Should I allow Home Showings on Easter?

It seems I learn on all my inspections. I hope the master arrives soon.

I think it depends.  If the sellers are comfortable with it, they why not?                               

If the seller wants to allow a showing, that's great, and if they don't, they don't have to.  I can say that I am having a house full of family members this Easter, and I'm cooking, and there's no way I'm agreeing to any showings and if I lose a client, I do.

Scott, I think we should respect everyone's beliefs and leave it up to the seller to make that decision. Our job isn't to make them feel bad that they may lose a potential sale, but to respect their decision.

Give them a chance to accept the showing or decline. As for me, as an agent I do not show homes on Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving.  But I do refer them out if necessary.

Only if the Easter Bunny says so? Yes to the question. Anyone who is out and about on a Holiday just may be a serious player in Real Estate

Michael is right. It does not matter how you think the seller should look at it. If they are home, not, it is up to them. It like agents, does not make them "good" or "bad". Could be the place is a cyclone and not going to show so well as they vamoose to get out, hop to it on the road to a sick and dying parent. Or one of the sellers is recovering from an operation. The just don't have the energy to whip it into shape like the last time the buyer walked through.

Or they have religious convictions that say don't work on holidays when you should be with your family. They don't shop Sundays either. It happens. You decide not the buyer too. Respect their wishes. Send the link for the video open house and work around it.

What a great topic!  I have often asked myself the question - "Is it worth it?".  In this particular case, you did the right thing by qualifying the buyer and giving your seller the chance to do it on their terms.  Also, setting it up so that your personal time was not affected too much.  Good job.

I once had a seller that complained EVERY time I requested a showing.  Finally I just right out and told her that they hired me to do a job, and asked why she always got upset with me whenever I requested a showing.  She completely changed her tune after that. Sometimes honesty is the best policy.  Life is too short to be dumped on all the time.

All you can do is give them the info.  Qualify the potential buyer - as you did - to the best of your ability and let the seller decide. It is their home in the end.

I've never been asked to show a home on Thanksgiving or Christmas but no other holiday seems to be off limits in my market.

Thanks for the though provoking post.

Your post just goes to prove that there is never a wrong day to sell Real Estate. Thanks for the heads up.

One of my most often repeated caveats to sellers is: If it can’t be seen, it won’t be sold.

The final decision to show a home is the seller’s. It does not matter if it is a holiday or any day. The sellers were wise to allow this showing. If they had planned to entertain on Easter at their house that would have been a different story. Since they were not going to be home they would have been unwise to deny the showing.

I am of the school of thought that some holidays really should remain sacred--including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving. I don't show property on those days and I don't expect my clients to open their houses on days like that. It's time we set some boundaries in our profession... there really is no need for 24/7/365 in our business.

Easter is pushing it.  It's Passover too.

I can understand where the buyers are coming from, especially if the parents are providing gift money and they do not live in the area.  As long as there is substantial notice and as long as it is known that the home has made the final cut, I see no harm in showing it on any day.  As long as the buyer is considerate of the seller's time with their family as well as the agent's plans for the day, that is.  Not everyone celebrates Easter.  And many celebrate away from home as well.  I hope that the buyer and the parents find the perfect home!  Good luck.

While there may not be a right or wrong answer, it still comes down to choice.

There are certain days that are special to me and my family, and they are off limits to work. If a client asked to see a home on one of those days, I would do my best to find a way to show it a day prior or a day after, If they couldnt, I would have to refer it out.

As far as being a seller, I feel it would be in my best interest to show almost anytime, HOWEVER we dont, and holidays a

re a good example of that. (with Exceptions to every rule)

Showings on Holidays are always difficult.  We as Realtors(r) need a balance in our lives as well, but if it doesn't put anyone out, then why not?

Good luck!

Good afternoon Scott. I think knowing helps or should. People don't play around on holidays: only someone who was serious would care to look.

Not everyone in the United States celebrates Easter or Passover, or any other particular holiday.  Not everyone in the United States is religious.  A seller should be glad they are receiving a showing request. 

Assuming that all sellers or buyers should be offended by showings on what the agent or seller considers to be "sacred" is probably not the best selling strategy.