turns on 2055s because,
"Its just a drive-by."

Why do clients expect quicker service on a
report format that pays less??? It wabbles
the mind.

elliott

 

[Ross (CO)]

Good quality ?___ Fast Turn-around ? ___ Cheap Fee ? ___ .....So, Mr. Client, as you know, you can only have 2 of the 3 requests. Just put an "X" next to those two you want and fax this back to me. ..... I explained that verbally once to a client rep who was making an unreasonable assignment proposition......he admitted my reply was fair and sensible ......and he could only say "my supervisor tells him what I have to ask for". They never faxed me their order.

 

[Mountain Man]

Just wait until you get a request for a must have quickly, drive by on the 704. :lol: Hey, that form is a lot shorter than those 1004's or 2055s' aren't they?? :roll:

 

[Cliff Salisbury]

I received two orders from a company that I had never done business with last week. They wanted 2055 drive bys. The order stated that the agreed fee was one hundred dollars. I donot know who agreed to this, it sure wasn't me. I just ignored the orders. All last week they called and faxed me about the status of the order. I ignored them. Finally on Friday they caught me by phone and wanted to know the status of one of the orders. I thold them I was not going to do it. They asked me why I did not call and tell them? I told them at their prices I could not afford to call them. The caller hung up on me. Wouldn''t you know it on Monday the same person called and asked me the status on the other order. I said don't you remember your call on Friday when you hung up on me. He mumbled something as I said good by and hung up on him.

 

[Ross (CO)]

Cliff, ... all need not have been lost so quickly...you could have asked how the $100 fee was determined, and then quickly state that it was probably an error on their part and they must have meant a 2075 for $100 ! .....and then ask if it really was a 2055 they wanted, and say that you could start those today and quote your fair fee for them. When he stutters a bit and says "we do want them done", then subtly quote your fee again and ask him to put that on the order and re-fax to you. It just may be accepted. Nothing really lost and possibly your gain. 50-50 chance he says either yes, or no. Remember, he did phone you back.

 

[Mountain Man]

I always call them back and give MY quote. If they accept, then okay, if not, then see ya. But I don't just ignor the request, sometimes you just have to educate them a little. You know, the rolled up newpaper works well. :wink:

 

[Rick Neighbors]

Ross,

In another life you must have been in sales. I like your answer. So far, I have never had so much business that I can ignore any requests. I always reply, either phone, email or fax, and use the same sort of method that you do. I have found that has resulted in some good business several times! I also refer them to my web page which has some basic appraisal questions and answers, and gives me a chance that they might bookmark the website for future use.

Rick

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

Yesterday's Prize Phone Call of the Day....

I need an appraisal. I know you're busy, but this one won't take long. It's not for a mortgage. I just want an appraisal of a house so I'll know what to offer. :roll: How much will you charge and how fast can you get it done?

 

[Richard Carlsen]

No matter how just plain stupid the request (need in 24 hours with the report overnighted within 18 hours of inspection and fee is $75), there is no need to be nasty on our end. That is not good business manners and even though the lender may do it, not in my company. When we get one of these, we usually send an immediate fax thanking them for the order and stating our fee and anticipated completion for this order. We ask them to acknowledge the fee and date. If they choose to cancel, so be it but we always give them the option by communicating back ASAP.

It is easy to sluff off someone who offends you in this way but the problem is that when you do it to one, you find it easy and you may start doing it to more than one. That is not an attitude of a successful business.

Judy tells me that I am too easy on some of these callers but having been in sales for 22+ years before appraising, it is part of my nature to talk to the person and see if something can be worked out that is agreeable to both parties. And I'm too old to change now.

 

[Verne Hebert]

Charlotte you'll love this one.

Guy calls yesterday. Needs an appraisal. I ask why. "Realtor told me it is worth $ 600,000". I said great! Do you want to sell it! He said no, I just want to know how much its worth. I said what do you have. Oh it's commercial, "20 acres on the highway with my business, my house in the rear, 40 x 60 shop and a 30 x 60 barn, fenced for horses.

I said. Well I know your area and I doubt your property is "commercial" but I'll appraise it. $ 4,000. He says " $ 4,000?, I thought you could just drive over here and tell me.....the realtor did.