Hours

• Typical Hours

I am typically available 10:30 AM-5 PM & 6-7:30 EST Monday through Saturday unless I have an appointment or other urgent responsibility already, although in some cases I'll make exceptions for earlier or later.

While sellers rarely need an odd timing appointment unless they're in a different time zone, for buyers where time was of the essence for long strings of back to back showings, I've started showings as early as 6 AM & finished after 9 PM on some occasions & can still do limited urgent matters outside of my typical Monday-Saturday hours for unusual circumstances. While not typical, for the sake of an offer, where speed is critical, I have worked until after midnight at times.

• My Availability Generally

I value availability and saving my clients as much time and money as possible, whether buying or selling. I work around my clients' time frames. While I have typical hours, I can stretch Monday-Saturday with my hours at times as needed by clients, and when I am unavailable to meet a client's or customer's needs, can typically arrange for another agent to fill in for me as needed. I tend to have the least appointments booked Wed morning-Friday morning where my schedule is typically the most flexible, while Mondays and Saturdays tend to be my busiest days.

• What Clients are Saying

As visible in my "Values" section under "Staying Available":

"Very responsive to phone calls, texts, emails, etc.!" Colleen - Linkedin

"Adam was professional, quick to respond to any question we had no matter what time of day or night, on time for every appointment, and ready to answer any questions." Christopher - Zillow

"I remember exchanging phone calls with him at 1130 PM eastern time to finalize an offer." Aaron - Zillow

"He was quick to respond to any questions or issues I had." Alexus - Zillow

"He was quick to respond to our questions and when he didn't know the answer he found the answer and responded back to us within minutes." Carlos - Facebook review

"(Adam) always makes himself available for phone calls as soon as he is able... And after we found our house he was always extremely responsive to any questions I had about the house." Megan - Google Maps

"He was always quick and responsive with us and diplomatic and courteous with the seller side even when there were great challenges... He went over and beyond to show us homes and clear his schedule." Lauren - Facebook review

"timely/punctual (he will respond in the middle of the night sometimes! Which saved me a few times)" Connor - Facebook review

"Clear, responsive, and consistent communication" Jeff Lockwood - recommendation published on Realtor.com

• How Has Adam Prepared in Advance & Pay Monthly to Expedite Effective & Detailed Immediate Responses to Buyer's Agent Inquiries on Showings in a Locally Unmatched Way?

Rather than chancing the prospect of me being unavailable when a showing is requested, whether requested at 6 AM, while I'm showing 10 properties back to back, or at midnight, I use Showingtime (1, 2), cutting out the middle man between a showing request by an agent and a scheduled showing. As I state here, it's superior to alternative showing services and to not using a showing service by a wide margin, but not every agent uses it well for those who pay for the service or whose brokerage pays for the service. In addition to detailed instructions for sellers within Showingtime, I include a link for them to have further details on showing my listings. While I'll often be able to promptly respond to buyer's agent inquiries, by providing plenty of information in an organized way, it reduces the number of questions I receive. Also, even if I'm not immediately available when they reach out, often they can find the answer to their question in the information I've provided, which is likely unmatched in the area.

• How Has Adam Prepared in Advance to Expedite Effective & Detailed Responses to Buyers & Sellers in a Locally Unmatched Way?

One of the main ways that I've accomplished this task is by creating the most comprehensive publicly visible buyer's guide & seller's guide of any agent in SE VA, filled with over a few hundred articles I've created. Many articles are specific to certain stages in the process of buying or selling providing next steps. If a buyer or seller on the other side of the world has a question while I'm asleep at 1 AM during my typical hours, they can often refer to those guides to find the answers.

My website, with locally unmatched content in many capacities, is also searchable, so it's often easy to find answers that way as well.

For buyers, in addition to my buyer's guide, I also have a locally unmatched area guide, a locally unmatched master spreadsheet of home purchase considerations, a private (available right after buyer brokerage agreement if desired) locally unmatched smart (i.e. an answer to 1 question can auto-fill answers to a number of other questions) spreadsheet for offers going in great detail for multiple offer forms and multiple scenarios but also providing options for those looking to have their agent use more of their own discretion, and more.

For sellers, in addition to my seller's guide, I also have a locally unmatched highly comprehensive private seller survey. That means that if a seller is ready to start the listing process immediately and get the ball rolling right after a listing appointment with me, I can send that to them, and they can start that if desired while I'm driving to my next appointment after a top- 5% detailed listing appointment with them regarding specific recommendations based on their situation on preparing the interior & exterior of their home to sell for top dollar if they're not selling as is and more. I can engage with them regarding that survey & share with them my perception of value, and we can begin making arrangements for listing like me ordering professional photos, scheduling aerials, Matterport, and area photos including aerials if I don't have solid coverage in the immediate vicinity already. I can also send them my unmatched spreadsheet of contractors and cleaners if they needs some referrals.

• What Tools Does Adam Use to Respond When Unavailable?

I typically engage in the following:

1. I use email auto-replies on Sundays, limited holidays I take off including Christmas and Thanksgiving, and the unusual circumstance of me being on vacation, which is typically <1 week per year where I provide advanced notice to clients. In those I request that urgent matters be texted to me or for people to email a text to me.

2. I use different voicemails (I've created over 40 to select from as of 4/9/24) depending on the scenario, including elements like when I might be available again or how long I'll be unavailable, as well as why I might be unavailable in some cases. I also use a voicemail transcription service so that I can quickly view a voicemail in most cases to assess urgency, SPAM, etc.

3. I use auto-replies to texts when unavailable for a >2 hr period.

4. I use an integrated system with my vehicle (Android Auto in my case) so that I can make calls, answer calls, send voice to text, listen to texts, and take voice to text notes while driving legally in the state of VA.

• Who is Available to Help When Adam Isn't Available?

Adam works at a firm of over 100 agents. His go-to agents for fill ins in person are even more experienced than he is, and he has minimum transaction requirements for any fill in. He also has minimum video capability requirements in the case of virtual showings or other usage of video, etc. Adam is willing to pay more and has a spreadsheet of options for fill ins from his firm that he's developed based on location and transaction volume, etc. It's not uncommon for other agents competing with Adam to fill in with the lowest bidder or a brand new agent looking for experience.

For more details, see Agents Filling in for Buyers' Agents

• Fastest Way to Reach Adam & Contact Methods

The fastest way to reach Adam is generally going to be via call or text.

While I won't typically respond at 3 AM under my normal business hours, I have no problem with clients reaching out in the wee hours of the morning via call or text as I turn my phone to silent when sleeping & sometimes work late.

Please leave a text or voicemail if you call & I don't pick up at the time.

If you're unable to text, you can email texts to me at 7578799651@tmomail.net & please CC agarrett@ggrva.com .

I'm also available via Facebook, Whatsapp (1-757 879-9651), Skype, Google Hangouts, Zoom, etc.

• Holidays

I also aim to abstain from work on Thanksgiving, the evening of Christmas Eve, Christmas, the evening of December 5th (my wife's birthday), the evening of December 9th (my wife & my anniversary), and certain other times that vary by year save limited urgent matters (see exceptions here).

Why is it Important to Take Off on Holidays?

An agent working all holidays and never taking vacations is actually hurting their own business & the clients that they serve due to the statistically demonstrated positive impact of rest, including holidays, on their work (1,2,3).

Why are Christmas & Thanksgiving the Best Days of the Year to Take Off as an Agent?

I would argue that due to the extremely low volume of listings input on Christmas Day last year, 2021 (0 in REIN MLS, the primary MLS of Hampton Roads), combined with the high volume of buyers that stop looking in November/December every year, as well as the high number of other agents taking off the same day, it was the best day of the year that an agent could take off.

• Sunday Policy

Origin of My Sunday Policy & Basics

I believe that it's critical to take my Christian faith and my own family seriously but still respond to limited urgent matters on Sunday & urgent matters after 7:30 PM Mon-Sat.

Why Sundays are the Best Day to Take Off

In a 5 week sample I pulled from REIN MLS, Sundays had 1/47th of the new listings input, & Saturdays only had 1/20th. The vast majority of listings are input Monday-Friday, with agents often not having input rights at firms like mine where we rely on someone who only works Monday-Friday. While you'd think that low supply of new listings would be good for a seller, Saturday through Monday are the worst days to list statistically, while Thursdays are optimal.

Why it's a Best Practice to Take a Day Off Each Week

While the origin of my reasoning is faith, taking at least a day off each week is backed by data to be more effective in the remaining 6 days 1,2,3. For buyers & sellers who need more regular availability on Sundays & after 6:30 PM for showings & extended communication, I can refer you to other agents who regularly work those times. While I can't offer anyone a clone of me who works typical hours without any limitation vs other days on Sundays (though I've jokingly received that request), there are still some good agents who do if that's a dealbreaker for you.

More Details

Go to my article on my Sunday policy for more details including examples of exceptions (i.e. me arranging another experienced agent to show you a property at short notice on a Sunday & how in such situations I can still write an offer with you when a seller is planning on making a same-day decision with other active offers present).

Related:

• Contact

• Office Locations, Alternative Locations, Video Options

• About Adam

• Sellers

• Buyers