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Buyer's Agents Need to Show Homes to Their Buyers

By
Real Estate Agent with Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker DRE #00697006

Now, ordinarily, you would not think that I would have to mention this, but buyer's agents, if they are to represent buyers, should show homes to their buyers. I bring this up because I've had a number of situations lately in which buyer's agents felt as though they could just send their buyer over to the house to see it without them.

I tell all of my sellers that they are not to let a stranger into their home. You would not think I should have to warn people but I do. Just because somebody knocks on the door because they spotted a for sale sign in the yard or they found the home on a website, is no reason to let them inside. Sellers can let a buyer's agent enter with a client, but they are not to let buyers wander about freely in their home as though it is always open, even if there is a specified time and day for showings. Because it's a private home. Just because it's for sale does not mean a seller loses privacy.

Read more on my personal blog today about A Private Group Showing is Not an Open House.

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Elizabeth Weintraub is co-partner of Weintraub & Wallace Team of Top Producing Realtors, an author, home buying expert at The Balance, a Land Park resident, and a veteran real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown, Carmichael and East Sacramento, as well as tract homes in Elk Grove, Natomas, Roseville and Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put our combined 80 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at RE/MAX Gold. DRE License # 00697006.

Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of RE/MAX Gold. Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice; it could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.

Comments(10)

Jim Patton
Aspire Home Real Estate 209-404-0816 - Modesto, CA
Realtor - Stanislaus ,Merced, San Joaquin Counties

Good advice Elizabeth.  I tell my sellers the same thing. 

Feb 05, 2013 04:07 AM
Kathryn Maguire
GreatNorfolkHomes.com (757) 560-0881 - Chesapeake, VA
Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA Beach

That is a disturbing thing to think that there are buyer's agents who are so lazy that they are not doing one of the basic fundamental tasks they have!

Feb 05, 2013 05:29 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Hey Jim and Kathryn: Well, you know how the confidential agent remarks might say "show ONLY on Sunday from 2 to 4 PM?" No? Well, you should try it, LOL. But you'll be astonished at all the agent who have other things to do and will just send their buyers over to the house, and then deny doing it. So . . . how did the buyers find out about it? Huh? I think some of the agents feel it is a waste of time to compete, so they don't want to show, either.

Feb 05, 2013 11:11 AM
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

I do not understand this.  Also we have a lot of contractor lockboxes with foreclosures and I am always amazed when I hear stories of agents giving out codes or garage codes  Not okay. -Kasey

Feb 05, 2013 12:23 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Elizabeth there are some agents and then there are some people who call themselves agents. I'll keep my other thoughts to myself. 

Feb 05, 2013 07:17 PM
Jim Patton
Aspire Home Real Estate 209-404-0816 - Modesto, CA
Realtor - Stanislaus ,Merced, San Joaquin Counties

Elizabeth - I actually have seen that come up a few times recently.   I actually took one of my buyers to one of those "open houses" a couple weekends ago and the place was a zoo.   It never even occured to me to send my client with out me. 

Feb 06, 2013 06:39 AM
Hella Mitschke Rothwell
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Elizabeth: How about those driving around that see a home, have no agent, but just want to take a little peek at the house? I give my sellers firm instructions to not let anyone in the house, no matter how nicely they ask.

Feb 06, 2013 09:05 AM
Cathy McAlister
Cathy Ashley McAlister, GRI CDPE - Broker / Sacramento - Sacramento, CA
Sacramento DRE#00648507

Or that pesky flip side..... all those listings that stipulate no showings for two weeks and then you can show on tuesday between 2-4 (true story on a listing I viewed last week) and even better, cannot see at all, but write anyway (love those).      Otherwise Buyer & Agent (hand in hand) = showings.

Feb 07, 2013 09:39 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Cathy: I think you are talking about my last two listings. One such home in Elk Grove went on the market on Monday, and there are no showings until Sunday and then only from 4 to 6 PM. Another short sale in Elk Grove is listed as no showings ever, buy sight unseen and take over hostile tenant. I have a ton of offers. Hey, we should go to lunch next week, Cathy!!

Feb 08, 2013 05:01 AM
Dana Hollish Hill
Hollish Hill Group, JPAR Stellar Living - Bethesda, MD
REALTOR * Broker * Coach
Yikes! I can't imagine doing that. Was the buyer agent just running late? How awful.
Sep 03, 2013 01:57 PM