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The Difference between A Lists and B Lists! Appointment Only, Call Agent First - A Kiss of Death!

There is nothing that can kill apotential sale quicker that restricting showing times, complicating showing instructions, and limiting the access to a property. Newer agents do not understand this, because all they understand was the recent market we have just left. That was called "A sellers market!" In a sellers market, no matter what the seller wanted, they got! If they said "Jump!" Their listing agent said "How high!" Not to worry, that market is dead, and you won't be seeing that for some time to come! Now we are in a "Buyers Market!" They are very different! No inventory, and inventory beyond the next horizon! In this market...the buyers have so many homes to look at, if you have the wrong tone of voice they'll cancel you! In some markets like Atlanta, you can literally shop for homes until you drop!

So when a listing says "Appointment only!" The listing sheet gets shuffled to the next pile called the "B List!" That is the pile that has restrictions of some sort and perhaps even says....before showing call the listing agent. The only problem? In this market the part time agent is totally unavailable! In fact, they do not even return your call! Perhaps they are in rehab, and do not have phone privileges! I digress... The next group is call agent before showing, vicious dog! If the dog is that vicious, kennel the dog! What is scary is that when you call the agent...they do not return the call! A total waste of time, but hey they are great candidate for the "B list!" Alarm system is armed! Unless the home is a million dollar home, I cannot see the value of trying to show a home with an activated alarms system! I like most other agents are too afraid to show, because of the limited instructions that are placed in the lock box! They are sick of explaining to the police offers with guns drawn they were just showing the home! They are afraid they will be tasered and maced! Homes with activated alarm systems are also great candidate for the "B List!" There are many other candidates for that "B Lists," these are jus a few to highlight human nature! We hate it when we have a buyer that is willing to buy a home in a soft market, and we cannot access the home or accomodate the re

Oh I forgot to mention the difference between the "A List" and "B List!" The "A List!" will be shown, and the "B List" is only be shown if we run out of homes in the "A List!" That is like saying "When hell freezes over we'll be by!" It is not going to happen! Me experience show me that homes wiht restricted showings will expire more and sell for a lot less than market!

***Warning**** In A Buyers market...We never show the "B List!" We don't have to!

  • Appointment Only
  • Show only between the hours of____
  • Alarm Syetem Activated
  • Call Agent Before Showing - (A bad control issue here!)
  • 3 Hours (Whatever) Notice must be given to clean up!
  • Listing agent must accompany all shows.
  • No Lockbox

Jim Crawford

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Posted Sunday Feb 03