You Found a Match. Now What? The First-Hour Playbook

By Liz Bates, Founder & CEO, Who’s Got Pockets · DRE 01434739

Monday’s brief made the case that agent-to-agent matches happen faster because there’s nothing standing between the two agents who can put the deal together. Today is the practical half: you’re scrolling the board, and there it is — a pocket that fits your buyer like a glove, or a buyer need that describes your seller’s house. What you do in the next 60 minutes usually decides whether that match becomes an escrow.

Minute 0–10: Reach out like a human

Don’t just comment and wait. Call or text the posting agent directly — every card on the board carries the agent’s name, and most carry a cell number. Say who you are, name your brokerage, and get to the point: “I saw your Ladera Ranch pocket on WGP. I have a pre-approved buyer at that price looking for exactly this. When can we see it?” Agents answer that message. What they don’t answer is “DM me for my buyer’s criteria.”

Minute 10–30: Confirm the essentials before anyone drives

Five questions save everyone a wasted afternoon:

• Is it still available? Pockets move — that’s the whole point.
• Price and flexibility. Is the number firm, a range, or “bring me something reasonable”?
• Condition and timing. Is the seller ready now, or is this a coming-soon that needs three more weeks?
• Showing logistics. Occupied, tenant, vacant? Notice required?
• Where does it stand? Understand how the property is being shared before you market anything onward — a pocket shared agent-to-agent with seller permission is a different animal from a signed exclusive. When in doubt, ask the posting agent what their seller has authorized.

Minute 30–60: Make your buyer real

The agent on the other side is deciding, right now, whether you’re worth a showing. Make it easy: same-day, send the pre-approval or proof of funds, a one-paragraph buyer story (who they are, why this home, how they’ll perform), and two or three windows your buyer can walk it this week. A buyer with paperwork attached goes to the front of the line — every time.

The etiquette that keeps this working

Agent-to-agent speed only works because agents trust each other with their clients’ business. Three rules keep that trust intact:

• The posting agent runs their side. Their seller, their relationship, their rules. Never contact a seller directly.
• Don’t re-market what isn’t yours. A pocket someone shared on the network is not content for your Instagram. If you want to bring it to a buyer, bring it to a buyer.
• Close the loop. If your buyer passes, say so quickly. The agent who tells me “not a fit, but thank you” is the agent I call first next time.

One housekeeping note, because we take it seriously: everything shared on the network rides on seller permission, and nothing here is legal advice — when a situation touches listing agreements or MLS rules, loop in your broker. The speed comes from removing layers, never from cutting corners.

The matches are there. As of this week the network is holding more live pocket listings and buyer needs than any week in WGP history — the pre-market board and the buyer needs board are open all week, and Match Alerts will watch them for you.

Not a member yet? Joining is free and takes about two minutes.

Cheers 🥂
Liz