How to be on schedule when showing homes to Buyers

How to be on schedule when showing homes to  Buyers - what are your favorite "recipes"?

Recent Nina Rogof's blog inspired me to write this post. 

When I put together a tour for buyers, I try to include at least one property that is "vacant / easy to show" where we don't really have to stick to the schedule. It works well as a buffer if we are running late. I also might do adjustments along the way: say, skip #4 and go to #5 directly because #5 had more strict showing instructions, and I could rearrange to see #4 after #7. 

I try to plan for lunch breaks, if the tour is going to take most of the day. Little breathing room is good for buyers to clear the head, it's great strategy if they have kids with them, and kids are tired of going in and out of homes and cars. They need to stop by at a playground and run around wild for 15 minutes - if time permits of course.  This breathing room helps with scheduling conflicts as well. 

I can see how scheduling issues are a concern with relocating buyers who are only in town for a day or two, but still: some people need more time to decide, and to really look and take in what they see.

These extra 10 or so minutes that we spend at a property can make a difference. I wouldn't rush anyone, unless they are getting late for their plain trip. I also often use my phone to disguise I'm checking the time.

And to conclude it all with a nice story, here it is:

I was showing condos in Brookline to a new client, who is relocating from another country. We've seen 3, and each and every time she would run out of them within few minutes. We would then use the time in between to discuss each apartment complex, proximity of amenities and neighborhood per se. When I asked if she had enough time to look at everything, and reminded her that she can certainly linger longer, our schedule is not air tight, she told me, that she actually is a Realtor® in her home country, so she really needs a couple of minutes to "see it all". And I must give her credit - she truly picked up on every detail, and asked me about it when the listing agent had left...

So, to every rule there is an exclusion!