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Setting Up Showings: Do You Use Planning & Courtesy?

Do you plan your showings in advance? Or do you fly out the door with a customer and call the listing agent at home on Sunday morning on your way to a showing with 15 minutes notice? Do you call an agent at 10:00 p.m. Friday night to set up a showing at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning? Or perhaps you call Saturday night to set up a showing for Tuesday? When you call, do you ask if the agent has a moment to speak with you? Or do you begin your request right after "This is Sue"? Do you say, "I apologize for having to call you at such a late hour or on a Sunday?"

When you get a new buyer, do you school them regarding setting up showings in advance, so they get the opportunity to see all the properties they want? Or do you let your buyer take over the showing schedule for fear you might lose them? Granted, once in awhile, there might be a last minute switch or change of heart by the buyer, but agents will get better results by both planning in advance and agent courtesy. Planning will bring you control over your professional life and stress management in your personal life. Courtesy will bring you better relations with everyone.

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Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR Rulnick Realty, Inc.

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Posted by Wendy Rulnick "Its Wendy!" Destin Real Estate -Florida on 10/05/2008 01:55 PM

Comments (12)

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Originally posted at: Destin Real Estate - Emerald Coast of Florida: Setting Up Showings: Do You Use Planning & Courtesy?

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12 Comments on Setting Up Showings: Do You Use Planning & Courtesy?

OCT

Yes I do, and it really bugs me when I don't receive the same respect from Agents, There is always that exception when you have been out with a client all day Saturday and as a result of what they have seen you narrow down the criteria or expand their price through a self discovery process, then you are calling Sat eve or Sun am for Sunday afternoon showing, And I always explain to the agent that exactly we just expanded our criteria, is it possible to see on short notice...etc...etc..

Wendy, I ask my buyers up front, if they had a home that we were trying to sell, how much notice would they want if someone wanted to see it. That helps set their expectation on how quickly we can reasonably expect to ask for a showing on short notice.

Sheila - I finally had to write this because it happens to me too much to be a last-minute buyer change of heart. Thank you for sharing.

Rich - That is an excellent way to present it to the buyer.

One tries as best as one can to plan ahead-- but there is the occasional situation where a buyer decides at last minute they have time to see some homes, and in order to accommodate the situation you need to call at sort of spur of the moment. Most sellers are appreciative that their home is getting shown.

Yes I do try and set up things ahead of time. I also limit the number of homes my buyers will be seeing in a day as I don't believe they can remember everything that they saw and make a knowledgeable decision if they have seen an over abundance of homes. If I am listening to my buyers needs, I have already narrowed down the best of the best and the best value etc. and streamlined our schedule. It also creates less stress, confusion and frustration. Yes last minute showings do happen but if handled correctly and with professionalism and even taking the berating from the agent or seller with many apologies from you, it works out. I always try and follow through with feedback to the agent as well as I would want feedback. Agents in my area know me and trust me and know me to be courteous and professional - it's all in how you present yourself out there. It is all in your reputation as well as how you will be treated!

I get very frustrated and angry with agents who do not show up and never call after making an appointment or call at the last minute and then do not show up and never make a call. It is rude to the seller and to the agent to not at least call if you don't make your scheduled showing or even if you are running extremely late. Take the time and courtesy to give a call - you clients will appreciate it as well and see you as a professional and caring agent. Good customer service is key and not just to the agents customer to all out there in the industry.

Hi Wendy, I always try to plan my showings in advance. I do let my buyers know upfront that we need to schedule appointments. In the past week, at least 5 agents have called me when they are sitting out in front of one of my listings, asking for showing instructions. I have to let them know that the seller still lives there and a courtesy call is required. I have even put a note on the lockbox with showing instructions that I made with my Dymo Letra Tag maker, saying that Home is occupied, please courtesy call the owner. I didn't put the owner's number on the lockbox, but I have it listed in the showing instructions in our MLS. It surprises me that some of these agents don't seem to have a plan when they go out to show homes.

Bob & Carolin - Point taken.

Valerie - Limiting homes is a good idea. 100% agree regarding courteousness and your reputation.

Jen- That is a very cool ides about putting a tag on the lockbox! I have a vacant house with an alarm. Probably should do that.

I think we all agree how irritating last minute showings can be, but I have to say I've been guilty of it as well. Usually, when a listing failed to pull up for a neighborhood and it's caught the buyer's eye. Ideally, I like to limit my time window to one hour. There's a service out there that has a gizmo you hang on the door knob and after you do your showing, you press a button that sends a message to the seller's phone letting them know the showing is over. This is really appreciated when someone is out killing an hour or two waiting for a showing to take place.

I have o say, most of the agents here in St. Pete have and practice professional courtesy, once in a while, there is a "last minute" showing and I found that most of my requests for a last minute showing are answered by agents in a positive way. It really helps when you have a good reputation between other agents. To get this you have to show professionalism.

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OCT

Jerry - Never heard of the gizmo... great idea.

Anne - "Yes" to professionalism!

Wendy, showing courtesy in Showings is one of my pet peeves. As you say calling 15 minutes before, when the instructions clearly statenotice is needed...pets on premises or setting up an appointment on a listing that requires some one be present at the home, then not showing up. Yikes, I could go on and on. Thanks for putting out the reminder.

Laura - My pet peeves, as well. l once had an agent call my seller directly to complain she couldn't reach me to set up a showing at 8:30 on Saturday morning, when she tried to call me at 9:00 Friday night. My phone gets turned off! Thanks for sharing.

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