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Op, do you want to sell this property or not? If this is your first experience with selling a home, welcome to the realities of the residential real estate world. Sometimes things will be inconvenient.
Do you want to sell your house? Grin and bear it, make it as easy on the buyers as possible. Someone wants to come in but doesn't give you notice? Don't get mad and think 'I said 24 hours notice'. Make it happen! Someone stays too long? Better than 10 minutes!
Only if they like it. Stop standing in the way of a sale.
What nonsense! I've been on both sides of the issue and I have NEVER had someone show up and linger, or spend 5 or 6 hours coming back repeatedly.
The OP's concerns are perfectly reasonable. It is absolutely unreasonable for any buyer to expect an owner to spend hours and hours of time over repeated visits because they can't make up their mind. Fish or cut bait. My ex's 3rd wife has a penchant for going to open houses, not because she wants to move, but because she's a nosy Parker who wants to see inside other people's houses!
Having people out to your house to tour it is an invasion of privacy. Sure, its a necessary hassle if you want to sell your house, but its still a hassle. You shouldn't need to walk the property line more than once, if that. At least refer to the GOOGLE maps overhead view and the plat map instead of making the owner walk the lines over and over and over again.
Do you want to sell your house? Grin and bear it, make it as easy on the buyers as possible. Someone wants to come in but doesn't give you notice? Don't get mad and think 'I said 24 hours notice'. Make it happen! Someone stays too long? Better than 10 minutes!
I agree with the OP! - 2+ hour showings and 2-3 visits without an offer is excessive. It's time to have a serious conversation with the realtor about the difference difference between 'tire kickers' and 'qualified buyers.'
Are these 'lookers' truly interested, qualified (serious) buyers ... or are they just looking for home layout, design and decorating tips? The realtor needs to tell them ahead of time, "I can get you a 1.5-hour viewing window; or a second visit -- In other words, push for a sale/decision and get rid of 'lookey-loos.'
This raises another issue. If the realtor has the time to spend 2-5-hours looking at a single house --- or visiting the same house with the same buyers 2-3 times ... with no offer, -- the OP probably has the wrong realtor! (This one is obviously confused about the difference between showing houses and selling houses).
If I'm the buyer, I'm the one with the money. If I'm the seller and truly want to sell (not just testing the market to see what I can get), I don't put the house on the market unless I'm willing to make lots of concessions in the way I normally live, to sell the place. That's it.
I understand that selling a house does create some inconvenience. My husband and I gave perfectly reasonable guidelines for showing the house, but people just can't seem to follow them. Doesn't the seller set the guidelines of when they are willing and able to show their home? Sellers don't give up control of their home to RE agents and potential buyers. If someone wants to see a house they can't wait 24 hours? Really?
For what it is worth, I did not specify 1 hour appointments. The agents set all of the appointment times and said they would stick to them since I work from home.
This is not a "distress sale" and we are not in a rush. We put the house on the market and simply asked for 24 hours notice and that agents and potential buyers respect the appointment times since I work from home. I explained that I am really busy at the moment, but work will let up in a week or so and I can be more flexible. That's all. That is not unreasonable.
We live in a rural area so there is not a Starbucks on every corner for me to sit and work if someone is viewing my home. My work requires internet service and a large monitor. I also have 2 dogs and I can't take them to work at an alternate location. One of my dogs is an elderly 95 lb Labrador and it's hard for me to get him in and out of cars. So yes, it's hard to plan work and clear everyone out at the drop of a hat.
I agree with the OP! - 2+ hour showings and 2-3 visits without an offer is excessive. It's time to have a serious conversation with the realtor about the difference difference between 'tire kickers' and 'qualified buyers.'
Quote:
This raises another issue. If the realtor has the time to spend 2-5-hours looking at a single house --- or visiting the same house with the same buyers 2-3 times ... with no offer, -- the OP probably has the wrong realtor! (This one is obviously confused about the difference between showing houses and selling houses).
I highly doubt it's the OP's realtor showing the house. And if you think OP's realtor should start lecturing other realtors who are showing the house, let me know how that has worked out for you.
Everyone needs to be flexible and as accommodating as possible... Period. We know it's not fun. We get it. Just try to work through it.
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Doesn't the seller set the guidelines of when they are willing and able to show their home? Sellers don't give up control of their home to RE agents and potential buyers. If someone wants to see a house they can't wait 24 hours? Really?
