Unlocking the Property Door
You would think unlocking a door would not require an instruction manual. A key and door locks are both uncomplicated instruments often made complicated by not changing locks on listed properties so that agents can show a property with ease as expected.
While sellers may seem to think that the above instructions maybe a slight inconvenience, here are just a few reasons why it's more than a notion to recommend locks be changed to fully working units:
- Agents and buyers are usually on a schedule and delays in entry are time-consuming in that we'll sometimes spend 3 to 5 minutes trying to get into a property not knowing whether our attempts will be successful or not
- If we can't get in, we've just wasted 5 minutes of our time, our buyer's time and who knows how much travel time was involved in getting there, and not to mention the time invested in researching the property
- Let's not talk about how embarrassed we are that we have our clients standing over our shoulder waiting patiently or NOT
- If we are finally able to get into the property, the buyer's zeal is sure to have wained and what could have been pleasant showing becomes marred by barriers to entry.
- Knowing that a lock does not properly function and knowing that it may take multiple attempts to get it to work shows a total disregard for the listing agent, the buyer's agent and the buyers themselves.
- Knowing that if the locks don't work properly then the property may not get shown or worse, won't sell because of it, may be signs of an unmotivated seller.
I know we do our best to convince them to change the locks. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't, but still please make the attempt.
Kudos to my seller for not only changing the problem lock, he changed every lock on the house.
Comments (80)Subscribe to CommentsComment