I think it is to make the listing agent look like they are doing some good for the seller.

I don't like leaving cards either but our MLS went so far as to make it a "rule".

Steve, have you ever been in the position of being a seller?  It can be annoying to not know whether the agent has been there or not.  Our MLS system requires that we leave a business card.  It may be antiquated, or outdated but it's still a rule that's in place and a good safeguard if someone forgot to lock doors or leave the house in the shape that it's supposed to be....

I was going to say the exact same thing as Greg.  It's for the listing agent most likely.  It could be that they have an easier way of contacting you and to put you in their database?  Who knows.....

Greg- I see your point but this is a benefit to the listing agent. I represent the buyer so why should I make a listing agent look good?

Always leave a card.  Got a listing like that once.  It was also a vacant property.  The sellers had moved and came in periodically to check on the property.  I got the listing because my card was there and in their mind, I was the only agent who showed it.  I listed the property and sold it a week later.  Luck of the draw, I guess.

Chris- Our MLS does not require us to leave a card. As far as being in the sellers shoes, half my business is listing properties. While the card is nice for the agents to leave it is not my source of information about the showing agent. I use supra boxes on all my listings and tell agents who show my properties to use the showing request button on MLS. These 2 features as well as a call to the office give me all the information i need and I can check supra to see if the box was activated for that agent.

Linda-Very good point. I will defiantly keep this in mind.

What's your point? Are you just being cheap trying to save a nickel on a business card. If your box of businees cards still has something in it after 90 days, why did you get them in the first place?

Steve, I don't always leave a card.  I just showed a bank owned home today that had so many cards!  I didn't leave one.  The selling agent knows who was there through the supra key.

Teresa- I use the Supra showing log to show me if the agent made it to the house. If I see a problem at the house and only one agent showed for the day, the lock box tells me the same thing as leaving a card would do and that is who came in.

Dave-Not at all. A few pennies per card means nothing to me. As Linda pointed out she got a listing because she left a card. I will defiantly keep that in mind when showing home.

Steve- I am not an agent, but I agree with Linda, sure 99% of the time it might not do anything for you, but do you want to lose that possible 1% that might just pick the card up and give you a call? Someone might not like the agent they are currently working with, see your card say hey he looks like a stand up guy lets give him a shot and you just sold them a home, or listed their current property. What is a card that hardly cost anything, when it could make you several thousand on a deal... my cards for my lawn care business cost roughly $40/1000, I give them out like they are going out of style :-D

I leave a bookmark size card that says thank you for allowing me to show.  It also has my ERA tag line: I will sell your house or ERA will buy it. Lisitng agent wants a card, they get a card!

I think Steve should feel free to ask any question without someone attacking him, we need to be positive when making a comment, any question is a good one! That is what makes AR such a great networking source

Thomas-  Very good point. This is what I wanted to hear back from other agents. It is not about the cost of the card. It is more about who am I benefiting by leaving one. Your point is well taken.

Jean-I take all comments constructively. I actually can see a benefit by leaving a card by other agents comments. Thanks for the vote of support....

Chris- I pay $22 per 1000 for 2 side gloss color 16 pt stock. At .02 cents per card I totally agree with you to get the card out to everyone. Thank you for your comments.

Not to mention that our lockbox records everyone who comes in and when. Old habit in my opinion.

I've always thought it was rude not to leave a business card, especially in an occupied home. The sellers are more comfortable, knowing the agent really showed the home.

Kay- I do see your point with homes that have Sellers living in them. Lately most of the homes I show are foreclosure homes and im not sure what sense it makes to leave a card.

Steve-Good question. I wonder about that too. If the place is not vacant you are leaving a card that the seller picks up, thereby advertising that you have potential buyers. If it is vacant, you're leaving the card for the agent, who should already know that you are showing. I guess it is what someone else said here, just to show that you were actually there, but most lockboxes track that.

I used to work in the City of Chicago, where the listing agent was present on every showing, no need to leave a card. Now that I'm in the suburbs, I usually forget leave one.

Rich- Thanks for the comments.

 Well, I think you should leave a card, it also shows the public and other agents who is both active and helping them get their homes sold and this could cause them to want to show your homes more, and yes the seller will many times pick from the cards for their next agent. Thomas if you left a card saying you will sell their home on it it could be considered advertising to the seller I don't think it's ethical, and I would show it to the board if I found an advertisement for selling homes left in my listing.

I am a current homeowner trying to sell our house right now and my biggest frusteration is when I have to leave my house for a couple of hours and not knowing if anyone was in my home and who they were if they did come in.  And if my realtor cannot get in touch with them it is quite frusterating.  Being in the business as a mortgage professional it is good to see who is bringing in the buyers as well. 

By the way...that is how we got our current listing agent because they left their card and we weren't happy at the time with the listing agent we were using and we had actually called them ourselves for feedback on our property.  They happened to give us alot of great tips and now they are our currently listing agent for our home at $569k.

So..does it really hurt anyone by doing so?

Steve - The homes we show usually have a signup sheet.  We are supposed to fill it out although with the supra key it is not required anymore.  It is obviously for the seller.  If I am signing in for their seller, I would hope they do the same for mine.  It is a good point that it can also make you look active to the public.