Responsiveness Is the New Luxury in Real Estate
Responsiveness Is the New Luxury in Real Estate
What My Search for an Arkansas Agent Revealed About Service Standards (And Why Tulsa Sellers Should Pay Attention)
I recently had a client with an incredible, income earning lake property in Arkansas.
It's niche. It's desirable. It's income producing. It's the kind of opportunity that deserves a specialist who moves quickly and communicates clearly.
The only problem? I'm not licensed in Arkansas.
So I did what I tell my clients I'll do every time. I went on a mission to find the best agent for the job. I researched. I asked for recommendations. I evaluated online presence. I verified social proof. I treated it like it was my own listing.
Because referrals are sacred. In my opinion, they are a privilege to give and receive.
What Happened Next Surprised Me
I reached out to five agents.
First, I friend requested them on Facebook to verify identity and activity. Then I sent private messages through Messenger to three of them.
No response.
Next, I texted three agents directly and included my YouTube channel so they would know I was legitimate and not spam.
No calls back. Zero. Not even a courtesy reply.
Finally, I did find one agent who responded. He agreed to help, but he told my client he would not be able to see the property for a week and a half.
A week and a half.
For a lake property. In a niche market. With income potential on the line.
That moment stopped me, not because I was frustrated, but because it made me ask a bigger question.
Is This the Level of Service Sellers Are Experiencing?
If this is how agents respond to another professional bringing them business, how quickly are they responding to sellers directly?
How urgent do they treat a listing appointment request? How proactive are they once they have the business? How much momentum do they bring after the contract is signed?
This is not about one state or one market. This is about standards, and standards matter for sellers everywhere, including right here in Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
According to the (National Association of Realtors 2024 Profile) (https://www.bnar.org/about/news/nar-profile-of-home-buyers-and-home-sellers/), 81% of sellers contacted only one agent before choosing who to work with. That means most sellers never compare service levels, they just assume what they're getting is normal.
The Tulsa Seller Reality in Q1 2026
In Q1 2026, sellers are preparing for spring, when buyer activity peaks and competition for attention is highest. The difference between a home that sells in days versus weeks often comes down to how fast your agent moves in the first 72 hours. That means you do not just need a sign in the yard, you need an agent who moves with urgency and protects your timeline.
If you live in any of these areas, responsiveness should be on your must have list:
Tulsa [74105, 74114, 74133, 74136]
Broken Arrow [74011, 74012, 74014]
Jenks [74037]
Bixby [74008]
Owasso [74055]
Sand Springs [74063]
Glenpool [74033]
Coweta [74429]
Catoosa [74015]
Collinsville [74021]
Claremore [74017, 74019]
Skiatook [74070]
Sapulpa [74066]
Responsiveness is one of the clearest indicators of what your selling experience will feel like.
RELATED BLOG POST: "How to Choose the Best Time to Sell Your Home in Tulsa in 2026: A Guide for Uncertain Markets"
Why the Referral Economy Is Built on Trust
Referrals are sacred in real estate. When another agent trusts you with their client, they are putting their reputation on the line.
If I send someone to you and you do not respond, it does not just affect you. It affects me. It affects the seller. It affects the perception of our industry.
And that matters.
According to the (National Association of Realtors 2025 Profile)(https://www.inman.com/2026/01/20/relationships-before-reels-why-real-estate-still-runs-on-connection/), 43% of buyers found their agent through a referral from friends or family. The referral economy depends entirely on trust and follow-through.
What Great Service Actually Looks Like
Let's define it clearly, because vague standards create mediocre experiences.
Great service in real estate means prompt communication, professional follow up, clear timelines, urgency with opportunity, and treating every listing like it matters.
It does not require perfection. It requires responsiveness.
Even if the answer is: "I'm in appointments all day, but I will call you at 5:00."
That is leadership. That is professionalism. Silence is not professional. Responsiveness is.
According to Harvard Business Review, companies that respond to leads within one hour are seven times more likely to qualify that lead than those who wait longer. Speed matters in real estate just like it does in every other business.
RELATED BLOG POST: "Selling Your Tulsa Home in 2026? Here's What Top-Earning Sellers Know (That You Don't)"
Why Legacy Standards Matter
Here's a strengthened version with more substance and specificity:
Why Legacy Brand Standards Matter To Our Clients
At Legacy Realty Advisors, responsiveness is not optional. It is our baseline.
If someone reaches out about a referral, we respond within hours. If a seller is curious about their home value, we respond the same day with a detailed analysis. If a client has a question at 8 PM, we respond before bed or first thing the next morning.
Not because we are perfect, but because service is stewardship, and stewardship is part of legacy.
Stewardship is our 2026 word of the year. It guides every decision we make, every listing we take, and every conversation we have. It means we view your home, your timeline, and your goals as something entrusted to us, not something we own or control.
Stewardship looks like this in practice:
Responding to texts the same day, with a specific timeline if we cannot answer immediately. Proactively updating you every week, even when nothing major is happening. Treating your listing like it is the only one we have, even when it is not. Following up with every buyer who views your home within 24 hours to gauge interest and address concerns. Calling you back when we say we will, at the exact time we promised. Protecting your interests even when it requires difficult conversations with buyers, other agents, or inspectors.
Here's what stewardship means for you as a seller:
You will know where you stand. You won't be wondering if your agent saw your message. And you definitely won't be waiting days for updates. When a buyer tours your home, you will hear about it quickly. When an offer comes in, we walk you through every detail before you have to ask. When market conditions shift, you hear it from us first.
We do not just sell homes. We protect relationships. And we have built Legacy Realty Advisors on the belief that stewardship, not transaction volume, defines success.
What Tulsa Sellers Should Expect
Whether you are selling in Tulsa [74105, 74114, 74133, 74136], Jenks [74037], Broken Arrow [74012], or Bixby [74008], you deserve more than "we'll get back to you."
You deserve: Clear communication. Proactive marketing. Strategic positioning. An agent who treats your property like it matters.
Because it does.
The (Consumer Federation of America recommends) (https://consumerfed.org/press_release/nearly-half-of-real-estate-agents-sold-no-or-one-house-this-past-year/) researching agents' recent sales experience and customer reviews before hiring one. Pay attention to how quickly they respond during the interview process. That response time is a preview of what working with them will feel like.
A Quick Seller Pulse Check
If an agent takes days to respond before they have your listing, do you really think they will speed up after they get it?
A Note to Other Real Estate Agents
If you're an agent who does not serve Oklahoma and ever have a referral in Oklahoma, consider sending it to Legacy Realty Advisors. We will treat it like gold.
And if I ever send someone to you, I hope you will also nurture and treat that referral like gold.
The industry does not need more agents. It needs higher standards.
Smart Questions to Ask An Agent Before You List
If you are interviewing agents, these questions will help you separate professionals from order takers.
How fast do you respond, and what's your standard?
You should expect same day replies, with clear expectations if they are in appointments.
A strong agent does not leave you guessing. You should hear back quickly, and if they cannot respond immediately, they should set a specific time to follow up. "I'll call you later" is vague. "I'll call you at 5:00" is professional.
What is your plan for the first 7 days on market?
The first week should be structured, aggressive, and fully mapped out before you go live.
Ask for a day by day plan that includes pricing strategy, launch timing, showing strategy, open house plan, and what happens if you do not see strong activity early. The agent should be able to tell you exactly what they will do, and when they will do it. At Legacy we say the first 14 days a home is on the market matter most and have a 2-week strategy plan for every house we list.
According to the National Association of Realtors (https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/nar-report-reveals-home-staging-boosts-sale-prices-and-reduces-time-on-market), proper preparation and marketing strategy can reduce time on market and increase sale prices by 1% to 10%. The launch matters!!!
How will you price my home, and what data are you using?
Pricing should be grounded in local comps, current competition, and current buyer behavior.
You want an agent who can explain the strategy in plain language and show you the numbers behind it. In Tulsa (74105, 74114, 74133, 74136) and nearby areas like Jenks (74037) and Broken Arrow (74012), small pricing decisions can change how quickly a home sells and what kind of offers you attract.
What will you do to proactively market my home, beyond the MLS?
The MLS is the baseline, real marketing should create momentum and urgency.
Ask what they will do to actively get eyes on your home, and how they will leverage online exposure, video, social reach, agent networks, and follow up systems. If the answer is "I'll put it on the MLS and share it," that is not a strategy, that is a checkbox.
The (National Association of Realtors 2025 Profile) (https://store.realtor/2025-nar-profile-of-home-buyers-and-sellers-digital-download/) reports that 88% of buyers work with a real estate agent, underscoring the importance of professional marketing. Your agent's digital marketing strategy directly impacts how many buyers see your home.
How often will I hear from you, and how will updates work?
You should have a predictable communication rhythm, with real updates, not silence.
Ask what you can expect weekly, and what triggers immediate updates. Sellers deserve proactive communication, even when nothing dramatic is happening. A good agent updates you before you have to ask.
3-2-1 Takeaway
3 things this experience revealed:
Responsiveness is rare. Urgency is leadership. Service becomes your reputation.
2 things to share:
Referrals are sacred, and I'm grateful to receive them. Silence speaks loudly, actions speak even louder.
1 thing to implement:
Raise your standard of responsiveness starting today.
Ready to Experience Real Responsiveness?
If you are looking for an agent who answers the phone, shows up, moves with urgency, and protects your reputation, we are here.
Not just to list homes but to help build your legacy.
Schedule a consultation with Jennifer Mount or visit lrahomes.com to learn more about our approach.
