How many houses do you (buyer agent) show to your client? (contracts, standard)

[AngelBy]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

The average time from the time someone contacted me until we closed escrow in 2011 was 184 days (ie 6.1 months).

Unless they are experienced home buyers AND have lived in the city for a couple of years, I strongly prefer that they look at a minimum of 15 houses before executing an offer. I just don't think they have the market knowledge prior to that. Now, if they have owned homes before and are just upsizing/downsizing in the area, then I'd say that most buy after 3-6 showings. They already know what they like and where they want to live.

I have had one client buy the very first house we looked at, cancelled the rest of showings for the day. I've had one client where we looked at probably 150 homes and it took over two years for them to buy. Most people, in this current market with a lot of inventory, look at about 20-30 homes.

You're quite a patient agent

[wfurm]

Originally Posted by middle-aged mom

It's a variable number.

I spend a lot of time upfront with potential clients to understand what they think they want and can afford and their sense of urgency and most importantly, why. I like to see their current home or pictures and get a sense of how they live, what they like about it and not so much. Understanding the role of the community or need for privacy matters as does seeing the size and scale of their furniture and aniimals.

The people who are not serious about buying usually will not invest their own time for a needs analysis. My process roots out perpetual lookers from serious buyers.

I tend to preview properties I am going to show cause lord knows, pictures ( good, bad and ugly) don't tell the whole story.

I work a fairly limited area and know the local inventory, well. I can usually nail a buyer's needs/wants and match them to the local inventory in 3 showings.

I also know that consumers are attracted to good pictures and ad copy and want to see more and so we do. It takes time to build trust and for buyers to get comfortable with what their money will buy.

I have shown as few as 8-10 to more than 100 properties to given buyer.
I have yet to sell a home that a buyer identified off of an internet ad.

My area is primarily SF and shorts and REO remain the exception.

When we purchased our home, we had the best agent. She also wanted to see the rental we were living in. The rental happened to be very nice with an open concept floor plan. It was a house that I liked, a little outdated but very nice. Once our agent figured out the "must haves" she ran with it.

The first house she took us to was it. We loved it, but she insisted we see more homes before making an offer. We saw around 15 more homes, but we kept coming back to the first one. After all the showings we ended up buying the first house. Being first time buyers, we couldn't have done it without our great Agent.

[NinaN]

Originally Posted by wfurm

The first house she took us to was it. We loved it, but she insisted we see more homes before making an offer. We saw around 15 more homes, but we kept coming back to the first one. After all the showings we ended up buying the first house. Being first time buyers, we couldn't have done it without our great Agent.

You are lucky that home was still available. Good for you!

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by jdhall1

It depends on the client, between 1 and 35.

I couldn't agree more. I show the buyer as many as it takes for them to find the right home.

[Tish Thompson]

I think if you're showing more than 5 to 10 houses, you haven't effectively communicated with your client to find out what he/she really wants. If I end up with someone who thinks they have to see every house in the MLS, I refer them to someone who has that kind of time to waste.

Originally Posted by AngelBy

For average number, how many houses do you show to your client before they decide to make an offer/buy the house? And how long (6 months, 1-2 years ... etc) ?(I'm just wonder)
Please share your experience.
Thanks.

[Brandon Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Tish Thompson

I think if you're showing more than 5 to 10 houses, you haven't effectively communicated with your client to find out what he/she really wants. If I end up with someone who thinks they have to see every house in the MLS, I refer them to someone who has that kind of time to waste.

With the exception of relocation clients that don't know the area or side of town they want to be on of course. Otherwise, agreed.

[Zyngawf]

15.
And that's it. They don't get anymore and they have to pick from those.

Just kidding. How ever many it takes. There was the one time I showed some one just one house and they bought it and other clients you may be working with on and off for a year.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by Tish Thompson

I think if you're showing more than 5 to 10 houses, you haven't effectively communicated with your client to find out what he/she really wants. If I end up with someone who thinks they have to see every house in the MLS, I refer them to someone who has that kind of time to waste.

I agree with what you're saying for the most part but there are certainly exceptions to every rule. Sometimes you're dealing with a client who isn't being honest with you (or perhaps even with themselves) about what they want. I had a client a few years ago who told me he wanted to live in a certain area and after looking a while and seeing one particular property five times he came to the realization that he really didn't want to live in that area. We had to start all over and even then he had a very specific idea of what he wanted. He ended up having a house built for him. It was really the only way he'd be happy.

[FalconheadWest]

When I first started, back in 2000, there was a lady at my office that was a top producer. I couldn't figure out why because she wasn't the nicest person or smartest person, but she had a huge book of business. I later found out that she would tell her clients that she previewed everything and there were only 3 houses that truly fit what they were looking for, and they must pick from those three houses. These people "fell" for it every time. She very rarely showed more than 3 houses, and sold millions in volume.

[Zyngawf]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

When I first started, back in 2000, there was a lady at my office that was a top producer. I couldn't figure out why because she wasn't the nicest person or smartest person, but she had a huge book of business. I later found out that she would tell her clients that she previewed everything and there were only 3 houses that truly fit what they were looking for, and they must pick from those three houses. These people "fell" for it every time. She very rarely showed more than 3 houses, and sold millions in volume.

I don't think that is ethical in the least. It's because of people like this that some people don't like Realtors.