Motivated Sellers! Easy to show! See it today!
Bring an offer! Owners are Anxious! Can close in 30 days!
Move right in! Don't miss this one! Vacant!
SO THEY SHOULD BE EASY AND ACCOMODATING TO SHOW - RIGHT? Well not always!
I have been working with out of town buyers in trying to help them find a home that suits both their wants and needs. They have been looking at homes for the past 3 days. We have probably seen over 20 properties. And, some have been absolutely gorgeous!
My customers have very limited time, as they will be leaving to go back home in the next day or so.
My biggest hurdle in their home purchase, so far, is in being able to get access to homes in the MLS to get in and show them.
Now, the last time I checked, here in Brevard County we were in full blown buyers market. There are currently an overabundance of homes available for sale. As the buyer is considering a purchase in the $500,000 price range some of the properties being considered have been on the market for over a year and more!
We have seen homes with market times of 711 days, 202 days, 1215 days, 367 days, 431 days, 549 days, 611 days, and one has been on the market for over 2300 days! Need I go on?
And some of the prices have been reduced by over $100,000.
Unfortunately, the market in the past several years has been declining and I understand that sellers have been trying to adjust to that market decline. Some are chasing the market. And, some have their hands tied, because they owe more than they're worth - so they are short selling them.
So, my thought is that sellers and listing agents should be doing cart wheels to get a buyer in to look at their home!
Most have been more than accomodating to our wishes. However, about 1/4 have been a bit challenging in setting up showing appointments.
In requesting showings, I have gotten responses from listing office and agents ranging from:
'Could you do it 2 days from now? Today, really isn't a good day.'
'Oh, you want to show the house at 11:00? You know 6:00 tomorrow would work out much better for me, could you do it then?'
'My seller's house is really dirty right now, could you make it sometime next week?'
'No, tomorrow between 10:00 - 12:00 isn't going to work. You have to be there between 5:15 and 5:30.' (For me, showing an out of towner a new area that spans for 20+ miles, with a 3 day time frame, it would be impossible to guarantee a 15 minute window of time. Heck, I could be in another city during that time frame!)
I called the listing agent's office and was told that I needed to contact the list agent. I've had 3 agents that NEVER EVEN RETURNED MY PHONE CALL (after talking to their offices twice and leaving 2-3 messages for them). So, we never got in to see those 3 homes.
'I really don't know what the showing instructions are, it's probably an electronic lockbox -just go out there, knock and see what happens. It could be a combo lockbox though. But I don't know what the code would be.' I questioned this and ask for more info. No, I can't really say, just go and see if you can get in. I asked if they could call the list agent -no she isn't available on weekends!
'I haven't been able to reach the owner, so just knock first and use the lockbox. And by the way, be careful for the big dog in the house!' ----ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? NO THANK YOU!
'No, it requires 24 hour notice.' I called 16 hours in advance and was told no. The buyer wasn't sure he wanted to be bothered with this and we didn't know where we would be or where our schedule would take us in 24 hours. Sometimes with out of town buyers we don't have 24 hours to give them in advance notice. Then I called 18 hours in advance 'no, I told you 24 hour notice!' This time I called with 28 hours notice, 'Yes, that time would be perfect.' So, I set up all my other appointments around that one. Then got a call back. 'The owner has changed their mind, could you do it 3 hours later?' (WHAT????? BY THIS TIME I'M ABOUT READY FOR A RUBBER ROOM!) "I would have to meet you there, the sellers don't want anyone stealing anything out of the house!!"
I HAD A PHENOMENAL AGENT THAT MET ME AT ANOTHER LISTING, DOWN THE STREET AND HAND DELIVERED THE KEYS TO HER PROPERTY! UNBELIEVABLE -SHE WAS INCREDIBLE!
Maybe it's just me. Silly, but I think that if a house is in the Multiple Listing Service for sale, then I should be able to get my buyers in to see it. And, I do understand, there are times that are not convenient for a seller. But, come on, let's be somewhat accomodating.
My thought is, 'if this seller is this unaccomodating at this early in the game, then how will the buyer ever be able to make an offer that they will accept?'
Maybe that's why some of these homes have been on the market for over a year!
that for you
Hard to deal with AND overpriced!
Hi Katie, We're in a tough market and I try to explain to my sellers that they must be as accomodating and prompt as possible. Buyers will move right on to another property otherwise. Take care and have a great week!
I know how you feel
Thanks for sharing
Rich
Charlotte NC
Hi Rich, Very, very frustrating. Glad to know I'm not the only one is this boat!
I see it every day. They wonder why the home hasn't sold. Can't sell what we can't see.
Don't you love the ones you have to give 24 hours notice to and you show up to a dump with dishes in sink, cloths on floor, etc
Hi Richard, I think you pretty much summed it up - you can't sell what you can't see! Take care!
Sandy, If a seller is really interested in actually selling their home ease of showing is not an option. So many missed opportunities.
Yep.... I have seen them as well. If they are motivated fine, if not...take it out of our MLS!
There does not seem to be a middle ground here, showing is either a peice of cake or a pain in the ***. I agree with Richard, a motivated seller will be accomodationg. Our problem is with tennants, they could not care less if a home is sold....
Hi Richard, I do agree -some sellers miss so many opportunities to get serious buyers in to see their homes. It's a real shame. Very frustrating for us as buyer's agents.
In our small area, many offices don't use lock boxes, so if you want to show something on short notice or a Sunday and no one is in, it can be a problem. If you cannot see it then it's not going to sell, annoying when there is no lock box.
Wow...don't you love when this happens? Those "sellers" really don't get it.
Hi Gary, How are you doing? Has the Viera market picked up a bit? I sure hope so. We have seen a pick up in activity. My sentiment exactly, get it off the market if you aren't going to be serious about selling it. Thanks and have a great week!
Frank and Jodi, It doesn't seem that there is middle ground here. And I agree tenants are the worst when selling. They have no interest in seeing that property sell -typically it means that they have to move!
Oh Mary, I would absolutely hate that - NO LOCKBOXES - ouch -that would be terrible. Here in Brevard County serious sellers should expect to be able to show their homes in an hours notice. If they can't buyers will move on to another property.
Suzanne, You know, I agree that the sellers don't get it, however I believe that it is a listing agents job to educate the seller. And often I think some listing agents are afraid of their sellers, so they cater to their evey whim! It gets ridiculous!
Yep, really motivated sellers. It amazes me the barriers sellers put in the way of their own sales. Keep on them Sandy, you will get them to do it right.
Hi Sandy ... It is so very frustrating, especially with out of town buyers. I sometimes wonder if it is the agents or the sellers. We have several agents around here who will do whatever is necessary to prevent you from showing it, if they have a potential buyer that has not yet seen their listing. Then there are those who believe they should have a shot at selling their listing before you do. Either way, agent or seller it makes the job more difficult than it has to be.
Hi Fred, If they want to sell, make it easy to show. If not take it off the market -it's that simple. I don't think anyone will ever get them to do it right. Thanks though.
Hi Marie, Well for us here, statistics indicate that there is a less than 3-5% chance that we will even sell our own listings. So, we focus on anything available for sale. I would hate it where you are. I don't know why it has to be so difficult sometimes.
Sandy, I tried to show a property recently, MLS instructions were 24 hour notice, listing agent must confirm. I called 2 days in advance. It took 4 calls to the showing service to finally get an ok. We get there and the house is vacant. Go figure.
Hi Rich, I'm not sure why it is so difficult to get in a home that is being offered for sale. If they don't want to sell it, they should take it off the market!