Please Leave!

That really happens more often that it should.  Sometimes the listing agent tries to prep their client to do what's right.  Other times, not.  But, hey, what are you gonna do?  If the house has been on the market for awhile, or they're tenants, or in a short sale/foreclosure situation or they just aren't that motivated after months of being on the market, the folks inside will just live life.

I agree with you.  If the Seller want to sell their house, they should keep their home in good, show-able condition and leave for the fifteen-thirty minutes it takes to show the house

Rich-

First of all, I love your picture!  Reminds of Archie Bunker.  I completely agree with you.  Buyers almost run from the house if the seller is home.  It makes everyone uncomfortable.

Hi Rich, I think that you and I showed the same house!  I walked into a house once and the man was still sound asleep in bed when I opened the bedroom door!  I hate that!

Rich, Exactly true words you speak.   The worst time I had with this was when I had tenants in a house that I owned and they would not leave when I brought a buyer.   And to make matters worse they started telling all the bad things about the house and the neighborhood to my perspective buyers....Why?   Because they did not want to leave.     I got so mad I cussed them out when the buyers left and then evicted them.   :)   Sorry for venting but your blog brought back some really bad memories.

The worst I came across was during a home inspection when one of the bedroom doors was closed. I asked the Sellers -- who rarely are at home inspections here, but they were this time -- if there was anyone in the room. They said no. So I opened the door and there was their son laying spread-eagle on the bed sleeping. I told the Sellers that someone was sleeping in the room and they said that they never heard him come home from his graveyard shift.

Now I knock on all closed doors -- loudly.

Just today I had a lady blow smoke in my face when I she answered the door. She followed us around the house with non stop chatter and the lit cigarette in hand. It was a quick visit.

It's a shame that this happens so often.  I'm not sure if it's bad coaching on the part of the agent or the seller isn't that interested in selling.  Either way, I've rarely had a buyer linger in a home when the seller was there.

My worst showing was when I got there and it was pretty obvious that they were having a disagreement. We hurried through and scratched it off the list.

I just showed a house the other day where not only was the owner home, she kept chasing two little kittens around the house. My client had two comments he muttered as we left. cats and cigarettes!