Why do listing brokers rarely pick up their phones?
I have been a tenant rep full time for 3 and and half months and I have reached out to numerous listing brokers nationwide and the common theme is listing brokers are rarely responsive. 

It makes me wonder "don't you want this deal close"?

Lot of times, it requires me to hound them for base rent and opex. 

Atleast have an auto reply text with your contact info or have some sort of AI to take incoming calls if you can't afford a receptionist
[{"id": "gw4hymz", "text": "Often they already found tenant internally. I have the same problem. I had to call a lawyer will need to be in contact with their broker as several msgs or offer questions ignored.  If they are the broker it is OK to file a written complaint with State licensing as they do not like lawyer or written complaint affecting their license standing.", "replies": [{"id": "gw4mshh", "text": "I dont understand the previous comment. Will they be more responsive to a lawyer in fear of a written complaint to State Licensing? Are they required to respond? Not as I know of in my state.", "replies": [{"id": "gw4o02f", "text": "Often it has to do with the commission. The listing agent wants to keep two commissions without even present all the offers. In this case this is a legit complaint. The broker happens to be an attorney and he filed a complaint to DRE instigate an investigation.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw4mx6b", "text": "In my experience this is a question of personality and varies from broker to broker. Some agents like to talk on the phone. Some will reply to an email right away. Even others will miss your call then text you. Figure out how to communicate with the people you work with. It gets easier over time as you build a good reputation as well.", "replies": [{"id": "gw4o6b1", "text": "That's the rarely the case in my experience. I understand a property maybe under contract or out for signature, but technology allows us to respond in efficient ways. \n\nBy the way, I also noticed alot of CRE brokers don't use CRMs", "replies": [{"id": "gw4pfdk", "text": "Even if a property or space is under contract a broker still has an obligation to get back to you in a timely manner and tell you that. \n\nYou're correct about CRM - that's a relatively new technology and the fact is brokering can be an old school industry. The big 3 firms are forcing brokers to use it or they don't get paid out on transactions.", "replies": [{"id": "gw5x1lm", "text": "&gt; The big 3 firms are forcing brokers to use it or they don't get paid out on transactions.\n\nI'm not big 3 but we do this too.  I'm going to be honest, I fill all that shit out after the transaction closes and I want paid", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "gw5msna", "text": "Yeah it's 2021.  Most people don't want to chat - at least in the beginning.  Text them and if you need to talk after you get the key details then do so.", "replies": [{"id": "gw5r4hf", "text": "I use email when confirming listing details like rate + T&amp;O for a client survey. If they are motivated to move the space, the broker will call me. If not, I\u2019ll find another option with a motivated owner/broker. Forcing a deal where it is not wanted doesn\u2019t work out well. Email is easier for brokers to respond and easier for me to track. A lot of people are bombarded by spam calls (auto warranty) and my area code starts with an 8 so I know they usually won\u2019t pick up or check my vm on the first try.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw4qms8", "text": "I personally hate calls and when I answer I ask for everything to written or I write back with a summary of the conversation. The only times I go and make a call is when the other agent is an idiot (usually residential agents with no experience in cre).", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw4u9g4", "text": "This does vary broker to broker and brokerage to brokerage. There ARE a few brokerages who only want to do deals in house so they can get paid on both sides. I have experienced this myself on a deal with a well known firm that said my clients offer was \"too far apart to counter\" at $10,370,000 on a property offered at $10,500,000. Other closed the deal for $10,374,900! and got paid on both sides.  There are also cases where if you are a residential agent, commercial brokers won't call you back because they figure you don't know what you're doing.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw5oddh", "text": "I really ought to be better about picking up the phone but I rarely do. I have a few listings that just attract yahoos who obviously don\u2019t have $5 in their pockets let alone the $500,000 to purchase it. In reality, if I can\u2019t deal with the calls, I should ditch the listings.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw5vgn6", "text": "We want you to leave a voicemail", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw5wtx4", "text": "we are busy brokering ;p  I frequently let me calls stack up and return them all at the same time at the end of the day or the beginning of the next.\n\nLeave a message that makes the person want to call you back.  Also don't ask some shit that is already on costar etc.\n\n&gt; Atleast have an auto reply text with your contact info or have some sort of AI to take incoming calls if you can't afford a receptionist\n\nFound the res agent!", "replies": [{"id": "gw60it9", "text": "I'm not a residential agent, I'm just tech savvy and a firm believer of \"work smarter, not harder\"", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw62drn", "text": "brokers that dont answer their phones or return calls promptly should leave the business. no room for this in our industry.", "replies": [{"id": "gw6393b", "text": "This isn\u2019t residential get over yourself", "replies": [{"id": "gw64dy4", "text": "im going on my 30th year in the commercial brokerage business as a tenant rep, landlord rep and investment sales broker. not returning calls is unacceptable. i dont care what part of industry you are in. you arent doing your client or yourself any service by avoiding the phone.", "replies": [{"id": "gw64tr7", "text": "Which property type.", "replies": [{"id": "gw65fqz", "text": "office, retail and development opportunities in Chicago.\n\ni always have in the back of my mind that my client is going to have a friend call and check on how i respond so that mentality keeps me on my toes and motivates me to return every call. not to mention i get a fair amount of tenant rep spill over that comes just from picking up the phone.", "replies": [], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw631ru", "text": "I always call the junior broker first, they get all the shit work. If you did deals with the senior broker they will call you back or even call you first. It depends on your reputation and as a newbie you have none. You are essentially a telemarketer at this point.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw6f0zp", "text": "I sympathize with your experience because I've been on both sides of these transactions but it helps to understand what the listing brokers are going through sometimes.\n\nI've found that if a listing broker is unresponsive/slow, it usually means the property is either under contract or in negotiations. No response is frustrating, but sometimes it really is the best answer for a landlord client. You don't want to turn away a prospect until you have an executed lease and consideration in hand. As a tenant rep, you're more likely to follow up weekly with the listing broker if you think the space is available.  Is that a fair way to treat a prospect? Eh, but it's the smart business decision. \n\nI'd also be curious to hear what your voicemail pitch is like. I've had listings that get some many calls I frankly can't respond to all them, so I don't. Some messages paint the caller as uninformed or a tire kicker. Make a good elevator pitch for your tenant (their business strategy, sales figures, growth, etc) and think about what the LL wants in a tenant. Figure out the best way to frame your tenant to generate interest and follow up repeatedly. \n\nIf all else fails, just fire off an LOI and spell out your assumptions. Seriously, that will get you a call back quick in my experience.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw6nkag", "text": "From an owners perspective, I would want my listing agent spending their time getting me top dollar with the most certainty to close. Usually for me, that means a known local player or a well known institution. \n\nWould I like them to answer every call? Sure, but not necessary if the caller is an unknown buyer. \n\nMy POV for class a and b office.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw72pir", "text": "1. Many people will not pick up a number they don't recognize.  Leave a voicemail and they may return your call.\n2. Don't just call.  Text as well.\n3. Email if you can find it.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw7ioio", "text": "I was a broker but am now on the acquisitions side. Answer the damn phone. It is much easier to make a quick intro and get to the point over the phone. Emailing is annoying. Also we\u2019re in the people business. It\u2019s best to speak over the phone", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw7jiaa", "text": "Because there are sooo many spam calls these days. I never pick up calls from numbers I don't have saved. If it's important, they will leave a message.   \nEspecially when it's real estate related, there are several spam \"will buy homes for cash\" calls.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw7k91n", "text": "cause they are fielding buyers to double end the deal", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gw8czag", "text": "Because they don\u2019t want to hear your shit.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gwetten", "text": "Even the brokers with a full staff can be slow to respond. There are many possible reasons, some include:\n\n* The tenant rep is a residential broker\n* The property is low priority \n* Not enough information was given in the message. Most, if not all, listing brokers will want to qualify a tenant tour before spending any time engaging. \n* Information was given and they don\u2019t like the use. \n* 99% of people that call off a sign are tire kickers and not a qualified business\n* Many don\u2019t pick up for unrecognized numbers, I don\u2019t. \n\nAlways follow-up with an email. Be sure to include the business type and use in your email. If you are strictly calling to ask for pricing without leaving any info about the prospective tenant, you won\u2019t get a call or email back. As the tenant rep, most of the time you\u2019ll need to sell your client. \n\nHope that helps a little.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]