Special offer

Showings 101 - A Lesson in Being Prepared

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with www.GoSimplyTexas.com TX Lic 0530037

Showings 101 - The "What I Wish I Would Just Pack and KEEP IN MY CAR ALREADY" Edition

While out doing showings, there are occasions where I inevitably need something that I SHOULD already have on hand. In that moment of scolding myself for not keeping it on standby in my car, ready and waiting, I vow to myself that as soon as I get home I'm going to pack it, whatever "it" might be.

For instance, last night my clients decided at the last minute that they wanted to go see a vacant home that they had left off their list. I had time, I knew I could get an appointment on the fly, so I scheduled the showing. We arrive at the home, a vacant short sale, around 7:15. It's dark. And wouldn't you know it....the electricity to the home has been cut. Perfect. Luckily, all three of us have our handy dandy cell phones to give off a little bit of light. So we maneuver around the home, viewing it with the brightness of three little LED lights.

What ticked me off is the fact that several months ago I had a very similar situation. I told myself .... "Self, you should pack that extra large flashlight when you get home and keep it in the trunk because you KNOW this situation will present itself again." Did I pack it that day? No. And while it wasn't a life or death situation without the flashlight, it is a simple lesson that every Boy Scout (or so I've heard) and Girl Scout (??maybe...I'm guessing on this) learns... Be Prepared!

Here are a list of handy things I keep in my car for showings:

-Measuring tape - always handy! ALWAYS!
-miniature level/highlighter/LED mini-light on a key chain all-in-one (it was a freebie convention handout - and unfortunately the "light" was just as good as the one on my phone)
-napkins - for those dang messy kids...and their messy Starbucks drinking parents.
-cell phone charger - duh.
-compact little "car sickness" bag (my hubby swiped one from the ambulance he works on - and if you know me, then you know that I have a severe phobia of vomit. And car sickness. And the two combined. And combine that with the fact that my job often times requires me to drive around clients and their kids in my car for several hours, then do the math and statistics are high that one of these days I'm bound to get a spewer. And in such case I will *drum roll* BE PREPARED (*stands proudly with fists on my waist much like Wonder Woman*)!  In the words of Mike Myers in Wayne's World... "If you're gonna spew...spew into this!"
-a granola bar - low blood sugar = cranky, ill, super grumpy Realtor who bites the heads off of innocent clients.
-children's books - these my 10 and 4 year old kids keep in stock for me
-gum/mints - nothing worse than being trapped in a car with nasty breath man/woman - in which case could bring about the use of the vomit bag sooner rather than later! A scenario I'd like to avoid!

And now I ask...What items do YOU keep handy in your car for showings? Any "must add" items to this list?
Buyers...what items do you WISH your agent had handy in their car?

100 cool points for the person with the best answer. ;)
Posted by

___________________________________________________________________________________________

If you're looking for a home in the McKinney TX or Collin County area then you're in the right place! Search for homes on my Collin County real estate website, subscribe to this blog, or follow on Facebook and Twitter.

Connect with me online at:

Kim Daugherty on FacebookKim Daugherty on Twitter

 Like what you read? Consider subscribing to my blog!

And don't forget...

comment

Comments (4)

Laura Barron
www.RealFamilyRealEstate.com - McKinney, TX
D + B Real Estate - Collin County Texas & Beyond

I keep some of the above and a screw driver, zip ties, screws and bolts.  Comes in handy for sign repairs while out and about.

Mar 07, 2012 07:37 AM
Dylan Browne
Jo-Miller Realtors LLC. - Stafford, VA

Hey Kim, great blog, I do carry a LED flash light here in Virginia because you can never tell when you will be stuck on Interstate 95 and you get to a showing and there is no electricity and its now night fall. The gum/mints is a wonderful idea, I will be picking up a pack or two..

Mar 07, 2012 07:46 AM
Marilyn Boudreaux
Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty - Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor

Hey Melissa I've said the same thing about the flashlight before never fails!  I usually try to have some papertowels, Clorox wipes and hand santizer with me, someone has been known to step in dog poo before!!

ps I love your little logo at the bottom with the needy comment very clever

Mar 07, 2012 08:52 AM
John Cannata
214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX
Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

The only thing I really keep in my car are workout clothes in case I feel like going to the gym that day (don't worry, I always keep FRESH clothes in there). A car charger is always in there of course. Nothing for entertainment though, but thats mainly because I don't drive buyers around. :-)

Mar 07, 2012 11:07 AM