Portsmouth NH Homes Condos Real Estate

 

Here in my areas of Portsmouth and the Seacoast towns of New Hampshire and southern Maine, we still show our own listings about 80-90% of the time.  

We know there are many parts of the country that don't do assisted or accompanied  showings, but most of us that work in this area still consider that part of our job for our seller-clients.

 

 

Some time ago, I was showing property to a new set of buyer clients - a wonderful young couple who will be buying their first home here in Portsmouth NH.  We had exchanged phone calls, had our buyer counselling appointment, and then met to sign the Buyer Agency Contract before heading out for our first showings.  They had been well-prepared for the home-buying process, showings, etc.

We showed up at our very first showing, and the listing agent was already there.  She greeted us and invited us into the house.  Then she just stood there looking at us, which was exceedingly uncomfortable.  I took it upon myself to ask her if she wanted to show us through the house or should we just go through on our own.  She told us to go through on our own. 

OK, I can deal with that, but I always wonder why the agent even shows up if that's all they're going to do.  So off we go, looking at the various rooms and talking about each room's features as we go through them.  All the while, she's actually following us, but offering nothing at all, not a single comment.

Each time we'd ask a question about something in the house, she'd respond with an "I don't know".  Not, 'I'm not sure but I can get that answer for you', nothing other than "I don't know" in response to each question we asked.

After she said this to us for the 5th or 6th time, I turned and asked her if this was her listing.  I actually expected her to say she was covering for someone, since she knew virtually nothing about this property.  But guess what, she said "Yes, this is my listing".  WHAT!?!?!?!?

How do you list a property and know NOTHING about it?  No information about the age of things, no information about the huge stain in the middle of the living room ceiling that you can't possibly miss, no information about heating costs, NOTHING! 

Help me out here - how does one list a property without knowing or getting information on that property?  Even on those listings where the showings are unassisted, we get more information in the listing packages than this listing agent could tell us about HER OWN listing!!!  Even when it's the first showing on a brand new listing, most of us know more about the property than this listing agent appeared know or cared

WHAT ON EARTH WAS THE POINT IN SHOWING UP??  If that listing agent was going to add NOTHING of value to the showing, why would they waste their time insisting on being at the showing?

This listing agent was really so ill-prepared about this house and hovered around us so much that we felt like getting out of there quicker than we ordinarily would have.  This was certainly a very poor way to show professionalism and to demonstrate the value we bring to the table as professional REALTORS.

 

Sellers - if you're reading this, please ask the agent you're considering hiring to market YOUR PROPERTY and represent YOU and YOUR PROPERTY  just how they're going to do that.  This is not meant to say doing either assisted or unassisted showings is right or wrong, but rather it's meant to find out just what they're going to do regarding making sure buyers and the buyers' agents get a good feeling about your property and are informed about the features of your property, whether they attend the showing or not.

If you're thinking about selling your property in Portsmouth or the surrounding Seacoast towns in NH and southern Maine, give me a call or send me an email.  Together, we can discuss how I can put my proven marketing plan to work for you to help you achieve your real estate goals!

                                  
  Ann Cummings
  RE/MAX Coast to Coast
  Portsmouth NH
  888-349-5678 x 3839
  Servicing the Coastal Areas of NH & Southern Maine