I had lined up my showings the day before as usual when my client calls and wants to add one more house to the mix. I look it up and find that the house is vacant and tell my client it shouldn't be a problem however the agent requests I call before showing. I called the agents direct line, no answer so I leave a message and request a go ahead and show call.
We look at five houses and still no call back from this agent. I explain to my buyer that the house might have an alarm system or some other code. I told my buyer if they wanted we could drive by the house. I am finding if you don't make a home available or easy to show, buyers will walk. The selection and inventory is too great to play games at showing, especially with a vacant house.
I leave my clients and head for a gas station. Why'll pumping gas, I get a voice mail from the listing agent. This is approximately 5 hours after my initial call. Guess what, it's available to show. The agent says she needs people to call so she can track showings. I'm sorry; our Supra key boxes track showings, just register the key box number serial number. Each night all showings are recorded, then showings are downloaded to the listing agent.
I realized I called the same day. I don't like to call same day but with an empty house, it seems reasonable. I feel 5 hours is not reasonable and not in the sellers best interest.
Please don't make it any harder to show...
Authored by Paul S. Henderson, Realtor ®, RE/MAX Professionals, Dupont & Lacey, WA.
(http://phenderson.net) or http://www.lacey-washington.com
©2009 Paul S. Henderson, Don't make it any harder to show, All Rights Reserved
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