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Please Call The Owner For Showing Instructions...

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Compass 0524642

On the MLS printout it reads, "Please call the owner for showing instructions."

 

A 13 year old boy answered.  I asked for X and this was his response...

 

"My dad went to get new tires on his car, do you want me to call him?"

 

Me: "I just want to show the house, so if that's what you need to do, yes."

 

13 year old: "The garage sales are going to be going all day, you're not calling about that are you?"

 

Me: "No, the house YOU are in is on the mkt and I'm a Realtor with a buyer who would like to show your home."


13 year old: "Oh, ha ha, sorry sir. I don't live here. Hold on..."

 

Some other lady "Hello, is this David?"

 

Me: "No, this is Greg Nino with RE/MAX. I have a buyer and would like to show your home."

 

Some other lady: "I am so sorry. I'm X's sister-in-law, we're in town visiting. Let me call X's wife on her cell, she's with her daughter at Party City. I'll see what's going on and make sure somebody calls you... EXCUSE ME..... LONG PAUSE........... OH, hold on. Did you say you were X's Realtor, like the Realtor for THIS house?

 

Me: "No, I'm GREG NINO I'm trying to show THAT house, I don't work for the seller."

Some other lady: "Oh, okay. I don't really understand.. LOL. I just want to help. YIKES. Let me call X's wife.

 

 

That was 1 hour ago.

 

Do you think this homeowner is saving any money by attempting to do things on their own? On the MLS it reads: "Seller ANXIOUS to look at ALL offers." There's also a btsa. Bonus to selling agent of $2,000.00. That's extra commission to the agent who brings the buyer. I wonder if they should have spentd that money on something else.

Posted by
Greg Nino
Realtor
RE/MAX Compass 
Direct & Text 7 days a wk: 832-298-8555 
 
 
Realtor since 2004
Mediator & Arbitrator for the TX Assoc. of Realtors
Member of the Professional Standards Committee for the TX Assoc. of Realtors
Arbitrator for the Comptroller's office for the State of TX for Arbitration of Property Tax Values

 Member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Platinum Club

 

The information contained in this blog is believed to be reliable and while every effort is made to assure that the information is as accurate as possible, the author of this blog, and its comments disclaim any implied warranty or representation about it's accuracy, completeness or appropriateness for any particular purpose. All information is copywritten and the property of Greg Nino.  

Comments (61)

Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Greg, I had a similar story today. The MLS says to call the agent for a showing so I do but I get a message to call her home phone. I do that. I get a man who says she's gone to Dallas for her grandson's graduation but call her office because there is a back-up agent working her listing. I ask if he knows the agent's name. No but call the office. I call the office but they are closed on the weekend. I call the agent on her cell again and leave a message. After waiting 20 minutes and no return call, I text her with my dilemma. Never heard back from her. This house didn't get shown and I've got a buyer who closes in less than 30 days who is anxious to buy. Too bad.

May 19, 2012 02:32 PM
Former Agent
None - Adak, AK

Ha!  I didn't even know people actually had home phone numbers anymore!!!  Sorry, Greg.  Sounds like a situation into which you do not want to get your buyers.

May 19, 2012 02:38 PM
Marti Steele Kilby, CRS
Steele Group Realty - La Mesa, CA
Broker/Owner, San Diego, CA

I'd set up a lemonade stand out front with plenty of business cards ;)

May 19, 2012 04:07 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Greg, if we had a easy showing, how can we prove that we 'earned' our commission....lol.

Wish you good luck - and make sure you sell this home to your buyers at a great price.

May 19, 2012 04:15 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566
We have a showing service in the DC Area that does a great job of handling showings for all parties.
May 19, 2012 08:01 PM
Barbara Tattersall
Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan (Keene,NH) - Keene, NH
GRI

Exactly why homeowners need to work with a professional. You could have been anybody calling about that house and asking to get in with a 13 yr. old at home happly giving out information.  If it ever sells, they'll tell everybody about all the commission they saved (after 4 yrs. on the market and a lot less money)!

May 19, 2012 08:19 PM
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

They should just go ahead and pay you the $2000.00 bonus just for dealing with that. Maybe you should have gone to the yard sale, then if your buyers bought, seller s could go around telling everyone that they didn't even need an agent, they sold their house at a yard sale!

May 19, 2012 08:28 PM
Phil Leng
Retired - Kirkland, WA
Phil Leng - Retired

Hi Greg,

A rant for sure.

You can thank the US government and their 4 year lawsuit against NAR for lowering the service offered to the public.

It used to be that you could give bad service and be on the MLS. Now you can give no service at all and be on the MLS. A great improvement to be sure!!

Phil

May 19, 2012 09:03 PM
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

I can't stand these agencies that do the flat fees.  I think they are a disservice to the sellers and they dilute our MLS.  Oh, and then there's dealing with the seller directly.  Most don't know their you know what from a hole in the ground.  

May 19, 2012 09:18 PM
The Somers Team
The Somers Team at KW Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA
Delivering Real Estate Happiness

HA !   Love it!  Am going to post this on Facebook : )

May 19, 2012 09:30 PM
J. Philip Faranda
Howard Hanna Rand Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY
Associate Broker / Office Manager

This is why people need brokers more than they think they do. Turning the largest transaction of your life into a DIY project is a recipe for disaster. 

May 19, 2012 10:10 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I think one of the reasons I love this business so, is because each day presents a script so different than the previous.  It ain't boring, that's for sure:-)

May 19, 2012 10:44 PM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Sounds like a most motivated seller.  I bet the agent catches hell because it does not sell.

May 19, 2012 10:47 PM
Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time

At least someone answered the phone. That's already far better than most agents!

In addition to my regular real estate business I DO take flat fee listings where you must contact the seller for showings and everything else. My job is done once the propertry is entered into the MLS. I only do this for experienced investor sellers.

Not all sellers need representation or full service.

In your case the seller should had been educated on how to handle showing requests.

May 19, 2012 11:35 PM
David W. Hughes
Home Realtors 208-870-5133 - Nampa, ID
Designated Broker at Home Realtors of Idaho

Wow. I had a similar incident happen like yours. Long story short, the dad gave me a nasty phone call for speaking to his boy about a time frame to show. He said his dad said yes to me on the phone. (Dad was to busy to come to the phone the boy says) Well I guess dad didn't know I even called. As mentioned already, folks, use a cell number if you want to field the calls. Much Much easier for all.

May 20, 2012 04:13 AM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Hello Greg,

Unfortunately, the Seller is going to learn the hard way that you get what you pay for...

May 20, 2012 06:20 AM
Sandy Acevedo
951-290-8588 - Chino Hills, CA
RE/MAX Masters, Inland Empire Homes for Sale

Looks like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Or is it the other way around? Anyway, that's a circus. Poor you! :)

May 20, 2012 08:11 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Hey, for $2k, I'll buy a cell phone and answer it on his behalf for a few months!  

May 20, 2012 08:55 AM
Ken Brandon
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage (Jacksonville, NC) - Jacksonville, NC
Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, NC

That was an amusing story...however, the fact that it was a true event for a seller makes it a sad story. VERY tough to sell a home that you can't show.

May 20, 2012 12:32 PM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

Thanks, Ken. And ain't that the truth!

Jun 21, 2012 03:44 PM