Put yourself in a Buyer's shoes...

I just wanna know, the price.  I'm at an open house and the room is full of casually dressed people.  No one is wearing a name tag to identify themselves.  I continue down the hall to the bedrooms and look for telltale signs of professionalism.  Maybe three adults standing together, perhaps one dressed a little nicer than the others, none.

In the kitchen I find a nicely dressed person standing next to some brochures, she must be the agent.  A child runs up yelling Mommy, Mommy!  She picks the child up and I can see a name tag, is she the the agent? The name tag is from the Florest down the street. 

This actually happened to me when I attended an open house that I saw as I drove down the street.  Most of us know the basics of holding an open house;

  • Dress  professionally...
  • Have brochures available as people walk through the front door...
  • Greet people as they walk in...
  • Be there to answer questions about the listing and pickup new clients...

This agent decided to stand outside in the backyard and have a cigarette with a friend.  The house is full of strangers and the agent is not watching the Seller's belongings whatsoever.  

I know, if I were the seller I would be very upset and would fire that the agent the next day.  

I still saw no identification. I decided to leave what appeared to be more of a party than an open house. It turned out that the listing agent's licensed assistant was holding this open house.  In our state, a licensed assistant can sit open houses and actually show clients houses.

How did I find this out?  The listing agent was holding another open house on the next block over and I decided to stop and ask her if anyone was manning the other open house.  She told me, it was her assistant.  The funny thing is, there was no one at the agents open house but the assistant had at least 15 people wandering around.

Is it worth your reputation and perhaps your pocketbook, to run two simultaneous open houses? A better question; "How would your sellers feel?"

 

This post was authored by Paul Henderson ©2012, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.

Courtesy of 

Paul Henderson, Residential Real Estate Broker

Realtor ® ABR, CRS, GRI, CDPE

RE/MAX Professionals

As a Residential Broker and Relocation Specialist, I sell homes in or around JBLM, DuPont, Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Hartstene Pointe in Washington State.
Please visit my website at http://www.phenderson.net to search for homes and information 
(all information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed or warranted in any way)


Referrals are always welcomed and appreciated, Thank-you!

(As a member of the NWMLS, this blog post is intended to comply with NWMLS rules as pertaining to blogging.)

 

 
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29 Comments on Could the agent, in the room, please raise their hand?

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUL
06
332,423 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Paul - that agent surely was not looking out for the best interests of her sellers.  At the very least her assistant needs some training as others have mentioned.
2:28pm • #10
182,624 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Paul see this is why consumers feel the way they do about our profession.  I mean really? SMH.
2:41pm • #11
644,636 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I ask my agents all the time when they come for the office meeting/training session if they are secret agents(do not have name tag on)?
2:47pm • #12
466,050 Points 50 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Sounds like Washington has a lot of smokers. Usually it's fairly easy to see who the agent is holding the open.
3:08pm • #13
939,762 Points 94 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Some people don't like name tags, but it seems the professional dress and a nametag would be important as you point out here.
5:04pm • #14
159,070 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

great post, Paul. I always wear my name tag, and meet every guest at my Open House....

Tatyana
5:32pm • #15
320,740 Points 24 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Called Shot Master

I would certainly think if the agent isn't IMMEDIATELY recognizable as the 'HOST' (and isn't that what they are?) they are remiss.

 

 
7:01pm • #16
859,665 Points 174 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

If an agent is at an open house and nobody can figure out who it is, that's really bad.  I am ALWAYS at the front door greeting people as they arrive.  I often have my assistant with me to help out on busy open houses.  Either way, it's always covered.

 
7:13pm • #17
1,325,216 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Paul

There is no value in being a secret agent.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig
7:27pm • #18
864,691 Points 18 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I always tell Seller to get all valuables and an prescription drugs out of the house or locked up securely for the open house. I have id.. tell folks the must sign in and give all information requried for securiy purposes.. If they don't comply, then I ask them to make an appointment at another time.
7:33pm • #19
1,124,818 Points 90 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

If I were the seller I would not be pleased. The point of an open house is not to be a party of my friends but to show/sell the house.
7:35pm • #20
1,152,305 Points 86 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Very unprofessional. I will run 2 open houses at times, but they are back to back and I work them both. I will also never leave the inside unattended and will keep an eye on unusual behavior. I do not want a seller questioning me on missing items
8:36pm • #21
127,487 Points 1 Featured Post

Good points, sometimes it is helpful to see a situation from a different perspective.  I don;t think folks are always aware of the impressions that they are giving.
10:16pm • #22
1,350,864 Points 41 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Paul - That would have been frustrating, especially as a potential buyer, and it's not a professional way to act.
11:39pm • #23
JUL
07
395,206 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Nothing surprises me anymore... I had an open house a few weeks ago, and it was the agent wearing shorts and a T-shirt!  Never let your clients outdress you.
12:33am • #24
543,167 Points 119 Featured Posts Called Shot Master
Paul. I would be very cheesed off if I was the owner. So few Open Houses sell homes and are really there for the agent to get new business. I bet that agent did not get a single call from her assistant's "work".
1:59am • #25
185,098 Points 2 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Paul, it is frustrating to sometimes locate the "unknown agent" must be the same agent that

does not post a picture of themselves .
5:38am • #26
204,076 Points 14 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hello Paul, Holding Open Houses is part of our business and should be treated as such. An agent who doesn't care much about Open Houses certainly wouldn't care if the house sold or not. Sometimes I wonder why some of the agents continue to pursue the role of being a "Realtor" when all they want to do is sit back, relax and party. What's more puzzling to me is that the fact homeowners for whatever reason continue to do business with them.
6:15am • #27
303,072 Points 10 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I'm even more curious to know if the assistant even know people were inside the home roaming around!  I always host my own open houses.  I don't feel its fair to a seller who has hired me to list their home to have another agent host the open house.  If I was part of a team, that would be different but I'm not so you list with me - you get 100% of me.  Believe me - in my area it makes a difference when I sit with sellers and tell them I host my own open houses.  Quite a few agents around here take the listing and then send the newer associates to open houses.
9:12am • #28
570,582 Points 25 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Paul - What is that agent thinking?  I always wear my name tag and I greet each person who walks in, making sure they get a flyer.  Even if I am talking to another guest, I can take a second to acknowledge the newcomer quickly without being rude to the others.  I always assume that every guest ia truly a potential buyer and perhaps even a client for me to help them sell their present hmoe.  We are not just presenting the home to the guests, we are also presenting ourselves.  Common courtesy is critical.
4:34pm • #29

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Paul Henderson, Broker, Realtor® Tacoma,Gig Harbor,DuPont,HartstenePointe

Tacoma, WA

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RE/MAX Professionals & Four Seasons Inc.

Address: 4801 S 19th St, Suite 200, Tacoma, WA, 98405

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