Tip #1
Contact the seller’s agent and get confirmation before showing up at a house with your clients.
That’s it. That’s my tip. Seems pretty simple, right? Pretty standard? That’s what I thought.
Last week I was working out on my elliptical up in my bedroom.. getting my sweat on. And it was a long overdue workout. The kids were playing and all of a sudden, I hear something… oh dear god, please don’t be the doorbell. I am in no condition to answer it. I hopped off my machine and looked downstairs to see my 8 year old son running up to tell me someone was at the door.
CRAP!
I ran and grabbed a baggy shirt to cover my workout apparel. Because it was not suitable for anyone else’s eyes.. trust me. So I answer the door, red faced, out of breath, and sweaty. A realtor hands me his business card and says “Hi there, I have a couple here who is going to take a second look at the house. I couldn’t reach your realtor so we just swung by.”
My expression must have tipped him off that I wasn’t expecting him, or maybe his look was in response to my appearance. Who knows.
“Uh.. okay.. well, give me a few minutes to round up my kids and our dog and then we’ll be out of your way so you can show them around..”
Translation: Stay. Don’t come in. I need to race through my home and make it look perfect. Stay.
I shut the door and started picking up toys, and laundry and whatever was NOT in its place.
Then I hear the door open, and hear the realtor say, “They have a few questions for you about the house.”
Well, by all means, let yourself and your clients in my home! (are you serious?!)
So I’m standing in my home, kids running everywhere, dog coming to greet the wife (who is literally climbing her husband in fear). Awkward moment? Yes.
Did you not hear me ask you to wait just a few minutes? Guess not.
I’ve done my share of house hunting and know what it’s like to walk through someone’s home while they are still in it. Not just living in it.. but right there watching you critique their home. It’s not cool. And I don’t want to be that person who watches people go through my home. I would prefer to load up the kids and the dog and get out of their way. So I was not happy to be sitting outside in the backyard waiting for them to leave. It just feels uncomfortable. But hey, I really want to sell this home… so who am I to stand in their way if they are interested enough for a second look. Anything to sell the house.
Fast forward a few days. We recieved an offer from the couple… It’s Sunday afternoon and I had been at a class for a few hours while my kids were home. I pull up to my home, and see that same realtor with the same couple standing in my front yard… talking to the neighbor. What the….
I get out, dazed and confused as to why they are here… UN-announced… again… and their realtor walks up to me and I ask him… are they wanting to go through the house again or something??? Just then my cell phone goes off and its my husband trying to reach me to inform me that someone wanted to see the house…
too late.
they are here.
and I am so confused.
where is the courtesy of calling and making sure it was okay with us??
Again, I ask him to wait… so I can put the dog out back since I know the wife is not a dog person, and that I would come open the front door when it was clear.
Translation: (panic) I have no idea what my house looks like! DO NOT COME IN!
As I walk into my home I have no idea what condition it is in, being ruled by my four children all afternoon. I walk in to see lunch plates still on the counter, the kitchen a mess, radio blaring, and the kids out back on the slip n’ slide. *whimper I make a dash for my teenager (who was sun bathing in her bikini). WE NEED TO PICK UP THE HOUSE… SOMEONE WANTS TO LOOK AT IT… she starts to give me that teenage dramatic “are you seri-” …I cut her off, grabbed her arms and looked her straight in the eye and whispered… “THEY ARE WAITING IN THE FRONT YARD!” And at that moment, something clicked and it was like we instantly gained super powers.
At mach speed she took the upstairs and I took the main level and we had our house lookin’ slammin’ in record time. My heart was racing (and not just because of my 2 minute race through the house)… I was livid! Oh, by the way, my youngest was taking a nap in his bedroom. *sigh
I’m a nice person… and I let a lot of things go… but this really tans my hide. And I plan to make a phone call to the agency. But not until after this sale goes through and the closing is complete.
This is so unacceptable. Am I wrong?
What would you do?
Share your stories below…. please let me know that this just doesn’t happen to me! Or if I’m overreacting.
