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Have You Heard Anything Yet? A Seller's Anxiety After a Showing

By
Real Estate Agent with Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group S44645

Have You Heard Anything Yet?  A Seller's Anxiety After a Showing

The Waiting Game...Not So Much a Game as Absolute Torture for the Seller.

Is it an unwritten rule that after a second showing, the seller's clock must stop working?  Or maybe it just seems to drag by sooooo slowly that they call, text or email every hour hoping for an update?

Broken clock

 

Whether it is after a showing or a second showing, the agent that showed your home is not going to get on the phone to call me immediately after they leave.

 

Why?  They are probably showing other homes to that same buyer.  Yes, oh my, they might be showing the competition, those rats!  :)

Oh, and if your home was the last home to be shown, maybe the agent has another buyer to meet to show other homes or a listing appointment.  Darn them for having someone else to represent!

Unfortunately, the buyer's agent response time is not on your timetable of 10 minutes ago.

So please be patient....I know that it is difficult to wait.  Especially if this is the second time that the buyer has come to visit your home and you know that you are in the top two or three options.  It is worth the wait.  You can bet that once I know anything, I will be on the phone to you as soon as I can to break the news, good or bad.

Keep smiling!

Karen

 

 

 

Posted by

 

Karen Feltman, REALTOR®, ABR, AHS, CHMS,                                                                      CNE,CRS, e-Pro, green, GRI, SRES, TRC

Keller Williams Legacy Group

4850 Armar Drive SE Ste B

Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403

Email: karenfeltman@gmail.com

Mobile  319-521-0701

www.KarenFeltman.com

Licensed in the State of Iowa

© 2010-2021 by Karen Feltman, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Relocation Specialist 

Comments (45)

Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Very funny, thanks for sharing.  Currently in our market sellers are asking how many multiple offers did we received today.

Nov 07, 2013 09:24 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Karen, I guess you can't blame a seller to be a little anxious especially after a second viewing.

Nov 07, 2013 09:59 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Great post Karen.

Waiting it never easy, as they say "the watched pot never boils", best to try to occupy yourself with something else rather than waiting for a response that may never come.

Nov 07, 2013 10:43 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I had a seller who called as soon as prospects left the house and asked me if they were interested in the house.

Nov 07, 2013 10:48 PM
Kerry Lucasse
eXp Realty - Urban Nest Real Estate Group - Atlanta, GA
Your Urban Nest Atlanta Real Estate Consultant

Love this, Karen!  I try to let the seller's know up front the we often don't receive a response back from the showing agent for hours... or days.  Some showing agents never respond (unfortunately).

Nov 07, 2013 11:41 PM
Suzanne Otto
Six Twenty Designs - Lansdale, PA
Your Montgomery County PA home stager

It's funny to think a seller would think an agent is holding an offer for a more convenient time to tell them. "I got an offer! I'll tell them after I take my lunch break."

Nov 08, 2013 12:06 AM
Jay O'Brien
RE/MAX Revolution - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate

true true. Setting up the expectation on the front end that feedback comes 24-48 hours later will help defuse many anxious sellers. And just a quick acknowledgment that you have reached out the other agent will let them know you are working for them!

Nov 08, 2013 01:06 AM
Nancy Conner
Olympia, WA
Olympia/Thurston County WA
For many sellers, waiting and hoping to hear good news is truly agonizing. It's like their whole life revolves around this house selling process, so that any tidbit of news is welcomed. I agree with others who said we can help them try to lower their stress level a bit by preparing them to know that sometimes we won't get feedback quickly, sometimes not at all, sometimes it'll be meaningless ("not the right house for them...."). But no amount of agonizing will get us to the really good news of receiving an offer any quicker.
Nov 08, 2013 01:30 AM
Kevin Vitali
EXIT Realty Beatrice Associates - Middleton, MA
Helping Massachusetts Home Buyers and Home Sellers

I have been blessed with sellers who generally are not anxious.  I have a feedback system and I set their expectations up front.  Some wont leave feedback, I will try to get some.  Generally we don't want to seem overanxious and chase buyers.  If its is priced right, prepared properly and marketed well, the buyers will conme and write offers.  A phone call getting feedback is not going to change a thing. Let the house sell itself.

Nov 08, 2013 04:35 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Karen, I warn sellers upfront that only about 40% of agents provide feedback. They don't like it but it is what it is.

Nov 08, 2013 04:43 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I warn my own sellers before listing that they shouldn't call me for feedback 5 minutes after a showing, or even an hour after a showing and explain why in detail. But so many don't listen! It's the nature of the beast so I just roll with it with a sense of humor when they start calling 5 minutes after a showing.

Nov 08, 2013 06:47 AM
Andrea Peters
The Andrea Peters Group powered by United Home Group @ Keller Williams Realty - College Station, TX
SOLD with Andrea!

It's funny how antsy sellers can get, and sometimes very tough to manage their expectations on quick feedback.

Nov 08, 2013 10:10 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Karen, the sellers may understand that it will take time to respond or get feedback from buyers. However, it is very essential that they RESPOND!

Nov 08, 2013 01:13 PM
Tracy Oliva
West USA Realty - Arizona - Fountain Hills, AZ
The Oliva Team Arizona Agents

Good Morning and yes the seller wants to know ASAP,   Keep up the good work and good luck with your business,  E

Nov 08, 2013 10:50 PM
Susan V. Gregory
South Coast Estates - Dana Point, CA
Helping You Live Your Ideal Lifestyle

As part of my listing presentation, I promise that I will give the seller feedback from all showings as soon as possible.  That way they KNOW they will be receiving a phone call from me with a status on the showing just as soon as I speak to the agent.

Nov 09, 2013 05:12 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hi Lou!  A seller can certainly work themselves into a worried frenzy pretty quickly!  Especially when they have their eye on the next home that they would like to buy! Thank you for reading.

Hi Marc!  It is funny how that works isn't it?  It is hurry up and wait for one side to get the information.  And then once it is given, they expect an immediate response?  Really? Good luck with that one.  :)

Hi Evelyn!  The things that we do as listing agents to make sure a showing goes smoothly!  :)  It is natural for a seller to want to know how the showing went.  I just think that they forget that I am not the one showing it and I have to rely on someone else getting back to me.  :)

Hi Chris!  I hear you...I do the same thing.  It is discussed in the listing consultation before I list the house.  It is discussed again when we go over how showings will be scheduled and how feedback will be obtained and communicated.  It is one thing that I go over more than once.  It does not however, stop an anxious seller from asking anyway.

Hi Tom!  Like you, I see both sides as well.  I try to explain to my sellers that we do not know where the buyers are in their search process and sometimes it may take a bit to get any feedback. Some buyer agents simply do not give feedback as a common practice unless it comes as an offer.  Which is the best kind of feedback!

Hi Gary!  You are right.  There are no guarantees that a second showing will result in an offer and there is no telling if an offer will come together in the end.  Thank you for reading.

Hi Mitch!  I actually call the buyer's agent prior to the showing to let them know anything about the house that may not be in the MLS.  I use this call to try to find out a little more about the buyer and their situation, i.e. if they have a home to sell, if they are new to the area, etc.  Then I send a follow up email with a few photos of the house to try to jog a memory and get feedback after the showing.  I make several attempts to get feedback within 24-48 hours after the showing, but after that, I give up.  No sense in calling an agent a week later.  Believe me, I get those calls from other agents more than you might think! :/

Hi Wayne and Jean!  I don't worry about getting feedback too much.  Most feedback is not of use to the seller.  The buyers that don't like the location or the style of the house, well, the seller cannot change that.  And chances are, those reasons are the same reasons that the seller is trying to sell.  As a buyer's agent, I do not always give feedback unless I think that it can really help an agent or their seller.  For instance, if there is a strong pet or other odor that day, I may let the agent know so that they can correct it.

Hi Wayne!  Thank you for reading!

Hi Terri!  I do the same.  Especially when an agent showed several homes to possibly several buyers.  We can all use a little help remembering that house.  Thank you for reading!

 

Nov 12, 2013 04:00 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hi Gayle!  I agree that sometimes stating the obvious can break the ice.  I think that all parties like the opportunity to take their time to respond, but it is difficult to give the other side that same amount of time and consideration.  We all get impatient.  Especially when the seller really wants to move forward or the buyer needs to find a place to go before they are homeless.

Hi Jean and John!  I don't get too worried about feedback.  The reality is that many buyers' agents do not give feedback.  It is not that they are busy, they are working for their client and if the house is of interest, they will let you know....with an offer.  Otherwise, they are still looking for something better, waiting for a price reduction, or they crossed it off the list.  I let my sellers know up front that they will not always receive feedback and sometimes the feedback is frustrating.

Hi Amanda and Jared!  Despite our counseling efforts at the point of listing, most sellers still want to hear affirmation that their house is great.  They get caught up in the showing and preparation process and just want to hear that their efforts were worth their time.  Thank you for reading.

Hi Mike!  I like working as a buyer's agent as well but I don't like the twenty phone calls on a Monday after showing twenty different houses to three different buyers over the weekend.  It is difficult to keep it all straight.

Hi Inna!  I have had agents text me after the showing to make sure that everything went well and if we had any questions.  That seems a little less intrusive if I am still showing properties to them at the time.  And it may save me a call if there is a question that they can answer at that point.

Hi Gerard!  Even if the seller calls me several times, I do not call the showing agent more than once.  I do not want to seem desperate.  You are right, that is not in the best interests of the seller.  It is our job to keep our cool, that is why the seller hires us to represent them.  I gently remind my seller of our talks at the time of listing that not all agents will provide feedback.  We show the home in the best light and give all the information and hope that the buyer sees the value and makes an offer.

Hi Rich!  That second showing does up the ante so to speak.  It creates more hope and therefore frustration for the seller if nothing comes of it.

Hi Jennifer!  It is definitely discussed many times that sometimes there will not be feedback or if there is, it can be not constructive like they do not like two story homes.  But sellers ultimately forget all that when they are preparing for a showing and just want to know how it went.

Hi Laura!  Exactly.  The seller may call me five times in a day, but I am NOT going to call the buyer's agent five times in return.  It is my job to stay calm and offer more information or a line of communication in case the buyer had any questions after the showing.  Being helpful is a good way to get the other agent talking.

Nov 12, 2013 04:15 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hi Susan!  I hear you!  But those things that the seller did to prepare for the showing, that is part of listing your home for sale.  If they didn't care if they sold or not, they could have not done those things and the house would have shown the same in most respects.  Obviously, the seller making an extra effort to show the house in the best condition shows pride of ownership which is important in buyer's minds.  But it does not mean that you are permitted to require feedback of all showings.  If you do that, you will not receive real feedback, you will just get the obvious ones, like they don't like the schools, the style of the house, the size of the yard, etc.  none of which the seller can change.

Hi Andrew!  That is a great way of looking at it.  I do let the sellers know that the house was in fact shown by access to the lockbox, in case the agent forgets to leave a card, it is helpful to know that the showing actually took place.  I am very sensitive to the sellers' needs and the anxiety that they feel preparing for a showing and hoping that someone could see it as the "one". It is an emotional process for some sellers and we need to do what is necessary to make them understand that we are doing all that we can to make sure that buyers have all the information available to make a decision. The rest is out of our control.

Hi Richard!  Sometimes I think that would be a fun market to be in, but other times, not so much.  Good luck to you!

Hi Michael!  Exactly.  I don't blame them a bit.  You know, when a seller prepares for a first showing they do all the normal things.  But a second showing means that they want to make sure it looks even better than before, they even bake cookies! 

Hi Bob!  That is exactly right.  Like I had said previously, I try to call the buyer's agent prior to the showing to find out their situation.  That way I can counsel my seller about the buyer.  This eases the anxiety and allows them to wait a little longer to hear back from me.  They know that as soon as I know something, they will be the first to know!

Hi Gita!  I get those too!  It used to be the sellers that would sit in their car across the street or next door at the neighbor's house.  Now they can use a phone app with their alarm system to see exactly how long a buyer was there.  I once had a seller that lamented to me that the buyer was only at their home for 10 minutes.  Three days later, a second showing, with the wife as well this time, was only 12 minutes.  The seller was positive they didn't like it.  A couple of days later, an offer was received from these buyers.  Sometimes, you cannot gauge interest by the amount of time spent in a house.  I have had buyers spend more time tearing a house apart that they didn't like than spend time in houses they wrote an offer on later.

Hi Kerry!  It is better to prepare them for the reality of showing feedback.  That way if and when we receive some, it is an unexpected surprise!

Hi Suzanne!  Right!  I am going to make them wait for it.  Not.....:0)

Hi Jay!  That is exactly what I do, but some sellers just forget all that when a buyer sees their home more than once.  

 

Nov 12, 2013 04:30 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hi Nancy!  That is so true.  To a seller, preparing for showings and waiting for the outcome does seem to take over their everyday life.  There has to be some sensitivity about that.  When an agent sets up a showing and doesn't end up showing it at all, it is frustrating to a seller to prepare for nothing.  Their life does revolve around getting this house sold as quickly as possible so that they can move forward.  Thank you for sharing.

Hi Kevin!  I am with you, but not all sellers are created equal and sometimes, we have to do a little more hand-holding in the process.  In a seller's market it is not as much of a concern, in a buyer's market, it can mean more competition and more time on the market, meaning for showings too.  Feedback is always welcomed but not always helpful.  Pricing right and showing the home in its best light is what we need to do in any market.  It only takes one buyer!

Hi Tammie!  Your percentage is higher than mine!  Better to set the expectation upfront, then they are not surprised by the lack of feedback.

Hi Nina!  It is funny to me when they call right away too.  It is human nature and I don't give them too hard of a time for it.  It just seems that they forget everything that we told them doesn't it?

Hi Andrea!  It is a challenge for sure sometimes.  Thank you for reading!

Hi Praful!  It is disappointing to sellers when a buyer's agent refuses to return a call to provide feedback.  But it is the nature of the beast and despite our best efforts as a listing agent, we cannot guarantee that we will ever hear back from them.

Hi Ed and Tracy!  Thank you for reading and best of luck to you in your business as well!

Hi Susan!  I don't like to make promises that I cannot keep, but if it works for you, then go for it!

Nov 12, 2013 04:46 AM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Everyone has a different temperament, some do better with stress and patience, others not so much.

Great job with your post!

Nov 12, 2013 06:00 AM