I've done it both ways - popped over to meet them and also had them come to my office first.  It just depends on how the phone call goes.  I won't jump in the car and rush to show a house just because they're standing in the driveway and want to see it NOW!  Those kind of people rarely turn into bona fide buyers, in my opinion.  And, often, they have their own agents who couldn't show them the house. (Just my experience back when I was a newbie, pop tart realtor!)

The rule in our office, is you must meet the buyer at the office before you show them a property.  It's a safety issue, a person will not go to an office, and let everybody see them if they are going to harm the agent.

I will admit that it's very tempting to simply run out to show a property without qualifying for fear of turning them off.  However, in the longrun you will be better off and save yourself tons of wasted time.

Great post.  I am sure this will remind a lot of people!  The last thing you want to do is waste your time..

Depends on the situation.  I like to meet people first outside of an office environment so a house is as good a place as any.  It gets me out looking at homes, too, on a slow week.  I get to actually talk to them and evaluate them right there.  But, if they want to see 12 homes on a Saturday there's no way I'd do that without getting some bona-fides first. 

Thanks for the reminder to all to make sure they are aware of their surroundings and not to take anything for granted.

I am guilty of it myself. We sometimes jump to the chance to show a home and sometimes we are letting our guard down. This goes for male & female. Thanks.

I have just recently met a new buyer at one of my listings.  They called off the sign and were interested in seeing my listing.  I met them at the home, got their contact info. and have stayed in touch.  However, they have not met with a lender to start an initial conversation about how much they could really 'afford'.  In situations like that, I feel like I owe it to my seller to show their home.

LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL, ohh sorry still laughing not at you but at the fact that after you get your license and E&O coverage we tell every agent to never show a property until they have met with a Lender to get them approved. Yet, every week I have someone tell me how their "Deal" fell through due to financing. All I say to myself is the punch line from comedian Ron White's act "Well, you can't fix stupid!"

For one of my own listings I might meet them at the house after asking them a few questions on the phone.  On other listings, I used to meet at the house once in a while, but now never do it and will meet with them at the office first.  #1 to not waste my time and #2 safety issues because you never know these days.

When people have called our office on a yard sign and if was given to me as an up call - I have gone over and shown a property without meeting them at the office and I can't remember that it has even turned into a sale or a client so usually a waste of time.  But, for my listings, three of my last sales have been a result of meeting a buyer at the house after they called me from seeing my sign.  On one home, neither were working with a Realtor and they both put an offer on the home so I ended up with a full price offer.  I was getting ready to list the neighbors home and sold it to the one that did not get their offer accepted on the first home--closed on both of them within the last 6 weeks.  I have had a couple calls where I did not feel comfortable on the phone and so did not pursue it.

I had to stop and think about this one as I find I have two different answers for different "scenarios".  

If I'm the listing agent and the home is vacant I have no problem showing the home to someone who has made an inquiry on the property before digging deep into their qualifications.   (Naturally for safetys sake I won't do so without verifying phone numbers, etc, and letting someone know where I'm going to be.)  When the home is vacant I'm not inconveniencing the sellers by showing the home to someone who I haven't scrutinized for mortgage pre-approval and motivation.  In this slow market I find it advantageous to show the home quickly and go over the details of the caller/potential buyers motivation and qualifications while I am there, face to face. 

With the owner-occupied scenario I am much more thorough upon the initial contact.  I ask the "who, what, where" questions of the caller/potential buyer prior to setting the appointment with my seller.  I explain to the "caller" that I am not simply being nosy, but am representing the sellers and part of that representation is bringing only willing, able, and motivated people into their home.  I haven't had anyone yet be upset by my line of questioning.

Interesting answers to this post.  I have to admit that I have been a bit of the jump and run type.  I only have a year and a half in the business and it seemed that any phone call was a potential client.  Of course, I have become wiser and realize that some people call realtors for sport!  I am now much more cautious with who I meet.  Personal referral, yes.  Sign call, possibly, but only after qualifying via phone.  And I will never go out a second time with a client without a lender's pre-approval.  And it must be a lender I trust!