Viewing Homes for Sale Between Denver and Boulder -

If you're thinking of buying a home in one of the friendly small towns between Denver and Boulder, you might like to know something about the process of setting up showings. This is a sample of what your agent will do each time before you go 'on tour'. 

If you're selling a home between Denver and Boulder reading through this might help you understand why, if you get a request for a showing at a certain time, and you ask them to come at another time, they likely will not come at all.

Many people seem to believe that agents stack the deck with showings, putting all the 'uglies' up first, then showing the 'pretties', so buyers will be more impressed and make a quicker decision. Well, that might work if you're searching a small area, but most of the people I help find a home are interested in seeing homes spread over a sizable area. So when I set up multiple showings, they're arranged in the best drive order.

Generally, I've gotten input from my client as to which homes they want to see, what time to start, and how much time they have available. I also like to know how many people are coming along and if any children are joining us. The more people that come, the fewer showings I schedule per hour, so we have time for more conversation during each showing and for drink and/or bathroom breaks.

Once the best route has been determined, I start calling the phone numbers to set the showing for each home. Today I set out to schedule nine showings.  That's more than I like to do in one day but the client is moving from out of town and isn't here often, so we've got to pack them in.

I like to give a 2-hour window because it is difficult to anticipate how long a home buyer will stay in each home, and to estimate delays such as road construction. Home sellers who will only allow a 1-hour window are making it difficult to show their home, and I will often have to call to request a time change anyway. But some sellers have real needs for a shorter window, so I do my best to comply.

Out of the nine homes I wanted to show today, I was told three are now under contract and are not allowing showings.

So now we're down to six, a more reasonable number. The thing is, it's likely at least one of these six is also under contract but the agent hasn't informed the showing line yet.

Out of the original nine, all were vacant but one. Vacant homes are easy to set up but occupied homes can be a problem. Imagine I've planned out a route, starting at the north end of the area and ending at the south end. Home #4 is occupied and they want us to come two hours later than I've planned. Chances are, we won't be able to see that home at all, due to time limitations.  In today's case, the client has a plane to catch, so he won't be seeing that house. I don't know right away if there's going to be a problem seeing the occupied home, as I have to wait for the showing line folks to call that homeowner to get their OK.

Each home has a different type of access to the home, but most are via a code to a lockbox of some kind. Sometimes there is also an alarm to shut off.

Once I obtain all the access codes I print out showing sheets for my client.

Then, I spend a few minutes praying that all the codes will actually open the lockboxes, that there will be keys in the lockboxes that will successfully open the door, and that we don't run into someone in the house who says they didn't know we were coming and won't let us in.

Hopefully, this adventure will result in finding a great home for my client, and another appointment to write up an offer.

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Note:  All showings went well, and my client flew home happy and confident that he will be able to find a home that meets his needs!

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I write posts on real estate issues and local events in the Denver metro area, especially those *communities between Denver and Boulder, as a public service. My hope is to give people an idea of the ‘flavor’ of our community, in case they’re new or moving to the Denver area.

I am a residential real estate agent, happily helping folks buy a house or sell a house in the beautiful and friendly *suburbs northwest of Denver.

*Arvada, Broomfield, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, Westminster; also Thornton, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Northglen, Lakewood

Read more about Arvada Colorado, a historic small town between Denver and Boulder.

Find Homes for Sale, no Matter Who Listed Them, at Dream House Hunting.

Gardeners – please visit my blog about high plains gardening, Beauty of Gardening.

Copyright © 2011 Joetta Fort

 

 

Joetta Fort, Realtor       720-353-8031