"I didn't want to bother my agent..."

It's your listing, so I don't see anything wrong with it. You're looking out for your sellers best interest and that includes getting people into their front door.

I do the same.  Anti-dual agency and all....it is in my seller's best interests to allow the showing no matter who is representing them.   As long as everyone knows their role and is aware of the other's intentions, all is right in the world and no one feels "used".  And some of their excuses are laughable, aren't they?

Thanks for sharing your views.  Being so helpful as you have been to prospective buyers is a good trait to have!

I wouldn't mind showing buyers my listing.  But, if someone called me (who is already represented) to show properties listed by other agents, I would politely decline.  Their agent needs to step up to the plate and carve out some time to show properties.  But, then again, everyone has their own way of doing business. 

My own listing - I'll show it as many times to as many people as I can. My sellers are happy, and I get a commission when it sells.

Other people's listings - I show only to those people that I will represent in a negotiation. This isn't a charity affair for me.

Great post, Tara - your sellers are lucky you put them ahead of yourself.

Anytime I receive an opportunity to talk to somebody new, it's an opportunity to generate revenue.

I'm with you Tara, anytime I can showcase my listing I'll do it. If they tell me a story about their agent is blah blah blah, I just smile and say, well I'm here and lets take a look! 

Great post I try and ask if they have an agent and if they say yes my request is they contact thier agent. They have a job to do and that is to represent thier buyer. I certianly do not want to over step my bounds with another agents buyer. So please do take a look at the property but please do contact your agent it is their job to help you make the move you are interested in making.

Tara, I was taught years ago to be prepared to do everyones job. In this particular case you are doing an incredible job for your seller by being willing to show without the resentment that goes with it when, at times, they do turn around and write an offer with someone. On the buyers side I really coach my buyers up front about how it feels as an agent when you call the other agent "just to see the house" and not bother anyone.

Tara, I am always happy to show my listings to buyers.  As the listing agent, it's my job to get the houses sold. In a perfect world buyers would call their too busy, too sleepy and well traveled agents to see the properties.  I make it clear to my buyer clients that I am never too busy to show them houses. I also explain that we will need to coordinate schedules and I give them business cards to hand to other agents so the agents know my clients are represented.

Tara, you have an excellent attitude about handling such requests... there can be an opportunity in just about any meeting. Thanks for sharing.

I always showed listings to represented buyers where my brokerage was the listing agent. I wanted our listings in the buyers mental inventory and a chance for our sellers to get that old sold sign.

I did resent showing listings not ours and some lazy agent let every one else do their job for them. So for awhile I told the buyers the fee was $25 dollars or some such amount per showing, because their agent was going to be the one to get the check when they bought and when all was said and done, and I don't know how to pay my bills if I incur expenses and work for free, but I'm sure if your agent has your interest at heart and he will reimburse you, why don't you check with them, and see what you can work out? I did know in many cases these agents were kicking back commission or working at discount so were not giving full service and palmed as much work on the buyers  and other agents as they could.

Finally I started more of a interview approach asking them to come into the office and start screening them and found half of them were ready to select another agent, and half of them were potential prospects for my mortgage broker. that is of those that were real buyer prospects. Many of the kickback the commission prospects started rethinking their position when the market picked up and they found out their plan had many flaws, and their agent was happy to cut them loose and get a nice referral fee or rewrite the contract and work on a 50/50 basis. The ones I loved the most were the window shoppers who were not going to do anything at the moment but wanted instant service because they made a request and if you would take them to lunch first that would be nice and after all it doesn't cost us anything to serve them and its our job..

God bless you is all I can say if you don't mind because there is no way in hell I would do all that when someone else should be.

On Sunday, at 4 PM "well the home is higher than my price range, and I wanted to let my agent have the day off".  Well now, aren't you the courteous buyer?

Just depends on the situation. Probably will always show my own listings and try to close the deal.

Tara Winfield You are 'short selling' yourself by not acting as a Transactional Agent. We have acted this way forever and no one objects. It is all in how tyou present your Listing Agreement. You are cutting your income stream substansially and it is not Dual Agency.

Like you, I work for my seller but I learned the hard way to always ask "Are you working with an agent?".  My pet peeve are other agents who want me to do their work because they are "too busy" or out of the area.  

I agree it is our responsibilty as listing agents to show our own listings, regardless of who's representing the buyers. Just like you I start out with a speech on dual agency too. I'm all about transparency and buyers and sellers need to know up front exactly what the deal is when they work with the listing agent. 

There is a difference when it is your listing for sure. You are right, then even when we don't want to do it, we know it is the right thing for our sellers. 

I always ask that question from a buyer, but when they call on my listing, and say the want to see it, my question goes  to pre qualification and if qualified, i am showing it to them if their agent is not available. Have a good day Tara Winfield