Question about showing the house...?

I am listed with an agent who (I think) I am pretty happy with. My issue right now is my house has shown 4 times and she has only been to one. We have another showing scheduled for tomorrow and she can't make it to that one either so she asked if I can be at the house to let the other realtor in.
On one hand, I don't have a problem showing my house, because I would rather show it myself than have the person not come. But on the other hand, I am paying them as my realtor, so shouldn't someone from their office be there?!?!
Is it normal for me to be the one representing my house all the time??

Message edited 6/19/2012 4:03:08 PM.

Re: Question about showing the house...?

When we were selling, our agent was rarely there. If ever. The buyers agent was usually the one that would show up.
Didn't bother me. I know they have other houses they're selling. I can't imagine they could make all of the showings.
I think it's pretty normal.

Message edited 6/19/2012 4:06:07 PM.

Re: Question about showing the house...?

Is there a reason why the buyers' realtors can't pick up the key from your listing agent's office and show the house when you are not home? That is done alot of times.

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we never met our seller's agent until we had our inspection

actually, we never saw a house with a seller's agent present..

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We looked at literally well over 100+ houses and the seller's agent was never ever there, only if we went to open houses.

Re: Question about showing the house...?

See it depends on how you set it up. When I signed with my agent she asked me if I would give keys so that she (or her partner) would show my home We didn't want that so we made ourself available each showing. The only time my agent came to a showing was if she was brining the buyer. Other than that she didn't come to showing.


However I will say that if we allowed it my agent would have opened up and showed my house. We just didnt like that.

Plus you said something about you would rather show it. Do you mean you follow the realtor around as an agent would or do you mean simply open the door.


We were around for EVERY showing BUT we made ourselves essentially not there so we didnt come across as intrusive. If the agent for the buyer had a question we were there to answer but that was it.

HTH

Message edited 6/19/2012 8:12:46 PM.

Re: Question about showing the house...?

our realtor only showed the house if she found the buyer (they called her # etc)

i think that is the norm.

Re: Question about showing the house...?

When we were looking, we never saw a seller agent either (unless at an open house)

At every showing where the sellers were still living in the house, they were there for the showing to let us in.

The only time we did not see a seller was if the house was vacant, and our realtor would pick up the key from the seller office.

Re: Question about showing the house...?

wehn we had showings at our house, our realtor didnt come. It didnt bother me .

Re: Question about showing the house...?

It's up to the listing agent and homeowner to decide how showings will be conducted. When I take a listing, I explain at the outset that I am putting the listing on MLS, which basically invites other real estate agents to show the house to buyers they are working with, which is a good thing (more buyers = quicker sale).

Then we discuss how showings will be set up when my office gets calls from agents who want to show the house. If the house is occupied by the seller, the typical thing is for my office to schedule appointments with the seller. (Although there can be other arrangements made -- if the homeowner isn 't there a lot, we might have a key in the office that the listing agent may need to use to let other agents in, if the house is vacant, there can be a lockbox or a key in the listing office for other agents to pick up). Typically, the listing agent does not accompany showings where the homeowner will be home. The agent who is bringing the buyer wants the opportunity to show the house to their own customer; there's no need for the listing agent to be there UNLESS the homeowner is uncomfortable and requests it.

But if you want the listing agent to come for every showing, you will wind up missing out on a lot of showings. What if your listing agent has 10 listings? It would surely be impossible for her to be there for every showing on every listing, esp. since most showings occur from 6-8 in the evenings or during weekends. It's far preferable for you to let the agents in when you are home and available versus working around your listing agent's schedule. Other agents don't expect (or want) the listing agent to be there for showings; they know to call the listing agent after the fact if they have questions (or an offer!), and the listing agent should follow up with each agent that shows anyway.

As far as what you are paying your agent for -- first, she is presumably marketing the home for you (online, in print), and it takes time and money for her to do that -- taking photos, creating websites/flyers/ads, writing property descriptions, conducting open houses, etc. In my office, we put our listings on over 300 websites, and I create an individual website for the home. And then I field all of the calls, emails, inquiries from that advertising.

But more importantly, your agent essentially acts as the "project manager" of your sale -- when I have a listing, I follow up with other agents to get feedback on all showings to convey to the seller, I negotiate the offers, I am present for all inspections and the appraisal (negotiating any issues that arise from them), I communicate with the attorneys involved and the buyer's lender, I am there for the final walk through. I basically guide my sellers through each step of the process from the time I take the listing to closing (and sometimes beyond). I think that is way more valuable to a seller than simply standing in the house while other agents show it!

Re: Question about showing the house...?

Re: Question about showing the house...?

Posted by CouponKT

Posted by Century 21 Dallow - Christine Braun

Christine, you are my saving grace lately! You answer my posts so thoroughly and honestly.... you are SOOO helpful! Thank you for always responding from a different (and knowledgeable) perspective.

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Message edited 6/20/2012 11:58:43 AM.

Re: Question about showing the house...?

Posted by TreAnt427

I understand your POV, try to slip things in here or there when you can, with out coming across pushy. I know everyone is different but I would feel uncomfortable with the seller following us around. Try to give them a little space at the same time. I know it's hard to find a balance.

I would maybe say a few key things when they walk in, let them take a look, and maybe wrap it up with a few more things at the end. That way you can point out the things you want, with out being one step behind then while they walk through.

Think about if you were on the other end, when you go look at houses. You want to know info about the house, but you also want to browse on your own and get a chance to really look at the house.

Hope this helps! I don't want this to come across the wrong way, just trying to give my opinion from when we were buying.

Re: Question about showing the house...?

Posted by CouponKT

Posted by TreAnt427

I understand your POV, try to slip things in here or there when you can, with out coming across pushy. I know everyone is different but I would feel uncomfortable with the seller following us around. Try to give them a little space at the same time. I know it's hard to find a balance.

I would maybe say a few key things when they walk in, let them take a look, and maybe wrap it up with a few more things at the end. That way you can point out the things you want, with out being one step behind then while they walk through.

Think about if you were on the other end, when you go look at houses. You want to know info about the house, but you also want to browse on your own and get a chance to really look at the house.

Hope this helps! I don't want this to come across the wrong way, just trying to give my opinion from when we were buying.

Oh, I agree with you 100%! With the last showing ,they walked through entirely on their own and then before leaving I gave them the spec sheet our realtor wrote up and mentioned a few good things about the house.
I don't want to follow them on their first trip through, but should I walk back through and then point things?

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Re: Question about showing the house...?

GOOD LUCK TODAY!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Question about showing the house...?

I think if a seller is home during a showing, they should really just let the showing agent in, and then stay in an inconspicuous spot (outside, or in one room) while the agent conducts the showing. By all means, smile and be friendly and let the agent and buyer know that you are available for questions, but do NOT follow them around and point things out.

I totally get why you would want to, but I 100% know that it turns buyers off. They want to be able to take in the house by themselves and talk to each other without the seller hovering nearby. Also, it tends to come off as a bit overly anxious and desperate on the seller's part, which doesn't help you at all.

And sellers tend to "oversell" their house. For example, I think it's ok to mention something objective and factual that may be of interest (by the way, the heating system was replaced last year) but sometimes people go on and on about the specific type of imported marble floor they put in 20 years ago and the buyer thinks it's hideous anyway. And then the buyer spends their energy being polite about how awesome the floor is when they can't focus on the features THEY care about!

The other thing is, while you know your home best, the buyer's agent knows the buyers best. So while you may think it odd that the agent isn't talking up a fabulous gourmet kitchen, that agent may know that his buyers hate to cook and entertain and said the kitchen is totally unimportant to them. An agent in my office recently had an experience where her buyers were looking at a house with her, and the seller kept mentioning how great the schools are and the proximity to the schools, and the kids in the neighborhood, etc. as selling points. But the buyers don't have children and CAN'T have children, so those were not selling points for these particular buyers at all and it was actually a sensitive subject for them. The seller meant well and had no way of knowing that, but that's the point. Better to say less than risk turning someone off.

If a buyer is potentially interested but needs more info, they will ask, or their agent will follow up with your agent. Trust me. And most of the relevant info can be found on the listing or a good agent can see with their own eyes when showing a place.

Message edited 6/20/2012 12:54:57 PM.

Re: Question about showing the house...?

Christine, besides what is written on the paper we have (shows updates and years of work done) is there any other way to convey other "bonuses" of our property?

I think my hangup is not necessarily selling my house, but selling my house OVER the others on the same block. Do you know what I mean?

I am in a townhouse neighborhood and all the units are the same size, shape, etc. I want to highlight what may make ours more desirable. Our location is easier to access and closer to the end which means extra parking more readily available. Our home has a built in pantry that was not original. (But then again also reading your previous posts, I am thinking just because it's good for me doesn't mean it's good for them...?)

Re: Question about showing the house...?