What's Old is New Again

Jim, I saw this mentioned on another post and for a busy agent I don't see how one would have time previewing homes.  I sure can't find the time and unless I have a long distance buyer I wouldn't think of doing it.  Besides the time factor (where do those of you find it - sure, I'm not quite as busy right now but once the market gets busy forget about it), I don't want to judge what my buyers might like, no matter how well I think I know them.  Even if I weren't so busy, I honestly feel it's doing double work, and I like to work as mean as lean as I possibly can.

I need to add that I know my areas and many times I have shown a property to another buyer.  And even at those times, I don't know if the buyer cared, either they like the house or they don't.  If you're talking about Broker Opens, we don't have them much around here since no one shows up.

Good post, and I agree, we need to be professional, and that means knowing the inventory. I cannot tell you how often I am previewing for one client and stumble across a home for a different client. I even picked up a listing one day while out previewing!

Jim - I'm glad to hear your positive comments about the new consumer website. As incoming president of the CPML, I strongly encourage agents to inform their customers and clients of this site. Consumers do need us to navigate through the process and help them achieve their goals to a successful closing. Thanks again for your positive attitude and you're welcome to preview my listings anytime! 

Jim, I also disagree.  I have a GPS to get me there.  I look at the pictures & read the agent comments, which gives me more insight.  Sometimes it makes sense to call the listing agent & ask more questions.  And, of course, I want to make sure it has no contract on it.  What more do I need to know.  They are buying the house, not me.  I am not trying to sell any of them, but helping them through the process.

There have been a few times when I haven't previewed houses before showing them. Several times I wished that I had because there were things my client didn't like and I probably would not have shown them if I had managed to see them first.

Jacqueline Drake CRS

Cochise County AZ

I think previewing new listings (or unfamiliar ones) is a great tool for agents.  That being said, it's not always practical.  In our market, you're really not going to get a listing agent to do a showing for an agent unaccompanied by a prospective purchaser.  We don't have lockboxes.  One can attend open houses, which I try to do.  Unfortunately, it's not always something we're able to do given that we have 10-25 listings that require open houses in any given month.  Perhaps NYC will come around to the lockbox concept sometime this decade!

Hi Jim, With 20-30 new ones coming on the market in a County larger than Rhode Island, I don't have time to preview.

It's always better to have first hand, visual knowledge of new properties in your marketplace. There are also benefits beyond that as well, such as, helping the listing agent show activity to his/her sellers, getting ideas of how to present your own listings, even leaving a "calling card" for the owner in case the listing expires (did I say that?).

The problem is the TIME it takes. Even if your business is dead and you have lots of time on your hands, there are more productive ways to spend it. By more productive I mean using whatever effective means you have in your arsenal to find new clients.

Like it or not, if you're in RE to feed your family, our business is a numbers game and previewing doesn't increase those numbers. When I started in RE, I previewed homes all the time (as did lots of other agents in my office) but our top producers NEVER previewed and considered our tour day as a time waster as well.

As I got used to prospecting, I realized, at least for myself, that I was touring to AVOID prospecting because it so much easier to do.

Just my two cents.

Jim, I too am going to make it a point to preview more homes during the cold months.  I think it will help me gain better knowledge of my market as well as possibly save me some time when a buyer thinks they may be interested, but didn't see all of the mold in the basement because it wasn't in the pictures.

When I broke into the industry, I attended several caravan meetings and the previewed each property to get a "lay of the land" for the business.  Now, a few years later, I'm doing the same thing and still learning. It's incredible to note how few "seasoned" agents regularly attend previews but have no problem beefing about how tough it is out there!

I preview homes so that I know what is out there.  As you said pictures don't always give the whole story.

Yes it is embarrasing when a client finds a house before you to look at.. And it is the ONE!!  

I think previewing is an important part of the agent's responsibilities.  It's not just knowing the neighborhood or being able to find your way there - it's knowing the specific details of the house and how it might suit, or not, your potential buyer.

Absolutely!! Previewing homes is an important part of what we do. My new business plan has me previewing 25 homes a week. It helps me talk more intelligently to my clients, both buyers and sellers. Have a great 2012!

Jim great reminder as I've been hit and miss on previewing properties in my neighbourhood (that I want to be an expert in)!

Jim,

What you said is so important. I think that is what defines a really good agent. Taking the time to preview or for that matter view your product says alot about your commitment.  You have be know the specifics when showing a property to a prospective buyer. It makes all the difference in the world to a buyer.

Jackie

Women Of Westchester

Previewing is very important! Not only does it help you increase ~ and maintain ~ your product knowledge and market knowledge, it will give you a huge edge when talking to prospects and also on listing appointments. In addition, I can presonally preview a property in about 2-5 minutes, where-as a Buyer would take 15-20 in each one. If I can narrow the field down by 50% from their internet search results, I can save myself hours and hours every time I need to take a buyer out looking in person.