The phones are smart, it is the users way they do business that is on the not so smart side. 

Laziness.

that's an easy question to answer.....they are incompetent and lazy and they need to find another job....

There's no APP for competence & character. 

Most people HATE speaking on the phone (I am one of them)  Every time my phone rings I immediately wonder why they didn't text or email me.   That is why smart phones are so popular.  I do answer and I do return VM however it is never my preferred choice unless it is with a Senior citizen.

I have ran into Realtors (several times) who didnt call me back when I was submitting an offer to them. I cannot believe that a Realtor cannot return a phone call within 24 hours. 

Let me spin this differently.

The caller may not have left a proper message.

"Hey, this is Wnston. Give me a call" will be ABSOLUTELY IGNORED.

"Annette, this is Winston with Remax Apex calling for access instruction re: 435 Grant St. Please call me ASAP or I will call you back at 11:30."  Now that message will get a resolution and I will KNOW the right process without making additional call after our contact.

To jump instantly to the 'incompetence' accusation is egregious error.

Of course, that agent may be on duty at their main job also. Part time and incompetent are not the same thing.

Winston Heverly Some agents may be technically challenged and some just don't return calls.

Some people live in their own little world.  They forget the phone, they turn it to silent then never back, they're rude, they don't care, they're too overwhelmed by life, etc.

A question for the ages, Winston. I think that it's just bad manners.

Smart phones do not make you a smart user . Case in point is my mother who is 88 yrs old and wants a smart phone . She doesn't use email or text, doesn't search the Internet si why does she want a smart phone.? Because her other friends have them and she wants to take pictures. Not smart

Prioritizing for some can be an issue. What might seem important to you, might not always be so for the other party.

I think they have the smart phones, but are either so busy or they answer text instead of calls.  

I do not know why these agents will not call anyone back and it drives my crazy.  As a buyer agent I have a tough time having other agents call me back even when I have an offer.   

i feel agents have gotten lazy.

Yup, hurt some feeling there, but it is my honest opinion!

You should call  back period. Smart phone, landline, smoke signals

Like others have said, laziness or just not professional or taking the job serious. 

I prefer text. I typically get my response.

It's not just Realtors ... it's everyone, no matter whether a professional, business, or individual.  We have more tools with which to communicate, but have become much poorer communicators ..

Gene

I would add, the way people communicate. Younger agents are more likely to text. 

Winston -- we can't blame common courtesy on the use of high tech methods or technology.  

Everyone seems to be mired in communications however I have detected those who are sysytems oriented respond at specific times of the day. I can deal with that.