How does a Realtor prepare for showing appointments?
This Saturday, I will be showing approximately 8-10 homes.
The Multiple Listing Service is updated by the listing agent or their office; MLS rules require that escrow changes be made in 72 hours. So listings that are reflected in the MLS as active/available may in fact be in escrow and may have been in escrow for several days. Obviously, I don’t want to waste my time or my clients. I also don’t want my client to fall in love with a home that is sold or for us to be unprepared for a “bidding competition”.
I have learned over the years that if I want accurate status information, that I must speak directly to the listing agent, not the office receptionist or “floor broker”. The listing agent is often the only one to have the exact updated information (they are the one working on offers or counter offers). I have prepared a list of homes (to show) and have the MLS print outs; on Friday morning I will contact each Listing Agent to ask:
“Is the property available and are you currently working on any offers"?
Friday afternoon, it is “round 2” and I now place follow up calls to the Listing Agents who have not yet returned my calls. Typically this will be about 40% of the agents phoned in the morning.
By mid afternoon, there will be a “couple of stragglers” and I will try contacting them ONE last time; either cell phone, home phone or any other alternative number their office can provide.
There is a group of “mega agents”, who will not accept availability calls from other agents. I think they feel it is a “waste of their time”. But unfortunately, I find that they often don’t have anyone in their office up to date on their listings; anyone else who can accurately answer these availability calls. If the listing agent has not given me a “clear” on the availability, I don't show the home. Don’t hire a Realtor who does not return phone calls, as your listing will not be shown as often as it should.
Most of Friday will be devoted to Saturday’s showing appointments and today around 4 PM, (now that I know the availability), I will route the properties in a logical driving order and will make the appointments to show.
If you want to look at properties on Saturday, try to allow your agent time to do the prep work and provide them with several days notice. Obviously a Realtor can check availability and make an appointment for a home or two, but for a “full day” of looking we need some prep time in order to properly do our job.
Categories: In a Realtor's Week, MLS, A Buyer's Perspective
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6/9/2008 9:56 AM
Los Angeles Real Estate Blog wrote:
Los Angeles – the current real estate market I was hoping to show two Burbank homes on Saturday; even though they were noted available in the MLS (multiple listing service) I first wanted to speak with the listing agent. AND this is what I learned: The first home was sold with five offers (in only 4 days); the other home was a short pay off. My client is not interested in home that might be for sale – which is what a short pay is, so we passed on that one. ... -
6/9/2008 9:58 AM
Los Angeles Real Estate Blog wrote:
Los Angeles – the current real estate market I was hoping to show two Burbank homes on Saturday; even though they were noted available in the MLS (multiple listing service) I first wanted to speak with the listing agent. AND this is what I learned: The first home was sold with five offers (in only 4 days); the other home was a short pay off. My client is not interested in home that might be for sale – which is what a short pay is, so we passed on that one. ... -
6/10/2008 6:55 AM
Los Angeles Real Estate Blog wrote:
Los Angeles – the current real estate market I was hoping to show two Burbank homes on Saturday; even though they were noted available in the MLS (multiple listing service) I first wanted to speak with the listing agent. AND this is what I learned: The first home was sold with five offers (in only 4 days); the other home was a short pay off. My client is not interested in a home that might be for sale – which is what a short pay is, so we passed on that one. ... -
11/3/2008 5:17 PM
Los Angeles Real Estate Blog wrote:
If you are anticipating a return phone call, how many messages do you leave a real estate agent? The bigger question: which or how many phone numbers do you leave the message on? I am so tired of … blah, blah “your call is VERY important to me... please leave a message, or try me on my cell phone at (818) 790-7325 or my home at xxxxx. I am hoping to show eight homes this afternoon…As your Realtor, I want to be certain if I show a home it is not sold, I also want ... -
11/4/2008 7:19 AM
Los Angeles Real Estate Blog wrote:
If you are anticipating a return phone call, how many messages do you leave a real estate agent? The bigger question: which or how many phone numbers do you leave the message on? I am so tired of … blah, blah “your call is VERY important to me... please leave a message, or try me on my cell phone at (818) 790-7325 or my home at xxxxx. I am hoping to show eight homes this afternoon…As your Realtor, I want to be certain if I show a home it is not sold, I also want ...
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