You might not think about all the ramifications when you contact a real estate agent and ask them to show you homes. You might have some all picked out to see, after all, it's easy to do so with the Internet.Or you might talk to your real estate agent of your choice, tell him/her what your criterias are, and off you go looking at homes that the agent has set up to view.HERE IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT BEHIND THE SCENES.The agent will call up the listing agent, the one who has a contract with the seller to sell his home. This home might be:
1. Vacant.
2. Have the seller living there still.
3. A tenant living there.
If it's #1, there is usually not a problem with a showing. Many agents just put a lockbox on the door with the key, and it can be accessed anytime with an ACTIVE real estate agent's card. No one is inconvenienced, the house is what it is.
If it's #2, however, the listing agent needs to call the seller, give him some advance notice so that you can get into the house. The seller usually scrambles to make the house "see worthy" because he wants to put his best foot forward for you, the buyer. So if you decide you want to see the house on a weekend, well, it does inconvenience the homeowner. If it's during the week, chances are the homeowner is at work and not much problem to see it, unless there are pets involved. Chances are there is a lockbox on the door for your agent to access the key. It is preferred that the seller is not there, and he/she knows that.
If it's #3, that is the most difficult of all. Chances are the tenants want 24 to 48 notice to let a showing happen. Usually, he/she is not interested in having the home sold because that means he/she has to move. It also often means that the tenants have no pride in how the home looks. So be prepared for that, Mr. and Mrs. Buyer. Some tenants do have pride, but don't count on it. It's also less likely that there is a lockbox on the door, so your agent needs to get hold of keys to get in, or the tenant insists on letting you in, and often may not even leave for the showing.
ONCE THE SHOWING HAS HAPPENED
At this point, usually, the seller is anxious to hear what your reaction was to his home. The seller usually is looking for feedback ie. what did you think of the home, pros and cons. This is usually conveyed between agents. However, if you are interested in making an offer on the house, the best feedback is the offer itself.
Most buyers don't want to let the agent give feedback if there is an offer brewing. Why tip the seller off that this is your dream home? You are then in a bad bargaining position.
If you are not planning to make an offer, you might tell your agent what you liked and disliked about the home, or why you just didn't feel that this is "the one."
KEEPING THIS IN MIND, ARE YOU READY TO LOOK AT SOME HOMES? CALL ME, AND I WILL SET UP SHOWINGS FOR YOU.
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