Every agent has been there.
You have a client who says they’re ready to buy or rent a property. And then they don’t follow through on the next steps.
They drag their feet on paperwork. They don’t send income verification. They expect you to chase them down.
Meanwhile, you’ve done everything you told them you would do. You’re not the one holding up the process. But guess who your client will blame if the deal falls through?
So how do you handle a situation like this without coming off like a nag?
The Common Objection: Clients Won’t Do Their Part
Here’s a sample scenario:
- You’ve got a rental client.
- They start the application process.
- Weeks go by. Pieces trickle in. The co-signer is submitted late. One spouse sends income docs, but the other doesn’t.
Then the landlord moves on, and your clients are frustrated.
Sound familiar? This doesn’t just happen with rentals. Think of mortgage applications. Think of buyers who don’t submit their pre-approval docs.
Same problem: lack of follow-through.
Why Nagging Doesn’t Work
Most agents send a quick text like:
“Still waiting on your husband’s income verification.”
You send that over and over, and it starts to feel like nagging. Clients tune it out. They’re busy. They don’t see the urgency.
That’s where most agents lose control of the process.
The Better Approach: Direct, Clear, and Written
Instead of sending short, one-off reminders, you need to put everything in writing in a way that’s easy to digest. Think of it like this:
- Recap what’s already been done. Example: “Co-signer completed. IDs submitted. Wife’s income verification submitted.”
- Call out what’s still missing. Example: “Husband’s income verification is still outstanding.”
- Connect it to the consequence. Example: “Until this is completed, the landlord cannot move forward with your application, which puts the apartment at risk.”
By laying it out like this, in bullet points (not bulky paragraphs), you eliminate confusion and make it impossible for the client to say they “didn’t know.”
How to Use ChatGPT to Write These Messages
Here’s where technology makes your life easier.
Instead of staring at your screen, wondering how to word things, use ChatGPT to draft:
- Polite but firm emails that recap what’s done, what’s missing, and what’s next.
- Bullet-point outlines you can paste into text messages for easy client consumption.
- Follow-up templates that sound professional but not pushy.
All you need to do is drop in the details: what your client has already completed, what’s outstanding, and what the consequences are if they don’t act.
ChatGPT can instantly turn that into a clear, client-facing message that gets results.
Here’s the ChatGPT prompt I used for the rental application example:
I have a client who is not following through on their commitments to obtain an apartment through the process and steps required. I am their agent. I want to present a very direct email with what we have done to this point and what the clear next steps are. Here’s what I have:
2 and a half weeks since initial application – done
Cosigner completed
Submit income (wife) – done
Outstanding:
Income verification incomplete (husband)
Here’s the result:
Subject: Outstanding Items for Apartment Application
Hi, [Client Name],
I want to make sure we’re fully aligned on where things stand with your application. Here’s what has been completed so far:
-
- Initial application – done (2.5 weeks ago)
- Co-signer – completed
- Wife’s income – done
Outstanding:
-
- Husband’s income verification – incomplete
This is the only missing piece holding up your approval. Until this is completed, the landlord cannot move forward with your application, which puts the apartment at risk.
Please confirm when this will be submitted so I can update the landlord and keep the application moving.
Best,
[Your Name]
The Follow-Up Strategy
Once you’ve sent the email and text in this format, all future communication refers back to it.
Instead of sending another nagging reminder, you can say:
“Hey, have you had a chance to review the email I sent yesterday? Everything is outlined there.”
Now you’re not the agent who pesters. You’re the agent who communicates clearly, sets expectations, and keeps the process moving.
The Bottom Line
You can’t rent the property for them. You can’t qualify for the mortgage for them.
But you can control how you communicate.
Don’t nag. Don’t wing it. Instead, give clients a clear, written roadmap that spells out:
- What’s complete
- What’s missing, and
- What’s at risk if they don’t act
And when you need help drafting that message, use ChatGPT to write it in seconds.
That’s how you stop chasing and start closing.
