Are You Sure You Want to Sell Your Home? Because It Doesn't Seem Like It....

I haven't seen any quite as bad as those, but the "48 hour notice" is a deal killer. Many military buyers fly in for a day or two and WILL have purchase before they leave. If you have a place for sale and yet need TWO days to clean before someone looks at it....!!! C'mon mannnnnn

Encountered this last weekend. Called the tenant subject to her rights, 24 hours notice. Not only did my phone never ring, but called the listing agent twice and never received a call back from him either. My buyers wanted to buy right away, so a courtesy call from any party would have been a common courtesy since the listing was active. 

I have been noticing that some sellers are making things difficult to show their property. Some are angry when asked if the buyer is interested and I point out that it is hard to see the true value of a home when it is dirty and a good power wash outside would do wonders.

So, so true. If there are restrictions for good reasons, they need to be as clear and accessible as possible. And the "feed the cat" thing is just weird. 

Another pet peeve: agencies that list foreclosures, using non-standard lockboxes that require an entry code,  and not answering their phone or responding to voicemail or email except from 9-5, Monday-Friday. Same principle:  it will sell faster if people can see it!

Jennifer - That is HILARIOUS about feeding the cat. Who would put that in showing instructions? LOL! 

Agreed that some sellers make it a little difficult to show their property. If you aren't ready to sell, keep it off my radar please!

Jennifer:

We all agree that sellers need to be more cooperative when there is a showing.  Make it as easy as possible to see your home.  I had a listing where I had to be present at each showing to tend to the cat.  Luckily, I live and work very near the home, so it wasn't a problem.  We also received an accepted offer in two days, so it wasn't such a problem for me.  But it could have been.

Sorry, but the pet thing isn't cool.  If you're worried about your dog or cat bolting out the door, put them in a crate for showings.  I'm not going to chase some dog around outside that bolted out the front door when I opened it up for my buyers.

That sounds like a cooperating and motivating seller, doesn't it? Amazing how any RE agent would acceept those terms and conditions simply to get a listing. 

Jennifer - Did you feed any cats? ;) It seems like lately the showings have been more and more complex in regards to seller restrictions. Always makes me wonder if they aren't motivated or just don't realize how that hurts their chances of getting an offer.

I'm seeing things more and more that make me question whether the seller is really serious about selling their home or not.  I tried to set up a showing a couple weeks ago for a Monday evening at 6:30.  I was told that the sellers will not allow evening showings at all.  I was also told that we could see the house either Monday morning or Wednesday morning.  That was it.  I see why their house been on the market for so long.  

By the way, love the instructions about feeding the cat!  That's priceless!  :)

Hi Jennifer, wow I ran into that last week.  Sellers, wanted 15 minute windows, or no showings that day, and a dozen other reasons!

How about the "Drive-by Only" showing instruction? I still see it every now and then and I don't get this. If you live in the home and want to sell it, then show it. If you have a tenant who is uncooperative, give notice and lose the tenant; or sweeten the deal with a rent reduction.

Any "drive-by" only property gets just that from me and my buyers. That's if we bother to even drive by!

I have seen many of the same instructions.........but never was I instructed to feed the cat!!!

Selling your home is an inconvenience. It only happens a very few times in your life. The easier it is to show, the easier it is to sell.

Jennifer - Love the post!  I've run into these types of things so many times, it really does make you scratch your head and ask "do you actually want to sell your home, or just list it for sale?"

I agree.  The more available the home is the better and faster it will sell.

When taking a listing I make certain that the sellers understand how many people will be turned off by each restriction they put on the showing of it.  Not to mention how many agents won't be bothered making the appointments.  If the seller is not prepared to suffer the inconvenience of an easy to show schedule, I don't want the listing.