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Showing Etiquette While Another Agent is There Too

By
Real Estate Agent with Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com 0480809

What is the showing etiquette where you are?

What I'm used to is calling a showing service and scheduling my showing.  The showing service then tells you if there is another showing already scheduled during that time, but it's just to let you know that someone else might be there too, no biggie.  You don't reschedule or anything.

You go to your showings.  If someone is there showing their buyers, you politely knock on the door (as it's usually wide open), walk in, and introduce yourself.  You then proceed to let them know you'll go ahead and take your buyers upstairs, or to the backyard, or anywhere else that the first buyers aren't.

What you don't do:

1.  You don't sit in your car and wait for the first group of buyers to leave.  Why?  One, you're on a schedule and have several other homes to show.  Two, it shows both groups of buyers that there is interest in that home or just in that price range and they need to be prepared to possibly compete with multiple offers.  Three, if you can hear what the other buyers have to say, you might get to learn their motivation and whether or not you will be competing with them if both buyers like the house. ** Always remind your buyers NEVER to talk when another party is around**

2.  You don't just walk in and start looking around right under the other buyers' noses.  Give them their space and they'll give you your space.

3.  You don't interupt the other group by asking, "Are you done in here yet?"  That's just plain rude and it makes a bad impression in front of your own clients.

4. You don't talk with the other buyers.  This is bad!  You might think you're just being nice, but what if the buyers like you better than their agent? The other agent can file an ethics claim that you disturbed an agency relationship and "stole" their client out from under them.  It's best to just smile and nod.

If you were there first, and you're ready to leave, you politely let the other agent know where you are putting the key for them to lock up, or you find the other agent and actually hand them the key.  If you were the second group and you are finished before the first, politely acknowledge to the other agent that you're finished, so he/she doesn't take the time looking for you to give you the key if you've already left and he/she didn't realize it.

My new market doesn't have a central showing service, so you won't know if someone else will be there unless you're inadvertantly told by the listing agent or the seller when you call, but the etiquette still applies.

**Are You Packed Yet?**

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com

Austin, TX and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, Westlake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Whether you're buying or selling, I'll be with you through the entire process.

Comments (42)

Vanessa Calhoun
PalmerHouse Properties & Associates, LLC - Atlanta, GA
Your Greater Atlanta Marketing Guru!!

I was always taught to politely make the other Realtor aware of your presence and then wait outside until their buyers have toured the property. The sense of urgency is still their on both sets of buyers because they're all aware that others have interest in the property.

May 28, 2009 12:52 PM
Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

Vickie, But again, you have to be walking around with common sense to be able to use it.

Chanda, That's amazing that a broker would say that.  Is he an "older" broker and doing things the "old school" way.  He needs to get with the times where people have schedules.

Donna B, Exactly!  The house you're thinking about tonight could be the same house that another buyer thought about last night... gone, ya missed it!

Vanessa, But the party in the house can take 30 minutes, an hour, however long they want, and that's not fair to your buyer or to the sellers on your other appts.  I see your point, I just don't agree with it.

May 28, 2009 01:11 PM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

In our marketplace in Atlanta, if another agent is already in the property, our etiquette used to dictate that we do not go into the home until they are finished.  They will not be able to talk to their clients while another agent is breathing down their neck.  When this occurs, I normally show my clients the outside of the home, while the other agents are inside, or I may drive ahead to my next appointment and then come back.

May 28, 2009 01:21 PM
Kenneth Bargers
Prudential Woodmont Realty - Nashville, TN

Donna - I have never come across this situation here in the Nashville area.  If this happened to me, I would introduce myself to the other agent or REALTOR and then wait for their walk-through to be  completed.  My client's time is valuable and understood they should be able to speak freely as we discuss the positives and challenges of the home.  I would respect the agent that arrived first with the same courtesy.

May 28, 2009 01:24 PM
Bob & Carolin Benjamin
Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ
East Phoenix Arizona Homes

And you do not get snarly when the agent showing is taking the lock box key back to the box to secure it and log out -- so you can log in ------------ some agents see to be annoyed when you try to properly log out ans seem to expect you to just hand over the key.

May 28, 2009 01:48 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

I've been cussed out by an agent for "being elsewhere in the house"... in front of her clients.  I don't think it went well for her after that. 

I softly and politely told her that she was terribly rude and if she had an issue it would have been WAY more professional to call me later.  And I wouldn't want her clients to feel rushed because someone else was sitting in a car outside, nor did I have time to cool my heels outside, as I expected she didn't.  It was all loud enough for her client to hear, but instead of half yelling, it was all low key...  Her client was apologizing to me on the way out the door...

 

May 28, 2009 01:52 PM
Sharon Kolb
Atlanta Decatur Homes - Atlanta, GA
Broker - Atlanta Decatur Homes

Liked the etiquette angle -- it's rarely a problem, but I wouldn't make my buyers sit outside in the car.  It's similar to an Open House situation where you have a number of different folks looking at the same time, but staying out of each other's way - and being polite.  Actually, I think the first agent should put the key back in the lockbox and make the second agent use the lockbox.  This gives the listing agent information on both agents and the time they entered.  Although I have done it both ways, this is probably the better option.

May 28, 2009 02:50 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Generally speaking when I happen to run into an agent with other buyers because the nature of the beast I sell (Lake Property) if they are inside we look at the waterfront, dock, seawall boathouse, grounds ect... then move inside as the other agent and buyers are ready to move outside.  If they are looking around outside we check out the house first and usually they are gone by the time we are done.  Usually the only coversation is about where whoever is leaving first is leaving the key, back in lockbox or counter or passing it off.

May 28, 2009 03:45 PM
Lisa Wetzel
RE/MAX Realty Affiliates - Carson City, NV
CDPE, SFR carsonvalleyland.com

How about treating people like we'd like to be treated!  COME ON!  Agents that aren't civil should not be in a service business!

May 28, 2009 03:59 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Donna:  Great post.  Lots of great ideas.  When I am out showing, and I see that the previous agent is still there... I do not hesitate to show the home.  I agree... it creates urgency... obviously showing my buyers that it is an active market... and probably more active than they thought it was.  "Congratulations on the Feature and Gold Star."  Thanks for sharing.

May 28, 2009 05:52 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Sounds like basic etiquette to me, though I often see that people here wait for the previous group to finish first.

May 28, 2009 06:23 PM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Donna... Good ettiquette is always appreciated.  I especially like the part about creating a sense of urgency.  Thanks for the important reminder and congrats on the gold star! 

May 28, 2009 06:24 PM
Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

Jim, You said "used to"... what's the current etiquette?

Kenneth, Apparently you don't schedule many showings at once...

B & C, Our Supra system doesn't have a "log out" thing, so your situation doesn't happen here.

Lane, Wow, that is not good!

Sharon, Comparing it to an open house is an interesting theory...

Tammy, Makes perfect sense.

Lisa, Very true.

Karen Anne, Thank you!

Christine, Again, I don't see how that makes sense to wait.

Steve, Thank you!

May 29, 2009 01:18 AM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

"what's the current etiquette?"  With all the new agents it is a total free for all!  No one in Atlanta seems to adhere to any etiquette these days.

May 29, 2009 01:47 AM
Cheryl Powell - The Powell Team
Southern Homes of The Carolinas - The Powell Team - Harrisburg, NC
Concord,Harrisburg & Charlotte NC Area Real Estate

Great tips. Our MLS isn't supposed to double book, but sometimes it does happen. That, plus the fact that sometimes we run ahead of or behind schedule, this is a very common situation.

May 29, 2009 03:43 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Donna, great post!  I always tell my buyers to keep their mouths shut in front of the other buyers who might be there, especially if they like the place.  

May 29, 2009 09:55 AM
Sandi Bauman
Chico Homes Real Estate - Chico, CA
Chico CA Realtor

It's funny how customs are different everywhere you go...  here, it's considered almost rude to enter a house when another agent is showing.  I've been to show property when it was 110 outside and there was a long line of agents waiting politely outside the house with their buyers for what seemed like HOURS!  Even with the morbid heat and the ridiculous number of interested parties, buyers had the privilege of leisurely viewing the home with privacy. 

 

May 30, 2009 05:12 PM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Donna,

Well said.  Good manners and commons sense should always come into play.

May 31, 2009 02:02 AM
Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

Jim, That's sad that newer agents  in your market don't know how to act.

Cheryl, Running ahead or behind schedule is very common, yes.  Sometimes you walk in and walk out, and others you sit in for 20 minutes.

Pat, Exactly!

Sandi, No offense, but I think that's ridiculous.  Especially if someone really likes the house, they could stay in there an hour with a line of people outside with the hopes that they would leave and not want to view the home.  That does the sellers no good.

Richard, Well said.

May 31, 2009 03:51 AM
Shannon Coe
exp realty of California, Inc. - Oceanside, CA
760-586-5268, San Diego Realtor

I love this conversation, in our hot market we need to talk about it.

Nov 26, 2011 06:32 AM