Last night I had to drive 50 miles roundtrip to one of my listings to open the door for my Client and her seven children, ranging in age from 6 months to 12 years. The call that they were locked-out came at 8:35pm, and after attempting to reach a few REALTOR pals who live near the listing, it became obvious that I was going to have to drive down myself. It was the right thing for me to do, but also something totally avoidable for two reasons.

The first reason - the Seller client should have had a key to her front door, but as her family never uses that door and only enters from the door to the house from the garage, it was never an issue. She had previously been locked out but her eldest daughter had discovered an unlocked window, at which point I recommended she afix a note to the door stating "Please do not lock this door. Thank you!". This has subsequently worked for 30 showings. But not this time.... bringing me to the second reason.

An inconsiderate showing agent allowed this door to be locked.  Why inconsiderate? Because part of our job as a showing Agent should always be to control the access to all exterior doors to the house, and not permit our clients do open a door without finding out the state of whatever locking mechanism is on that door. This, I believe, is something that many agents are not considering when showing properties.

Maybe I am being a little too petty, or my expectations are a little too high, but I always ask that my clients allow me to open and close all exterior, and garage, doors on a property we are viewing. I make a conscious effort to notice the condition of the doors locking mechanism when I open it, so I may make certain I return it to the same state I found it in. This has yet to fail me, at least that I am aware of.

We as REALTORS owe it to our clients to be diligent, and should be able to expect that same respect and consideration from showings agents, but I think many REALTORS have not even given this a thought.

So - the next time you are showing a house, try to consider who may be living there, and how you would like the same consideration if it were your own home.  Think of my client at 9:30 at night, Husband out of town, and alone with seven children, waiting in her car, knowing she has left the house to make your client more comfortable when viewing it - how would you feel if it were you? 

I took the key from the lockbox, showed her how to put it back in and close it up, and instructed her to make an extra copy (I normally require two copies of every house key, but they were not able to comply before I listed the house, to prevent this sort of thing, I NEVER take their original key), then return the key to the lockbox. Hopefully this won't happen again.

I get this question so often, far too often. People seem to think because the house/townhouse/condo is right next door they must be identical, the same, simpatico. Not so much really.  Everyone has their home the way they like it, and they way they live - what many Sellers forget when they go to sell is that it is a house first, a home second.  The minute you sign the listing agreement it needs to become a business decision, you have to distance yourself from Buyer and Agent feedback, from peoples opinions of your decor. That is the most difficult thing for most Sellers to come to terms with.

Why? Because you put so much of yourself into your home. When you want to sell it, it is time to listen to your REALTOR, you Professional, when they tell you what the Buyers want. Todays Buyers want to do NOTHING.  If that was unclear, let me say it again N_O_T_H_I_N_G! They want to move in to the perfect property, with the perfect colors, and the perfect carpet, and the perfect light, and the perfect everything. Did I mention they want to do NOTHING? Just because you like that fabulous wallpaper/border/paint treatment, does not mean the Buyer will.

Why did your neighbors house sell before yours? Because they had the perfect colors, they had a newer kitchen, they had one more bedroom, they had what the Buyer wanted that yours does not have. They may have staged their house, they may have listened to their REALTOR when they said "clean your carpets!", they may have listened to their REALTOR, their expert, when they asked what do I need to do. The key here is that they LISTENED.  We are not here to spin our wheels, or to waste our money, or to tell you what you want to hear. We succeed when we Sell your home. But you Select us, and WE select you as well!

So, if you want the neighbor to ask why your house sold before theirs, listen to your REALTOR. Distance yourself emotionally, and be prepared to take criticism. Adapt, be aggressive, and you will sell.

I got a new listing two weeks ago tomorrow, showings started that Wednesday, or shall I say showings could have started that Wednesday. Not a single showing, not one, I can't even understand or fathom this. The house is perhaps $5-10,000 over priced, but not too high to prevent a showing or offer, I told my Seller lets get thru the weekend and see what happens. Weekends over - time to reduce the price, but what if showings don't happen?

Then there is the listing that is priced about right, but the others in the neighborhood are $20k higher and overpriced. But we aren't getting showings, and have a ridiculous low ball offer.  I am considering whether we should bump the price back up.

The geographical locations are completely different, one incredibly desirable, the other somewhat desirable, then there are my other two listings in very desirable areas that aren't getting showings, are priced very close or where they should be.

What is everyone else experiencing? I am at a loss for what to tell me sellers, I think it might just be the holiday week, but still - vultures are circling and there is no reason for it. Price it right and everyone is assuming distress. It is infuriating!!!

Just going to hang tough I guess, throw a brokers open, another open house? Ideas welcome!