Last week, over a 48 hour period, I encountered issues with arranging access to properties to show interested Buyers.  One was a home in Warren and the other a home in Plainfield, one a distressed property and the other a conventional deal. Two different listing agents, from different brokerages, representing properties in two very different communities and price points.  The one thing that the properties had in common is that there was not a lockbox which made showing the home more cumbersome to start. 

In one case, the out of area agent with the key refused to make 2 trips to the property to show the 2 buyers that had an interest. Her stance, and she expressed it in these words, was that she was "doing me a favor" by agreeing to open the door at all.  What??!!  In the end, the agent hung up on me after telling me she would not make the trip at all.  In the second example, the agent was on vacation, had back up but the back up was uncooperative and pushed me back to the office, where I was lectured about how difficult it was to arrange an appointment, which in the end they were not able to arrange.  I never heard back from them.  I was struck by the incongruity between what I experienced and what I was sure would be the Seller's expectations.  I couldn't help but think how appalled the Seller would be if he/she knew how requests to see the home were being handled - or better put, mishandled.

Make no mistake, if your home is not accessible, it will not sell.  Access should be as seamless as possible.  If you and your agent have agreed to an access procedure that requires the agent's direct involvement, or her office, or an appointment service, then it has to work.  And if appointments need to be confirmed by you, the Seller, then you've got to be responsive as well.  Do not count on Buyers coming back if you loose them during initial interest.

My suggestion to Sellers is this - test the process, test your agent's responsiveness, to be sure that the same thing that happened to me does not happen to potential buyers of your home. In these two examples, there were two opportunities lost, and that is shameful.  

Your agent is representing your best interests.  Take the time to simulate the experience that a prospective Buyer of your home will encounter. It starts with an appointment, and that begins with a phone call.  It that is mishandled, you have not been well-served.