We call that being porched. I schedule appts with my customers 1 week in advance. Some forget about the appt. If it is a long drive, i call to make sure they are still able to be there.

If you meet at a property, be prepared for late or no show and take along other work.  Have your cell phone and your calls from the office forwarded to you, or make calls from the list you pluck out of your pocket to make good use of your time.  Sometimes meeting at the office is feasible and gas efficient depending on location is in order so if they don't show or are an hour late, you can keep chugging along.  Let the home owner or property owner know that even though you set up a showing, if it is not actually done, please don't hold you responsible.  Let them know things do come up or some folks are less concerned about others time. But the seller still wants to sell so deal with it, be tough skinned and tender hearted and keep working!

Shaun, I can't imagine going home and telling my girlfriend I have been Porched! She might call the cops or Paramedics!

Andrew, I also think it is crucial for all agents to call homeowners back if things change. So many agents don't give them that courtesy and it makes us all look bad. Some leave the house, walk the dog, etc...

good post..that has happened to me..I need to call them just before I am supposed to meet them or at least the day before the appointment.

I call the morning of the appointment to confirm with the clients/customers for that day. If they are a no call/now show it goes like this:

I wait 15 minutes after our scheduled appointment and call them, if I get no answer I leave a message letting them know that I am waiting for an additional 15 minutes unless I hear from them.

If I have not heard from them and they are still a no show I call them and let them know that I waited 30 minutes past our scheduled meeting time and that I have not heard from them and I am leaving.

Then I call and update the homeowner or listing agent and my notes. I will most likely call them the following day if time is available to do so. Then I am done.

I like "Porched"

It's been awhile since I have been "porched."

Been there done that.  I learned to stop those flaky buyers real quick by pre-screening and asking them questions.  Of course there is no 100% system that will prevent it but it can help.

Make it your rule to meet at the office 1st! If you were meeting a doctor you would never just go to the operating room...Be safe as well - these days - you never know who you are meeting unless you really meet them 1st, screen them and then choose - is the customer for you...

REALTOR, Liz

I usually don't just "meet them at the house" at the first meeting. The first meeting is at the office where I can show them the property they are interested in as well as a few alternates through the MLS. Then I map the properties, call the homeowners to make the appointment and we go out on the road. If they don't show up then they don't show up, nothing is lost as I can still go on with my day in the office. Last time I bought a house I didn't "make the rules" but rather adhered to the builder's rules, but then again I was a serious buyer, and that is the only kind we should be spending time on the road with, "for everything else there is Master Internet"

Can we put porched in the svectionary? That is awesome!

OMG....only been porched twice in 16 years.  It's the worst.  I don't wait very long either.  With cell phones these days, there's no reason to not receive a call!  I give 'em 15 minutes.

Here's one for you...

You schedule an open and it's a vacant home....no one shows.  Weather is miserable. How long do you stay?  I'm a stay kinda girl but I know lots of agents who don't......what's your take on this one?

Good question Stacey! I error on the side of staying for the entire time slotted for Open House. Most likely you have advertised the house online. In my experience, I tend to get the most traffic towards the end of my Open House and see value in sticking it out.

Real Living Partners, I think porched should go in the svectionary! : )

I stay for the whole Open house as scheduled... although I am packing up signs 5 minutes before the scheduled end AND that is when a couple or two show up... 

I stay for the entire time, it is kind of like our word we say open 1-4 and by gosh I am there for that time.

Stacey, Listen to Caroline..she knows! I agree. Most times you have advertised you are gonna be there. If you leave and someone comes, you and your office lose credibility.

Maureen, That is par for the course...they always show up as you are walking to your car or have just turned all of the lights out and have eaten all of the cooki..I mean, packed them up for charity!

Bart, I wonder if someone would get on here and say, I never saty more than 15 minutes. If I don't get someone in the first 15, I am out!