Don't make it any harder to sell...

It's not to often I get scared when showing houses however today my hair on the back of my neck was doing the spike.

My client saw this house on my website and wanted to see it. I looked it up on the MLS and followed the showing protocol. The MLS required I call the owner directly. Present all offers to the owner and to notify the listing office with accepted offers when sold. You guessed it, we have a limited service listing. (No key box either!)

I find limited service providers to be creative. I love to present my offer directly to the owner. The one that suffers in such a transaction is the seller. The buyer's agent is in the driver's seat and since I am representing the buyer, I love to drive.

In this case, I called the phone to show number, disconnected. I dial again, disconnected. So I call the 1-800 number for the listing agent and get a prerecorded message.

• Don't call us, call the owner.
• Don't leave a message, we don't check them
• Our office is closed or it is after hours (2PM PST) (Office is in California)
• If you want to talk to an agent push 3
• Don't leave a message, we don't check them. This option is not available.

I called again to go through the seller side hoping they would be more responsive to a client

• If you want to talk to an agent push 3
• Don't leave a message, we don't check them. This option is not available.

I know a lot about customer service and this just drives sellers to full service representation.

I decide to go to the house and go to the door. I want to ask if I can show the house this weekend to my client. This driveway and neighborhood was bad.

• Broken down cars
• Broken down duplexes
• No Trespassing signs
• A big chain across the road

I went to the door, no answer. I have now completed my obligation to my buyer and it is time to try to get back to my car in one piece.

I called my buyer and told her, in my mind, this is not where I would feel comfortable selling her a home. She agreed after I told her this story and we're off to see some other homes this weekend. I now know why this house has been on the market for over 280 days. What a waste of $498...

I have shown and sold limited service listings in the past. You can tell who's in it for the fast buck and who the professional is. This can also be said for full service agents...

Please, by all means, don't make it any harder to sell your listings!

What are your horror stories?

Authored by Paul S. Henderson, Realtor ®, RE/MAX Professionals, Lacey, WA.

(http://phenderson.net) or http://www.lacey-washington.com

©2009 Paul S. Henderson, Don't make it any harder to sell, All Rights Reserved