Frustrating Weekend - Good news was I had 3 buyers who wanted to see homes. Bad news was we got into less than 30% of the homes we wanted to see! ACCOMPANIED SHOWINGS ARE KILLING ME!
In particular, two agents absolutely frosted me. 
Agent #1 recently listed a home with showings limited to a few days a week - limited to 2 hours within those days - and they had to be accompanied showings - When she explained that the only time we could see the home was between 10 and Noon Sat or Sun, I asked why. She tells me the sellers have a toddler who “rules the roost” and this w/be the easiest way.
When I explained I spent the entire morning lining up showings (By the way I was doing this with 2 days notice). And that to try to reschedule many showings that had already confirmed (I waited OVER A DAY for agent #1 to call me back) TOO BAD was the response (I paraphrase) … SO I reworked my schedule and came up with a plan. What if I got there exactly at Noon (within their time frame) and just stayed 15 min - I’d be out by 12:15... "NOPE says she - I just got this listing and I don’t want to p???s the sellers off." Excuse me? Yes, those were her words!
I wonder how the seller would feel about losing a showing on a weekend??? Because they did. It’s amazing to me that sellers are putting such constraints around showing a home - on a WEEKEND no less! And also amazing the agent was too frightened to discuss this potential showing with her clients!
Truthfully, accompanied showings done well, are wonderful. The agent can present the home and its amenities. They can often answer questions real time. But when it’s done wrong – they hurt the seller. When the agent is busy, s/he has to have a plan B to represent her/his clients well.
Ok so Agent #2 - I placed the call on Thursday for a Saturday showing. I waited all day Thursday to hear back from her, nothing - Then finally I called again Friday and got her directly - She seemed confused, asked me which property and told me that it was unlikely she could get a response from the seller that day but that she would call me first thing Sat morning with a response for our 1pm showing request.
Well, that was difficult - but I agreed - Had she followed up on my call THURSDAY when it was left, I could have
avoided this. This is an agent WHO WORKS FOR AN OFFICE THAT HAS A SCHEDULING SERVICE and SHE DOESN”T USE IT… She wants to be the sole interface to her clients - So, here we are Friday night / Sat morning and we still don’t know if we’re going.
I was out with another buyer at 11am when the call came (2 HOURS BEFORE SHOWING REQUEST TIME) - and she responded, “Marcia, what property was it that you wanted to see? And what time? - Oh I can’t do THAT”, says she… “I have showings today with my buyers- I’m very busy and I have to do accompanied showings there, the seller expects it!” WHAT? Says I - she couldn’t have told me this Thursday??????? I’m steaming - FUMING - when she tops it by saying, “You know, I really need some time to schedule these showings!” I called her on THURSDAY = How much time does she need?????
My clients were miffed but still wanted to see the home - So as we were looking at the 30% of homes I could schedule on Saturday, they asked me to reschedule Agent#2’s listing for Sunday - So immediately I called Agent#2 from the road and asked to reschedule for Sunday - She responded, “Oh no, I’m too busy for Sunday to show the home and I can not allow you to show it - The seller likes me there “- She suggested next week - Some time DURING THE DAY - I asked why, these clients of mine are young professionals and work all day - She said because it’s Vacant and it’s a bit dark at night -
VACANT?????????? I almost fell over - And we can’t go in ?? Lord, give me patience - How do we deal with these agents who feel they have to be the only interface with their clients, but don’t pick up calls, can’t schedule in showings and (oh I want to use HER word here but won’t ) generally frustrate the buyers’ agent to the core! IS THIS CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR THEIR CLIENT??? My clients are ready, willing and able to buy - And I know when I work with sellers, I want those buyers to see my listings and I’ll do anything to make that happen!!!!!!!!!
Deep cleansing breaths - We’re going out this week to see this home - on the listing agent’s terms - I’m giving her 3 days notice - Stay tuned to see if we get in there!
Where are you on Accompanied showings? Do they really help the seller? Are they worth losing showings?
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