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Not keeping appointments on showings

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

Too often one of our listed clients will call and say that the agent who made an appointment to show the house didn't show up.  I always tell my listed clients to turn every light in the house on, open the blinds, leave and the person showing should turn off the lights.

I've had it happen to me.  You drive up to the front of the house and the potential buyer says, "Oh, no, I don't want to see that house."  My preference for handling this situation is to leave the buyer in the car with the explanation that we made an appointment and the sellers expect us so I'm going in and leave my card so they'll know we came.  I'll also explain that I need to turn the lights off, too, if they've been left on.  I tell the buyer that the least I can do is leave a card and turn off lights since they prepared for us.

Sometimes the buyer will feel guilty and accompany me in......and sometimes they like the house better than they'd thought they would from the front view.  Buyers should understand "appointment made" and should not want to disappoint a home owner who has made a house ready by being a no-show. 

And the main reason for this blog is for the AGENTS to understand this and stress it to the buyer client.

Matt Kofsky
Transaction Realty 500 Reno, Nv. - Reno, NV
What do you do when you run out of time and don't make it to the last couple of houses?
Nov 29, 2007 06:24 AM
Suzanne Cutler
SUCCESS! Real Estate - Braintree, MA

I too try to go in and leave a card if I drive up with my buyer and they don't want to go in.   Sometimes really nice pictures don't show the high tension wires next door and highway or trains behind the house. 

I must say that I am always not sure if I should shut the lights off because I have no idea if they will have another appointment after me.

Nov 29, 2007 06:24 AM
Rob Arnold
Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL
Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

I always leave a card at every house I visit and then give feedback to the listing agent.  If we run out of time, I call the listing agent to let them know.

I don't turn off the lights though.  I just leave the house the same way I found it.

Nov 29, 2007 06:32 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Matt, you call and cancel through the company, the listing agent or the home owner if you have the phone. Or the showing company in some cases. 

Suzanne, leaving cards and turning off lights is probably a regional thing.  We do it in my area.  We hate for lights to be left on all day in some instances.  Often, too, the seller will drive by and if lights are still on will assume agent hasn't come yet.

Rob,you sound like a dream agent!  Wish you were in our Board!

Nov 29, 2007 06:52 AM
Mary Strang
Viroqua, WI
That is a good and simple way to get them into the house, thanks for sharing.
Nov 29, 2007 07:03 AM
Gary & Melynda Wolter, Since 2001, 480-269-1164
ProSmart Realty - Mesa, AZ
Reliable, Premier Personal Service since 2001
I had a client call 10 minutes before I was to meet him. His excuse was that he thought the streets would be dangerous as a snow storm approached. I had to call 9 Realtor's and cancel. Of course everyone didn't get the message and had to leave as it began to snow. Not a fun situation to be in!
Nov 29, 2007 07:10 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Thanks for comment, Mary.

Gary and Melynda, at least you tried!  Too many agents will just drive into the driveway and then drive away and have no worry about the feelings of the seller.  Your snow storm was a very good reason not to go.  At least your buyer canceled with you!  Thanks for comments.

Nov 29, 2007 07:22 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info
Barbara, I like that technique, and you're right, once they get inside, they might like it after all.
Nov 29, 2007 11:19 AM
Stella Barbour
NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA
Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland
That happens to me too.  I go in and leave a card also, even if my client doesn't want to go in.  You are right about the buyer going in and maybe liking the home.  That does happen
Nov 29, 2007 11:36 AM