This is a great post for discussion -- nice job, Judy.
Where do you stand, accompanied showings or not?
This discussion is open to Seller's Agents, Buyer's Agents, Buyers and Sellers. Where do you stand? Do you prefer accompanied showings or not? What is your experience, and why would you recommend one over the other to your clients, or your agent?
I will tell you my preferences, if you tell me yours. Alright fine, I will tell you my preference regardless of you offering your opinion! However, I hope you will take a moment to offer your opinion, as I doubt I am the only Realtor® or Home Owner that has faced this challenge, or pondered this question.
To accompany, or not to accompany: that is the question!
As a Realtor®, I prefer unaccompanied showings. There are only a few select properties that I have toured with Buyer clients where it was helpful for the Listing Agent to be present.
The biggest obstacle to overcome when accompanied showings are required pertains to scheduling. It is often difficult to work around the Listing Agents schedule when mapping out a tour. Changing the time for one Listing Agents convenience has now derailed all of the other previously confirmed appointments. In fact, if YOUR property can not fit into the tour, it might get eliminated and replaced with another listing.
Then there are my pet peeves:
Listing Agents need to STOP the heavy sales pitch! You will make the Buyer uncomfortable about exploring the property because you are pitching and/or scrutinizing their every move. GET OUT, or at a minimum stand back and BE QUIET. Wait for us to ask you questions.
A lame suggestion of "the outdated kitchen could be spruced up for short money by painting the cabinets" is NOT flying. My Buyer clients want to look at the property and decide for themselves whether or not it meets their needs. They don't need YOU the Listing Agent, a complete stranger, telling them how great the property is at the list price you have established... blah, blah, blah!
Then there is this special tactic (one that makes me see red), the Listing Agent makes the assumption that MY clients are not interested in this property, so they start to pitch their other listings. How does this behavior benefit the Seller of this property? Do you know why my Buyer appears disinterested in your listing? This is what I tell my Buyer clients before we go to a listing where the Listing Agent is present - Poker Face - Do You Wear Yours When Searching For a Home?
Now before you rush to offer your opinion, keep in mind that I also believe that a Seller deserves to have full representation and that as a Listing Agent, my job is to get their property sold. If a Seller requests that all showings be accompanied, then we discuss the potential for missed opportunities. As I mentioned, the biggest obstacle is scheduling, and accessibility is an important factor with getting a property sold. If a Buyer can not get in to see the house, they will move on to another property.
Now that I have shared my preference, what is yours? To accompany, or not to accompany: that is the question!
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I am not fond of the LA being present, even worse is the builder when showing new construction. In fact, some times I am being intrusive on my buyer's tour :)
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