Ocean Breezes Blog

It happened again yesterday. I'm working with some great buyer's and they are anxious to find their new home and get moved before school starts. We found a home that, from the MLS pictures and exterior, looks perfect! But no lockbox. And the homeowner is "unavailable for the next couple of days and really doesn't want strangers traipsing throughout the house when we aren't there." Really?! Really?! And where is the Listing Agent in all of this? Oh, well, he "has to honor the seller's wishes. Maybe your folks would like to look next weekend?" AAAAARRRGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Nevermind, I'll find them a better house, for better money, and work with a seller and an agent that actually WANT to sell a house.

In the meantime, here are a couple of tips for Seller's:

To get your home sold quickly, it’s important that other agents in the area show it to as many potential buyers as possible. When a busy agent is compiling a list of homes to show a buyer, the agent will naturally tend to show those houses that are easiest to gain access to first. Many homes on the market have “lock boxes” on them. Homes that are listed as being “lock box, no appointment needed” will get shown more often than homes listed as “agent has key, call for appointment”. If at all possible, you should let your agent put a lock box on your home for easier showing.

If you can’t do a lock box, you need to be sure that you make it as convenient and easy as possible for other agents to show your home. If they call, do whatever you have to do to accommodate letting them show your home to buyers on their schedule. If you don’t, the agent will probably show the buyer other homes, and if that buyer makes an offer on one of them, you’ve just lost a great opportunity.

It’s also best if you can leave when the agent and buyer arrive to see your home. Buyers won’t feel comfortable with you there, and it could sour an otherwise good impression.