7 Things That Drive Real Estate Agents Crazy When Showing A Home

1. CATS & DOGS

To many agents, pets are a big pet peeves when showing a home.  Whether it’s a cat that follows your steps for the entire walkthrough, an escape artist dog that simply sees you as a window of opportunity, a distinct pet smell or droppings throughout the backyard, pets are a nuisance during a home showing and there is no two ways about it.

2. HIDDEN LOCKBOXES

While we’re sure the home owners appreciate your extra “security precautions” there is nothing more frustrating than showing up for a showing and finding no lockbox in sight. No matter how “intuitive” the showing agent may be, there is a good chance they will not know that the most logical place for the home’s lockbox was inside a planter.

3. RENTERS

It comes as no surprise that renters are not nearly as motivated for a home to sell as the owners may be. Renters are notorious for leaving the house a mess, not leaving the home during showings or failing to communicate the showing schedule to roommates – creating some very awkward situations! Since our rental market here in Bozeman is dominated by college students, more than a few of our agents have shown a home only to find someone in the bedroom sleeping off the previous night's shenanigans. Talk about awkward!

4. TAG ALONG OWNERS

The one thing worse than renters being present at the time of the showing? The owners are home! When homeowners are present for a showing, many times they try to direct the tour and point out everything they love about the home. Not only does this make potential buyers uncomfortable, it also keeps them from voicing their opinions and concerns.

5. UNFLUSHED TOILETS

Let’s paint a picture for you. You are a home owner trying to sell your home; you spend the entire weekend cleaning your house top to bottom to make the best impression. You make your kids eat outside and don’t let anyone sit on the couch for fear of messing up your perfectly arranged accent pillows. You leave the home feeling confident that your home will make THE BEST impression. Little do you know, one of your little ones decided to relieve themselves right before you left. Not only that but they forgot to put the seat down (again).  It may seem small but this little detail actually makes potential buyers and their agents very uncomfortable. Is it a deal breaker? Probably not. But it certainly takes away from the experience that you worked so hard to create.

6. WHAT'S THAT SMELL?

As a homeowner, you can do all the cleaning in the world to prepare for a showing but if (for whatever reason) you decide to make fish tacos for lunch before you leave, you can be sure the buyer’s agent and their clients will be wrinkling up their noses the minute they walk in your front door. It can be anything really, the remnants of a fish taco lunch, that distinct smell your dog always has or sometimes even scented candles or sprays that overpower the home. Your best bet? Leave all the doors & windows open for an hour before the showing. That will leave your home smelling fresh & potential buyers will be able to focus on the great things about your home, not the smell.

7. IS YOUR LISTING AGENT DOING THEIR JOB?

Many sellers aren’t even aware of this issue but it is a big one for many agents! When the listing agent does not provide all of the documents for a home on the MLS listing, many offers fall through because the buyer’s agent does not have the answers to simple questions like: What are the property taxes? What are the neighborhood covenants? Energy bills?  HOA fees? Are there any problems with the home in the disclosed "Owners Disclosure"? Has the home been tested for radon? What are the dimensions of the lot the home sits on? The list goes on! Without this information, buyers may like the home, but walk away from the showing without a strong desire to make an offer due to lack of information. In the time that it takes for a buyer's agent to track down all that information, the buyers may easily find a different property (one with all the associated documents!).

Side note: here at the Rhonda Bever Group, we provide all of these documents on each and every listing. We know how important it is for buyers to make an informed decision about their home purchase and we want to make it as easy as possible!