Why Should a Potential Buyer Work Around the Agent’s Schedule?

When sellers request that I be there for showings I  point out that it may be difficult as I may have other appointments at the time the other agents  want to show it.

Fortunately, listing agents in Charlotte do not show their homes. So this is really a non-issue for us.

There are listiing agents that tout being at every showing as a service to the seller...we believe it is a disservice....it is a time for the selling agent and the buyer.

Ed, up until 2 weeks ago I would completely agree with you.  Since then I've met with two potential sellers who both made it clear that they expected their listing agent to be present at all showings.  I'll spare you all the details here, but they did have valid reasons for this request.  I have not been granted an interview (listing appointment) yet, and at that time is when I will dig more into these requests and handle them at that time.

The bottom line is expectations should be set up front and if I as a listing agent agree to these terms up front, then of course I'm obligated to uphold them and explain to buyers' agents this requirement.  If the buyer has to pass on the house because of this, I will completely understand.  And of course I will explain during the interview with the seller that I simply can't be in two places at once and explain to the seller that they will loose some buyers by placing this restriction on showings.

I'm here to serve their needs, not mine nor the buyers, nor the buyers' agents.  Of course I can always turn down the listing if I can't meet their expectations. 

I don't show homes that the listing agent MUST be present. WE have enough other homes in our area, to put up with that.

Ed, if a listing agent insists they should attend every showing, they should make it a point to be there at the buyers convenience.

When its your turn or time...Its game on...What happens after that is up to you...good post

I try to attend the custom showings. The high end sellers expect it and should get it. They have unique homes and often many hidden upgrades. That said..on the tract homes which pepper our county, most buyer's agents have been inside the same floorplan and can certainly show it properly.

Some sellers are so paranoid and that is why we have the problem of having the listing agent present. A good agent will make themselves invisible and wait for any feedback later on that day or next day.

Making homes available to view is very important. Most buyers do not want to be sold...they will ask questions if they have questions. Telling them that the stove is just 2 years old will not make the deal for them.

In our market it's very uncommon for a listing agent to be present.  It's very uncomfortable when they are. 

Ed, we have agents here who have on just about every listing "must be present" and I think it is a big negative as I consistently have different buyers who look at these houses and rush in and rush while not saying much.  It makes it uncomfortable for all and I can understand it may make a seller feel better just not sure about the end result (getting the house sold).

I would tend to believe that if this is not commonplace in your market, it is most likely a seller request and not a listing agent policy. As far as some of the comments that the buyers should be able to talk in the house freely with their agent, nope. You are not guaranteed that right to privacy. I instruct my clients to not really talk in a house at all. You never know who may be listening. If it is a house that the buyers are really interested in seeing, they need to work around the seller's schedule as well as the listing agent's schedule. In many markets, there are no lock boxes and this is just the way it is done. There must be a specific reason that the seller has requested for showings to be handled this way, we as buyer's agents need to respect their wishes. Though it may seem inconvenient, it is what it is. Great topic!

Great post. The listing agent may be responsible for the "non-sale" of the home if they insist on being present at every showing. There may be a few properties that require this agent to be present, but overall, I agree with the rest of the posts which say this is the time for the buyers and their agent.

Amen....  How many times can I count a buyer walking out of a home with a list agent or home seller present and the first comment out of their mouth as they are running down the stairs is "that was uncomfortable"

Ed, unfortunately, we deal with several different types of personalities. I had a seller that insisted that I was there for the showing. To the seller, it was a safety issue and my job in representing my seller is to make sure he/she feels comfortable during the who process. So, I hired another agent to be available to show the house when I was out of town. It actually worked out great. The other agent made of few $$ on the side, the seller was extremely pleased and I was free to do the most important thing on my list for the day. If I was available, I was the one because who better to sell one of my listings than me. Thanks for the blog.