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Dear Mr. and Mrs. Seller and your agent, can you please leave, so I can sell your home?

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

Two days ago I thought I found the home for my clients, it was in their price range, it was the layout they were looking for, but they didn't get to see the home! I set up an appointment to see a listing that was new on the market, the listing said contact the agent. I told them what time we wanted to see the home and she said, "Great and goodluck!"


Now, when I arrived, I certainly didn't expect to see the agent and the sellers all there waiting for us. They wanted to give us a tour of the home. OK, this wasn't the largest of homes. In fact was it was a 3 bedroom 1300 sqft home, how much tour could we really get from the sellers?

My buyers felt they weren't allowed to see the home, they kept getting asked questions by the sellers and their agent. At one point, I even pulled the listing agent aside and said, "You and your sellers are blowing this and we are about to walk out." She gave me this puzzled look and continued to talk and talk and talk.

Five minutes later, you know what happened. My buyers said they had seen enough and were ready to go. When we got back to the car they said, "That was the most annoying showing I've ever been to! They wouldn't shut up and Ifelt like they were trying to hide something by leading us around to what they thought we wanted to see."

Not, five minutes after we were gone, the listing agent was calling asking if were going to put in an offer and I told her I would call her back later that afternoon. After I dropped my clients off, I went back to my home office and I called that agent! She said "What did they think?" I told her "Of what? You, your sellers, or the house?" She said, "What?" I said, "I told you when we were there to stop talking and you and your sellers just continued to talk and lead my clients around to the point that they decided you were hiding something and decided the home wasn't for them. They knew what they were looking for and you and your clients wouldn't leave them alone!"

She then asked, "If I can arrange another showing where no one is there, would that help?" I said, "Maybe, but at this point I can tell you first impressions are lasting and you didn't have a good one!"

So, if you are selling your home and you have buyers coming over to look at the house, don'tbe a pushy car salesman. Let the buyers get a feel for the house, leave, let them look at the house for them, not the way you see it. The buyers will buy if the home is right for them, no need to push them in to buying your home, you may actually be pushing them away.

Comments(16)

Barb Van Stensel
Chicago, IL

How frustrating to have that happen!  I applaud you for being professional.  Some people just don't get it and kill it for the rest of us.  Good luck on your continued house hunting.

Nov 19, 2009 04:30 AM
Ron Trzcinski, 410-935-5844
410-935-5844 Office - Cockeysville, MD

Todd,

I have been to similar showings, but worse, where the agent insisted that we not touch anything, which included opening closet doors.  If the Buyer can not see it, then the Buyer will not buy it.

Nov 19, 2009 04:32 AM
Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production

This is really frustrating.  Professionalism needs to rule.  I'd want to take my frustrations out, but wouldn't.  Kudos for patience my friend.

Nov 19, 2009 04:33 AM
Lori Bowers
La Quinta, CA
The Lori Bowers Group

Todd, this scenario has happened to me and it is frustrating.  I think the most frustrating part for me though is not the sellers as they do not understand.  But the agent who represents the seller ought to know better.  No one wants to be lead around when looking for a home.  People need space to look at things, discuss feelings and thoughts outloud and not feel pressured.  Sadly it happens all to often.

Nov 19, 2009 04:40 AM
Judy Jennings
Top Agent Plus - Middleboro, MA
Tap into Judy's real estate expertise & resources.

Todd - At a minimum, agents should be advising their clients to leave whenever there is a showing. I bet this property will not sell anytime soon.

Nov 19, 2009 04:50 AM
Marcy Eastham
Town & Country Realty Corvallis Oregon - Corvallis, OR

Todd,

I've had this happen, and it's just creepy.  I tell my sellers to make sure the house is clean, the lights are on, and you are out of there!

Nov 19, 2009 04:59 AM
Liz Loadholt
Liz Loadholt- AgentOwned Realty- Covering SC - Mount Pleasant, SC
Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC

Todd ---- this normally kills a deal --- most buyers feel the same as your buyers.

                                                                               

Nov 19, 2009 05:18 AM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Todd - I would expect behavior like this from a seller, but from their agent too, wow.

Nov 19, 2009 05:22 AM
Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

I've heard it said that sometimes the biggest obstacle to selling real estate is the agent.  You handled this better than most, but the other agent must be new or an idiot.  Get out of the way and let the house do the selling. People don't want to be sold, they want to buy and they can't do that if they can't let their guard down.  Good luck with your buyers.

Nov 19, 2009 05:32 AM
Brian Lee Burke
Kenna Real Estate - Lone Tree, CO
Broker & Advising Expert-Kenna Luxury Real Estate

We also had this happen - surprise, surprise the buyers wanted to leave within 5 minutes and didn't want to ever have anything to do with the house or to ever deal with the agent - and it was an awesome house! Argh. ~Rita

Nov 19, 2009 06:37 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Every time I think the market has matured, I hear another story like yours Todd...

Nov 19, 2009 07:36 AM
Christine Bohn
RE/MAX Professionals - Gainesville, FL
The Bohn Team, Gainesville FL

Todd - first impression means a lot.  Your buyers left feeling creepy about the sellers AND...the home.  They won't want a 2nd showing.  I encourage my sellers to leave.  I don't want buyers feeling awkward if they want to look in a closet or under the kitchen sink.....buyers DON'T want to feel uncomfortable.   I just hate it when the MLS listing says "listing agent must accompany all buyers".... ughhhhh

Nov 19, 2009 08:11 AM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Todd... Sounds like all that was missing was a big banner hanging from the roof that said "Cream Puff... Low Mileage!"

Nov 19, 2009 02:51 PM
Tom Boos
Sine & Monaghan Realtors, Real Living - Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Providing the very best of service to Sellers and

I can't believe an experienced agent would pull that crap!  Sellers and their agents need to let the rest of us do our jobs. 

Nov 20, 2009 12:57 AM
Sarah Eubanks
Hill Valley Financial Services - Oregon City, OR
Preferred Oregon Loan Consultant & Notary Public

Hi Todd...As a seller, I have never wanted to be there when others go through my home.  I do not want to hear what the potential buyer might do with the home (changes and stuff).  Interesting that an agent and the sellers would think otherwise.  Hope that you find a great home for them!  :-)

Nov 20, 2009 01:32 AM
Gary Swanson
Century 21 Harris & Taylor - Grants Pass, OR

Todd, I can't believe someone who wants to sell their house would do that, and have their agent go along with it!  I've had cases where I've shown houses where a room or a garage would be off-limits. and hey, you just can't do that!

Nov 20, 2009 02:19 AM