Showings can be one of the most interesting, scary, exciting, boring, challenging, hopeful or disappointing events in real estate. Unfortunately many showings are just a big waste of time even before they start.
Stakes are high, but not everyone is always vested in the process. The other day arriving a few minutes early to a buyer showing the ‘scary signs’ of wasting time were in plain sight. It was a real bummer when opening the lockbox to see a blood-draw vile lying in the mulch under a bush. This was not a confidence builder for new parents looking to buy their first home.
On opening the door the actual wasting of time really began. Nothing worse than a stifling hot house in mid July stinking of cat pee and adolescent body odor. Trash spilling out on to the floor and the mounds of dirt laundry made matters worse. Is continuing even an option at that point?
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, your client discovers a homeowner person taking a showing. Yikes! How do these things happen? After being in hundreds of properties over the years there is a certain routine that when followed can minimize the likelihood of ‘surprise’.
When reading the listing sheet, best to ask the listing agent exactly when those “refinished floors” were refinished. Those polyurethane fumes in a closed house can actually be dangerous. Pesticide applications, carbon monoxide, gas leaks… A new term could be coined: “dying to see that house”.
Not everybody plays by the same rules and certainly not all parties care as much to make a showing really worthwhile. Ever arrive at a showing where the person answers the door hostile? Occasionally, someone loosing their home to the bank, getting a divorce or not wanting to give up ‘their’ rental unit “goes around the bend”. Best just to walk away understanding that again a small portion of your life was wasted.
“He’s really a very friendly python” is another good one as the reptile is coiling himself around and around a frantic seller trying to avoid being supper. Yes, yes, yes, it can all be true. The things you can see at a showing can always amaze!
One favorite, is the ‘additional family room’ which is actually a garage converted years ago by the brother-in-law and his friends without permits, insulation, fire-stop or cleaning the old car oil off the floor before laying the discount carpet. A full basement on the listing sheet might actually be a foundation bigger than a crawl space, but not deep enough for a 5’2” person to stand without hitting their head.
The mysteries never cease. “Why are those downspouts so far out on to the lawn?” a buyer might ask. A good guess is that wet basement which was reported to only be damp once during the ‘thousand year storm’ is the reason.
Yep, showing a junk house is showing a junk house, because no matter how the listing has been ‘puffed’ or “freshly painted” it is still a piece of junk. When there is not enough time to preview a property for the client there are no better words than “I’m done” in the first few minutes minimizing the ‘waste of time’ factor in showing property.
The “Felix Unger” is a great property to show. This class of property can be found in all price ranges. The organization in these homes is always amazing. Foodstuffs placed neatly in rows according to height, can style and date. Batteries lined up D, C, AA, AAA and 9 volt. Recent dishes neatly arranged to dry on the rack. Clean neat and ready to go. These showings are always ‘hopeful’, as no matter the age or attributes of the property they are generally well cared for.
The ingenuity found at many properties can be interesting piquing the imagination. “I would have never thought of doing it like that” when looking at an addition or other renovation. Use of space and style is seemingly as limitless as the variety of listings to look at.
Often in a market place showings can be just plain boring. Large condominium complexes where all the units are the same painted light-off-white with limited views and a carport. Large developments where there are only 4 different models to choose from or those same models in a reversed elevation can be so similar that it is hard to remember which one has been seen.
It is always exciting in the field when the right home is paired with the right buyers and sellers. Everyone jumps up to clear the path for a mutuality beneficial transaction anticipating the new events and life experiences to come. Those moments are a blast and all move on making ‘new friends’. Without those deals the business of real estate can be taxing.
There are almost always challenging events, problematic items, poor execution and uncooperative individuals whom would rather wreck the soup before it hits the table, but with a keen eye on the prize all involve can keep the wasted time to a minimum and find what they are looking for. Good luck on those showing appointments!