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Call Agent Before Showing!

I was showing some homes in the Atlanta area today, and 4 of the 5 homes showed in the Internet as "Owner occupied." "Call agent first before showing" was listed in the private agents instructions in the MLS. What bothered me most is that 5 of the 5 homes were vacant. This just creates unnecessary work for the buyer agent, because as you try to caravan your showing route you are waiting on unresponsive agents. One of the agents said, "My people our out of town this weekend, go ahead and show!" Another said, "1 o'clock...let me get back to you." It is obvious that no one lived in these homes for over 6 months each.

Since our Supra lock boxes notify the agent within moments of a showing, it is puzzling that the agents would do this to be notified when the homes was going to be shown. In my own opinion, it is totally unprofessional, and a waste of everyone's time.

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Posted by Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO on 10/26/2009 08:36 PM

Comments (20)

Call Listing Agent Before Showing in the ActiveRain Channel

vacant homes, showing instructions, lock boxes, listing agents, vacant houses, call before showing, call listing agents first, ethics, listing agent

Originally posted at: Atlanta Real Estate | Atlanta Housing News for Real Estate: Call Agent Before Showing!

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20 Comments on Call Agent Before Showing!

OCT

Hi Jim~ I agree with you. It seems like a waste of time! I think it is done like that because the listing agent wants to know ahead of time that you are going to show it. Yes, I know, the supra records it, but that is just the way it is done.... absolutely crazy, I know!

I can understand your frustration. Of course, if I have pertinent information to share on a listing, I do put the call agent comment in the remarks too. Sometimes buyer's agents forget that part of their job is to provide feedback on a listing they show. Often times Supra has an office line and the only way you can track down a buyer's agent to get feedback is with the cell number they call from when they're about to show your listing. It's frustrating on both sides when agents can't make the time to do their jobs.

Well, g'luck to you on your next day out showing.

Owensboro KY Real Estate Specialist Vickie McCartney, Broker, ABR (Home Realty GMAC Real Estate Owensboro Kentucky) I feel it is totally unprofessional, and the sad thing is that most of them never get back to you. They are not doing a service to their seller clients.

Raymond Hill (Windermere-Fauntleroy) Buyers agents are never to give feedback. They represent the buyer.

Makes sense to me. I do like to know when someone is going through though. The key is getting back in a timely manner.

Jim:

Anything that makes it harder to show is ridiculous!

The point is and always has been to sell them.

Richard

Robert L. Brown~Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Michigan (www.mrbrownsellsgr.com) The key is if the listing is "Active" it should be available to show. We have fields in our MLS that say "VACANT" for a reason. It's my experience that there was not special need to call that agent at 5 different numbers and wait for a half a day before they return your call. You cannot even caravan out the route if you do not know the status of the property.

I'm so glad you bring this up because I also get annoyed when the agent will not say that a house is vacant and it can be shown at any time. I deliberately try to show empty houses if I can over occupied ones because of the ease of showing. They'll have excuses but none of them are valid to me.

It is also annoying when you call the company and tell the receptionist that you'll be showing the empty house in the afternoon. She'll want to know WHAT TIME! And insist on a time! Geeeesssshhhh.............

uuuggghhhh! this burns me. im just curious, do you all use eshowings in the atlanta area? this works perfectly. you call the appt center, make the appt, the listing agent and the seller is notified and the appt center calls and confirms if needed. works like a charm and my sellers love it. i dont know how agents operate without it. also, i wonder why agents aren't as aggressive as possible with their efforts in knowing the kind of market it is. showing should be a breeze. you would think that they would WANT you to show the property...

Barbara S. Duncan ABR, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Searcy AR (RE/MAX Advantage) It is very frustrating and it is like a suicide prevention number asking you "Do you mind holding?"

thank you.... I agree..or it says call agent and they tell you to go over and knock on the door,..to let the owners know you are there.. huh?

Richard Stabile Bergen County New Homes Builder Realtor (REMAX real estate associates) I agree. It is about selling the home!

Dee Neal Exit Tri-State Realty (Exit Tri-State Realty) Some companies try to use it, but it has not worked well from what I have seen and heard in Atlanta.

Hello Jim, you've certainly hit a sore point with us. The harder it is to show a home, the fewer showings they'll get. About the only time I'm ok with the requirement to CALL-LA, is when there is a complicated armed security system that requires prompt disarming. Thanks! John

Konnie McKee. RDCpro Northern VA Real Estate (Realty Direct ) I know. Isn't it incredible?

Alexander-Slocum REMAX Team - Vancouver WA Real Estate (RE/MAX equity group, inc. - Vancouver Washington) Even with the security alarm, I tell sellers to leave it off during the showing hours. Personally I have been licensed since 1979 and I really try to avoid alarms, appointment only and special showing instructions. They are all very counter productive.

Jim, Pet peeve, Can't agents update listings any more, good post!
Make this a great week,
Paul

Paul Henderson, Realtor ® Lacey & DuPont Washington homes (RE/MAX Professionals & Four Seasons Inc.) Some agents just do this on every listing they have. It is really annoying that no one sets them straight on it.

The market in your town must be great. It must be nice to have the luxury of turning away buyers because you are off at the beach!

Dan Homan (Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty, Inc) Dan we have way too many agents that are not working this as a full time job.

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