Sorry – We Skipped Showing Your Home Today in Murphy, NC

It is always a surprise to me when a seller requires 24 hours notice.  It makes me doubt the seriousness of their wish to sell their home.  I feel for the listing agents who have these kind of restraints put on them.  The other annoying problem here in the Sarasota area is how many agents require "lister accompany".  I can understand it for an extremely expensive home that is loaded with possessions or has so many special features that it takes the listing agent to point them out.  But, come on, a moderately priced home?  You are losing showings left and right because it is extremely difficult to stay on such a tight schedule that you can be at a home at a specific time.  Also, there are times when you pull up in the driveway and the house just does not feel right for the buyer.  Now you have got to go explain to the agent inside that you are sorry for wasting his or her time.  Sellers, this is an extremely difficult market for all of you.  If you really want to sell your home, make it as easy to show as possible.  Be flexible and accomodating.  You have no idea how many times you might have gotten an offer if you had just let the buyer see your house.

Sometimes people are their own worst enemies.  You would thing that their agent would advise them to rethink their tactic. 

When will sellers learn that if you can't see it, you can't buy it?

Very irritating situation. Was the home in question a rental? Sometimes renters require that because they don't want to "play ball".

I think that Marnie really had a good comment. Well done.

GREAT post.  I always tell my sellers to make your home as available as possible.   Every showing right now is like gold, don't want to waste a chance to show your home to a potential buyer.

Accessibility is everything in marketing a home.  Your price may be great.  Your neighborhood may be wonderful.  But, if you don't have good accessibility for showings, then buyers don't have the opportunity to see all that.

Lee and Carol, great post...make it easy on the agents to show the listing...that is, if you really want to sell!

Lee & Carol,

Unfortunately you we are preaching to the choir.  Without strangling the seller and sometimes we want to do that we can only relay stories like yours and hope they get the message.

My other bug-aboo is seller who won't leave druing the showing.  What they say can and will be used against them, right?

If the seller has extremely difficult circumstances (illness/disability, has to arrange a ride, works odd hours etc) then some notice is understandable.  But that should not be in the MLS remarks.  At least take the call from the buyer's agent and see if an appt. can be worked out.

Hi Lee and Carol,  It sounds a lot like our area, in so far as people come and want to see homes.  They might just be here for a day, most of the time we don't get 24 hour notice that they are coming.  In cases like that 24 hour notice isn't possible, but maybe the seller could reconsider for an interested buyer.

I never get the 24 hour notice thing.  How long does it take to get out of a house for a few minutes.

Hi, Lee and Carol. This has happened to me, too...it's much worse when your own seller informs you that "today is not a good day!" It's like trying to get the job done with a bag over your head and one hand tied behind your back!