San Antonio Home Buyers - Why Many Agents Won't Show You A Home "Right Now!"

It all makes sense to me...getting the prospect to understand is the challenge sometimes!

You have touched on some very tricky situations while dealing with buyers.  I know we have all at one point or another "chased our tails around".  It's not fun, not rewarding & only brings more frustration in our lives.  Besides the other issues you have mentioned I also have a huge concern about safety, I haven't been able to get that across to potential buyers though, you always hear about some Realtor somewhere that met up with a potential buyer that caused them harm.  We have to take precautions to protect ourselves.  Our lives are much more valuable than a commission check.

Matt, do you think all this blogging helped you "get" it faster than most.

Good for you!!  I think most of us early on in our careers need the business so bad, we chase our tails around. But, after we are settled in our careers, don't see the need. You caught on quickly.

This so goes along with my post on Rasing the Bar in Real Estate, if Brokers made it a requirment that all new clients must meet the agent at the office and then if they are going to take them to a house, that they get a copy of their drivers license.  What is wrong with safety procedures and protocols that make us more professional.  I am not sure a Doctor would just up and come to your house because you called him, nor are they going to clear their schedule for you.  If we set the stage others will follow, because the general public will soon see the value in the difference.  Good Post.

Just yesterday somebody call and said they wanted to meet at a house a few hours later - they left a message with the time and just expected us to be there! ~Rita

Hi Matt. I have had my share of people expecting me to show them a house with an hour's notice. The type of people I like to work with are those who respect my time along with my knowledge.

Hi Matt... I think that you have hit the target with this post.  As you have illustrated, there is a seemingly endless number of reasons why many agents will not drop what they are doing to go show a home and only one for why some will... lack of buisiness.  Ironically, it's often the same motivator behind agents offering commission discounts.

Matt, I have to admit I have 'dropped everything' for clients but now have learned that most of the time...it is a waste of time. For me, it was a matter of being excited! to be an agent and wanting to participate! After a few duds, I have learned to stop and take the necessary steps to qualify and do the paperwork before we do anything else. Great post!

Hi Matt:

I'm sure we've all had our share of those calls.

Sometimes I do go ahead and make the appointment. 

It all depends on my schedule.

Matt - Thanks for saying it so well! Blogging and social media have really opened up the doors to hearing from many more folks at every stage of home searching. After 30 years I have learned well what is required to accomplish the goal of the client as well as ensuring that I run a sustainable business that allows me to keep going year after year, serving more and more clients.

In the big picture, only the medium has changed...people are still people. Folks need a trusted advisor and that is something I have been to my clients for many, many years! In this brave new world of internet and social media it simply becomes more and more important that I stick to what I KNOW will serve my clients best...even when they find me through the internet and not one of my previous clients!

Thanks for writing this...I feel special ;-) I'm also reblogging it to share with my future clients!

Matt, thank you for the timely post. I have just reblogged it. Often times, buyers are put off by the fact that we can't meet them at the drop of a hat to show them a home. You have done everyone a great service by explaining that the agents who will meet them at a minute's notice are probably not the agents who they want to represent them in a transaction. Great job!

I really enjoy working with buyers... But what I enjoy even more is working with Qualified buyers!  After showing homes to many non-qualified buyers early in my career, lesson taken.... lesson learned.  Sure wish I could have had a mentor at the time to show me the way!  but life is an education class on a daily basis.  I do have to admit.... every once in a while I wil meet a client without first qualifying them...  When I don't have anything on my plate and figure, well I can always use the practice...

Showing homes to an individual who will not get pre approved and sign a buyers rep agreement is a waste of time.

A work of caution one should have a written, documented policy in place.  If you show a buyer who will not comply with you policy, and you refuse to show another buyer you have discriminated.

Hi Matt ~ Buyers are definitely out in the market right wanting to see properties, and pronto! I had three buyers call me last week who wanted to meet me a the house they were interested in. All three  were a bit irritated that I would not drive out to meet them right away.

The perception is that we agents are desperate right now and, like you mentioned above, are just sitting around our offices just waiting for the phone to ring.

I believe that buyers who are truly ready to buy will take the time to answer are few questions and get pre-qualified and approved once they have contacted a Realtor!