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NO SHOW SHOWINGS ..... NO CALL EITHER! ARGH!

By
Real Estate Agent with MadisonRealEstateToday.com and Bunbury & Associates Realtors

Thank you, John Occhi for this Blog:  Pet Peeve: Don't Show Showings

When I was responding to John's blog, the light bulb went off!  This would be a great blog and maybe those in our area that are guilty of this will re-think how it affects a Seller.

Here's my (well, my Seller's story):

I received a call from our front desk requesting a "last minute" showing on a listing of mine.  Joe Agent had an out of town Buyer and wanted to schedule the showing with 3 hours notice.  I called the seller and he agrees to allow the showing,.  Mr. Seller leaves work and goes home to prepare his home for the showing (taking 2 hours to clean - single guy!).

Later that day, when he gets home from work, he realizes that they never showed up.  He called me.  I called the Joe Agent and Joe Agent says.  "Oh, sorry, we just never got there!  We could drive over now.  Would that be ok?"

Hmmmmm  I call Mr. Seller (who is already peeved) and he, reluctantly, agrees.  "Tell them to give me 15 minutes".

Get this....the Buyers and "Joe Agent" (I say this lightly) show up 5 minutes later.  Mr. Seller hasn't even left yet, and I hadn't gotten thru to Joe's cell phone to even confirm the showing!!!!!!

Mr. Seller hurries to leave.  He doesn't even get very far down the street in his car when he looks in his rear view mirror and sees them LEAVING!!!!!!!  The Buyers and their "agent" were in and out of the house in less than 5 minutes.  Get this, the house is 7,000 sq. ft. and priced at mid $800k! 

"Agents" like ythis need to revisit Real Estate etiquette!  In my opinion, these "agents" don't deserve the title to be in the business, let alone have Buyers to work with!

Ever have this happen to you?  I also agree with John that a blog with these "agents" names would be a good idea.  I think I'll sleep on this one though.

Sellers really put a lot of effort to clean and prepare their homes for showings.  Please, please, please: if you've set up a showing and cannot make it.  Please call the showing line and leave a message.  It really is the LEAST we can do!

Thanks for reading and make it a great day!

Beth An

www.TheSchulzTeam.com

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Brian Block
RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA
Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate
I've had similar experiences, and it is very frustrating and very upsetting to the sellers who take time to clean up, make arrangements to head out for the showing, and take pride in their home.  Just the other day, an agent had called my client to show her home at 1 p.m.  My client called me at 2 p.m. to see if I had heard from the agent, which I had not.  My client called me back at 8 p.m. that evening and said that the agent had just called her to apologize, but that "his client had changed her mind about seeing the home."  My client was not at all happy about that.  However, we are expecting a contract tomorrow from someone else.
Aug 02, 2007 05:19 AM
Dotti Driver
Sky Realty - Austin, TX
GRI, E-Pro Realtor

Once in a while, I will have a buyer not want to see the inside of a house when we drive up.  I always tell them that you can't always tell a book by it's cover and besides, the seller expects us to look at it.  I'm always amazed at how many times they really like the inside once we go in.  It's up to the Realtor to take control of the showings, and remember to treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Aug 02, 2007 05:44 AM
Sonja Babic
Sonja Babic/PRIME Realty NC, LLC - New Bern, NC
New Bern NC, PRIME Realty NC, LLC
It is very frustrating. I do understand that there are situations but make a CALL! How hard is that!
Aug 02, 2007 05:56 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

TOTOH, the home could be kept reasonably clean, put on a lock box and agents permitted to show with a call to the seller just to let them know that someone is coming.

When the seller make it hard to show by specificate appointment times, they invite disappointment. 

I don't excuse bad behavior on the part of buyers and buyer's agent, but I know from experience that when a seller has to have a narrow showing time, either touble will follow or, if I call and must have less than a 2-3 hour showing time, I just don't show.

 

Aug 02, 2007 06:05 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Beth,
Lenn is right on--showings work so much better if it can be done by lockbox so showing times do not have to be so limited to a time window.  As you know, often when showing property buyers spend more or less time at a property than agent expects and then the entire showing schedule is totally off.  

Having said that, it is common courtesy to call the listing agent when you decide to omit a property you had planned to show.  No shows without contact are a pet peeve of mine. 

Aug 04, 2007 12:07 AM
Robert McArtor
RE/MAX Components - Fallston Maryland - Bel Air, MD
Top Listing Agent for Baltimore and Harford County

Just experienced it. My property is vacant. Agent was given 3 days to show it. Their Buyer contacted me first by phone and email prior to showing telling me they are interested and they have an agent. GREAT! I told the agent what the commission was and they were unhappy. So, instead of showing the property, they previewed it and ripped the house apart to their clients. How do I know this? I emailed their clients for feedback directly! WHY? because they contacted me first and I did not hear from their agents....so.....

No Phone Call......Ripped the House apart because they did not like the commission.....(House was completely Rehabbed BTW)......welcome to the world of Real Estate! As a listing agent...I call the agent directly and ask why?. I get answers. There is no reason for it. If sellers are willing to leave the house for an hour...be willing to make a 2 second phone call to cancel. Rude.

Concerning the time constraints placed on showing a property. If your Buyer likes the house and wants to see it...what is your excuse to them for not showing it. "Well, they can only show it between 10 and 4....this is too inconvenient for me". Really? Call me...I will show it to them.

Aug 05, 2007 07:22 AM
Corey R. Randl
State Bank of Cross Plains - Madison, WI

Beth An,

 I totally see where you and your seller are coming from.  I think this happens too much in this industry.  I have been both a victim and have not showed for an appointment but of course, I have called the other agent before they have contacted me.    It is just being professional and polite both to the seller and the listing agent.  Good Article.

 

 

Sep 10, 2007 06:53 AM
Suzan FitzGerald
Best Rate Realty - Juneau, AK

I just search for this very topic.  I knew this must have happened to someone else besides me.  Just a couple of days ago I got stood up!  When I scheduled the showing I did it when it was easiest for the potential buyer.  She wanted the that day and time.  I was showing one of my listings that has two tenants.  I had to give them notice.  The buyer never showed up.  When I called her, she answered.   I asked if she would like to reschedule if she was interested.  What did I get?  Not an apology- oh no.  Attitude.  She was completely rude.  I told her that if she would like to see the home she would have to schedule the showing with a different Realtor.  With gas prices these day and the time away from my family and kids to go for nothing.  I am very disappointed and a little mad. 

Jun 18, 2008 01:37 PM
Paul Guenther - WFG Title
WFG NATIONAL TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY - Flagstaff, AZ
The Extra Mile Is Part Of My Regular Route!

Beth An,

 I know you wrote this in 2007, but times have not changed at all.

I am very disappointed to say that I feel it is an isolated Industry pitfall.  I put on events and classes for REALTORs and I can bank on a 40% no show.  Last week I had 84% No Show!  that is right the people RSVP'd and don't show, don't call, don't email.  It blows me away, no other industry would put up with that lack of consideration.  I had planned to do a blog on this, but never sat down to scribble it out.

These are all "business owners"  believe it?

A Former fellow Wisconsinite

Jun 14, 2009 10:32 AM