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- First house: nobody allowed inside unless shoes are removed. Agent very obviously annoyed when we say no thanks, we won't come in. (I'm not walking around in thin nylons socks on tile/stone floors for anybody. It's cold. That's why I'm wearing warm shoes).
Maybe you should bring slippers next time. I think it is common courtesy to remove your shoes before entering a home someone probably just spent hours cleaning. I always offer when seeing a prospective home. A+ to the agent for following the seller's wishes.
Maybe you should bring slippers next time. I think it is common courtesy to remove your shoes before entering a home someone probably just spent hours cleaning. I always offer when seeing a prospective home. A+ to the agent for following the seller's wishes.
In my area, it is common courtesy to invite people into your home without asking them to remove their shoes. Demanding that people remove their shoes is considered rude and elitist. There's no point in debating this subject here as it's already been raging for some time on the "house" forum with people taking sides just as vehemently as they do in political arguments.
The seller has a perfect right to do whatever they wish, but in this area, it's gonna be a long hard slog for both the seller and the agent to sell that house (out in the middle of the boondocks) if they persist in refusing to show those oh-so-precious floors to all us normal folk out here that don't carry slippers around with us.
But, the point of this thread is not about floors. It's about the fact that the agent, rather than demonstrate understanding, just got irritated. But, we had a feeling he was just as irritated with the seller, because afterwards he tried to urge us to come inside anyway (feeling an opportunity slipping away?) but it was an uncomfortable situation, so we just thanked him and left. Too bad, because they've already had to lower their price a few times and it looked really nice from the outside, but now we'll never know, and there are only a couple thousand others on the market
When in Rome......
P.S. I sold a home last year and know precisely how much work it is to endlessly clean and pickup for showings and open houses. I had white tile floors in kitchen and bath, some hardwoods, and a white bedroom carpet and never, ever asked anyone to remove shoes. It didn't kill me and I sold the house!
Last edited by Boomerang; 05-04-2008 at 04:37 PM..
In my area, it is common courtesy to invite people into your home without asking them to remove their shoes. Demanding that people remove their shoes is considered rude and elitist.
Wow do you honestly believe that? Rude? Elitist? Nationally, it is not uncommon for people to live in a shoe-free home. I mean why make houses with mud rooms then?
'Evergreen,' I hear ya! Same thing for us - we're relocating to US from London, UK, & have had SUCH a struggle to find a house! Mass. was worst - over 24 hrs notice needed, houses a mess, arrogant attitude of sellers etc - Texas a bit better, good realtor there, but still so totally unlike the UK attitude! in TX we still found sellers unwilling to drop any more than about 2% even tho we are cash buyers, and still a pretty arrogant attitude. In UK, you show your house at an hour's notice - and for a cash buyer with no chain, you drop at least 10%.
The whole thing has left me with no sympathy whatsoever for the US seller - it is no surprise at all to me that so few actually sell. Only when they come down off their arrogant perches and face the fact that America is no different to anywhere else when it comes to selling homes, will things get better.
Y'know, Boomerang, there are some parts of this world (and thank God I spend at least some time in one of them!) where 'elitist' is actually a term of praise!
'Evergreen,' I hear ya! Same thing for us - we're relocating to US from London, UK, & have had SUCH a struggle to find a house! Mass. was worst - over 24 hrs notice needed, houses a mess, arrogant attitude of sellers etc - Texas a bit better, good realtor there, but still so totally unlike the UK attitude! in TX we still found sellers unwilling to drop any more than about 2% even tho we are cash buyers, and still a pretty arrogant attitude. In UK, you show your house at an hour's notice - and for a cash buyer with no chain, you drop at least 10%.
The whole thing has left me with no sympathy whatsoever for the US seller - it is no surprise at all to me that so few actually sell. Only when they come down off their arrogant perches and face the fact that America is no different to anywhere else when it comes to selling homes, will things get better.
Perhaps I am weary from the four open houses I held for my sellers this weekend so please add some clarity. If the sellers here were more like those in the UK, we would be OK people? If a seller does not have to sell quickly, is priced correctly, and not concerned re inspections or appraisals, they should automatically reduce their price by 10% for cash....cause you have it? So cash still remains different when in the required transaction form of a certified check from the certified check the buyer's lender provides? It is OK to be an elitist if you associate with or are actually one? AND Americans are arrogant? Any help you can provide would be deeply appreciated. Anxiously await the posts decribing your efforts to "fit in" once you find a home and neigborhood. It should be a "hoot" Oh, by the way that is not an elitist word.........
Perhaps I am weary from the four open houses I held for my sellers this weekend so please add some clarity. If the sellers here were more like those in the UK, we would be OK people? If a seller does not have to sell quickly, is priced correctly, and not concerned re inspections or appraisals, they should automatically reduce their price by 10% for cash....cause you have it? So cash still remains different when in the required transaction form of a certified check from the certified check the buyer's lender provides? It is OK to be an elitist if you associate with or are actually one? AND Americans are arrogant? Any help you can provide would be deeply appreciated. Anxiously await the posts decribing your efforts to "fit in" once you find a home and neigborhood. It should be a "hoot" Oh, by the way that is not an elitist word.........
"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to OCNYISHOME again."
Dang. (That's an elitist term expressing regret at the circumstance in which one finds oneself.)
Can I please put this post back on topic? If you have relocated or are looking to relocate and buy a home in the near future; how have you or will you find a real estate agent?
I apologize for all the negative experiences people have had in working with agents. My goal is to find people who are wanting to relocate and make there transition a happy, pleasent experience.
If I may, I'd like to comment on the Exclusive Buyer Representation Agreement in the state of Maine, as I see two posters on this thread that are shopping here. As of July 1, 2006 the Maine Legislature passed sweeping legislation enforced by the Real Estate Commission that requires all agreements be in writing and oral contracts are no longer allowed. Without an agreement, a prospective buyer is a "customer" and customer level services are very basic; one of my real estate instructors described us as "monkeys with a key." We must be truthful and forthcoming, but absolutely cannot offer any advice. I meet with all prospective buyers first, explain the difference between a "customer" relationship and a "client" relationship in which I (and my company) make available all of my knowledge and skills to help the client get the best house at the best price and terms. I always work the first time in that customer relationship and when the customer asks me questions that I can't answer, I politely inform them of the law, which I must uphold. If we hit it off in that first meeting, I strongly recommend that they sign an agreement, even for only 1 day or 1 house, so that I can represent them. To sum up, in Maine, agents do push for written agreements, but it's only because the law requires us to.
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to all us normal folk out here that don't carry slippers around with us.
Nationally, it is not uncommon for people to live in a shoe-free home. I mean why make houses with mud rooms then?
