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You probably can’t imagine how much seller misbehavior occurs during home showings. Homeowners should not attend showings out of respect for the buyers and the real estate agent. There is a protocol to follow, but unfortunately, most real estate agents don’t follow it.
I always set a few rules when I get a new home to list. Most importantly, I ask the sellers to disappear when I show their home to potential buyers. Walk the dog, have coffee with the neighbors, or do whatever, but don’t get involved with my showing.
Each real estate agent has her/his own style of showing a home. I do not know which style is right or wrong. I have not been through Showing School, like those realtors on HGTV’s House Hunters International sometimes seem to have been.
Home sellers all have their own styles. Some get too involved, and others don’t bother at all. Some have the house spic ‘n span, and others feel the need to buy a new doormat when they don’t need it. Oh, and I sometimes have those who don’t listen when I tell them about getting rid of their gay collectibles.
During my Costa Rica real estate career, I have learned that it is best to keep the sellers away from the buyers until closing! I wish we had lockboxes in Costa Rica!
I’ll tell you about some of the home showings I go through, and you will understand why.
1. Bonnie and Clyde
Hello, good morning, guys. Meet Mike and Suzie. Mike and Suzie, meet Bonnie and Clyde, the owners of this beautiful home. Can we come in, please?
While we walk into the living room, I hear Clyde ask Mike behind me, “Where are you guys from?” At the same time, Bonnie asks Suzie, “Why don’t you folks come right through? Would you like to have some coffee? I just have some delicious apple pie in the oven.”
Ten minutes later, we are all sitting on the terrace with a cup of coffee and a piece of delicious pie. Before I knew it, buyers and sellers exchanged phone numbers like they were dealing with an FSBO.
After we left, Mike and Suzie told me they didn’t like the house. They didn’t want to see other houses and disappeared completely. Three months later, Bonnie told me they sold the house. I never found out who the buyer was.
2. The Woodrows
“Hello, welcome to the Woodrow home, I’m Charles. Please come right in. Ivo, please do not forget to tell them about the water back-up tank and pump, the new roof on the house, and that we remodeled the master bathroom last month. We installed a Jacuzzi tub with 12 jets.”
“Oh, and about the built-in safe, we’ll tell them where it is at closing. Do not listen to that dog barking next door; he is just visiting. And we will also paint the fence as soon as it stops raining, that is included in the price”.
At that moment, Mrs. Woodrow walks in, saying, “Oh, I thought I heard someone ringing the bell. How are you all? Ivo, honey, please tell them about the new Jacuzzi tub with 12 jets when you go to our brand new master bathroom.
As soon as the Woodrows left the room, the buyer said, “God, Ivo, how do you put up with all that?” The buyer purchased another home in the same neighborhood, which was not remodeled, and didn’t have a Jacuzzi with 12 jets.
3. Beth must be on meth
“Good afternoon, come on in. My name is Beth. Let me show you our beautiful house. We’re really in no hurry to sell.
We built the house in 1987 when Mom and Dad got divorced. We first built the left wing, and on March 16, 2002, when we had our 15th anniversary, we added the other wing.
This is the sitting area. Do you see how cozy it is? You should come back tonight after dark. This area is so much nicer after dark. “
“And there is the kitchen. My husband insisted I should have a comfortable kitchen. See that stain on the countertop? This is where my youngest cut her hand chopping parsley on June 12, 2007, at 3 p.m. She is married now and has 3 lovely children herself. Her marriage is not going very well. He is a carpenter and redid our deck in the winter of 1989, and it still looks great.”
“See, there is plenty of space for a party of 40 out here on this deck my son-in-law built. Isn’t it beautiful?
Oh, you don’t have any family? You’d be surprised how fast you make friends in this neighborhood. Anyway, where’s that listing agent now? He is not doing his job. I don’t know why we even pay him. “
Over the years, the buyer has bought and sold several properties through us. Thanks again, Arnold, for your business.
4. The Smooth Talker
Buyers Jim and Nancy from New Jersey did a personalized relocation tour with Christopher Howard. They decided they liked the east side of San Jose, Curridabat, and San Pedro, and a little bit north of there. That’s because it’s the cool side of the Central Valley.
When we arrived, the seller’s agent, as well as the seller and her son, were present. Surprisingly, the seller’s son took charge of the showing from the first minute. He was telling Jim and Nancy that his dad had custom-built the house, and to make a long story short, half an hour later and with an incredible amount of information about the house, the construction, their neighborhood, where he was born, and which school he went to, we said goodbye. Oh, I must tell you that he’s an architect and a great salesman…
My clients were interested in seeing the house again. So I called the agent and asked the seller and the son to not be there for this visit.
Well, when we arrived, the coffee and cake were served. So I asked the son to leave us to tour the house without him. Of course, when we were done, he insisted we sit to have coffee. As soon as we sat, Jim took over and asked him to rent the house for one year to see if they liked the house and the neighborhood. Jim turned out to be a better salesperson than all of us. We’re still waiting for the end of the year, but Jim already told me they will not buy that house.
Lose your sale
Some homeowners are a bit hardheaded and insist on staying. But…the above showings might seem funny, but the seller can lose that one and only buyer they will have in 6 months. Not listening to their agent can easily cost an agent a $20,000 commission, too. I often cut a seller short during home showings by keeping them busy while the listing agent shows the home.
Are you a buyer? Then you can always feel free to turn around and leave in such a situation. You have my blessing! You are not obligated to put up with it unless you enjoy a good show and love to waste my time.
Are you a seller? Then I hope you’ll listen to what I just said about being absent during home showings. Please don’t waste my time.
