Private showings: only for the rich? A Reader writes:
I will be putting our home on the market in a few months. Last time we sold was about 12 years ago. ?I have been shocked to learn that most listing agents no longer show up for showings. They let the CSS lockbox do all the work! In years past when we sold, the agent was right there pointing out the attributes of the house, baking bread, showing off the house while we were out getting pizza!
Our Realtor tells me the only instances?where the Seller?s agent is present at home showings is in the Park Cities, Preston Hollow and other high value property locations. Like Tom Hicks? property, I guess. Not so in Lakewood, or even Midway Hollow for that matter? homes well under a million, or even in homes at $500k to $700k and up. Garland ? foggetaboutit. He says that his presence will only inhibit potential buyers from speaking freely. And he said this is typical for the North Texas market.
My?question: is how widespread is this practice of diminished services at a given home price-point? And what is that price point? ?My wife is balking at having a key box so potentials can just let themselves in and naturally, we are worried about security. People who have $600K homes have nice things too, including, sometimes, second homes!
Are Dallas agents are just trying to make it easy on themselves, or do buyers of more expensive homes get more services because the commission is fatter? If the prevailing thought is, ?buyers don?t want to be inhibited during their visits,? does this suggest that the rich are oblivious to unimportant people in their presence, like a gardener, maid, or lookey-loos looking to buy their home? It?s as if he is saying, owners of multi-million dollar homes get more service, the rest get less.?
I?m beginning to wonder if they want to be so uninhibited they leave out the agent altogether??Appreciate your thoughts on this!
CW
Dear CW: I have to admit I have never heard of this practice. I, too, sold homes but years ago in Dallas and they were way less than million dollar homes. The Seller?s agent was mostly present. However, when I was shopping in San Antonio a few years ago in the $200K range, I did notice few Seller agents showing up for listings. For your question, I had to consult an expert: Laurie Moore-Moore of the??Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.?True, Laurie deals with multi-million dollar properties but then, I think EVERY home should be marketed like a million dollar home, when on the market.
?This is common in a lot of markets,? says Laurie. ?But if the Selling agent is not going to meet the buyer and his agent at the listing appointment, then at the very least they should have a detailed buyer?s guide to hand over to the Selling agent. This is not the listing graphic, this is a detailed room by room guide to the nuances, wonders and details lurking in every single room in that house. The guide is the little voice on the potential buyer?s shoulder.?
Some prospects, says Laurie, are uncomfortable with a Seller?s agent or the homeowner present. Still, the Buyer?s agent needs the appropriate tools to discover the property. Such a guide should be bound and available at the property in duplicate in case it is forgotten.
Wow, you learn something new every day? What do my fabulous agents feel about this concept? At what price point now in Dallas does an agent babysit the listing when a potential buyer comes along? And who makes guides for their properties?
Source: http://www.candysdirt.com/2013/07/10/realtor-rant-diminished-agent-services-at-certain-price-points/
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