It has bee my experience that buyer agents refuse or have not the time to READ.

So that I may avoid the wasted time and effort these agents cause I must advise them, when they call to schedule, this is a CASH only purchase. You would think that could not be misinterpreted.

In addition, if appropriate I will advise that buyer feedback will be requested.

Finally, in addition to all the signage on prominent display, it is critical to inform the buyer agent the water is shut off. That means, go to McDonalds for your emergency needs.

What do I have to gain. In the instance of Ed K, who submitted a financed offer on a cash only deal, later accused me a rejecting the offer because I wanted to double side. Further, the last 10 sales in the community were CASH due to pending litigation. Why? Because of people like Ed.

If the seller says this is what they require you have to follow their instructions. I agree with you Heather but I do as my clients say. I remember visiting Coeur d'Alene in the early 80's, what a beautiful place.

I do that on my vacant properties too as I want to know who is showing and make sure I can answer any questions before they show. IF they didn't call first I wouldn't find out who was showing until they updated their Sentricard 9 days later.

Keeping track of who goes in and out and knowing with certainty, who was there, in case something is missing (i.e., key).  Had an agent actually take a key and only able to track down who did it (accidentally), by knowing the activity log.  I have also had agents (on sentrilock), not making appointments and go in whenever they wanted.  I stop that.   An agent was making it appear it was her listing! 

Well for one..I wat to know who is going in.

I may and most times have additional information for the agent.\

And, I don't like agents running through properties helter skelter at any time they feel...I need to know who and when for any issues that come up.   Way to many times doors ahve been left unsecured....Need more realsons?

We use Supra lockboxes so we get auto and immediate notifications when a home is shown so we don't require it.

As a listing agent you are responsible for a property when it's shown. You need to know when someone is going in and who has been there last. This way it's formalized beyond a check on an electronic lockbox, which many areas and agents don't use in any event. In some ways, I think it's even more important to keep track of traffic on a vacant house as there are no sellers present to report anything untoward after a showing.

I use supra lockboxes and agents can log into shwing service and get immediate confirmations. But as the sellers want to know who went in and when. We need the information.

I've often wondered that one myself.  When they call I'm ultra nice in telling them it's vacant so if your schedule gets away from you feel free to go at any time.  They like that.

I agree with Debbie Reynolds - we don't get automatic notifications of showings - 

Courtesy is the first thing that entered my mind. Simultaneous showings can annoy both customer and associate alike.

It is just easier to know who has visited the property.

I can understand that every showing be scheduled and a record kept. However, todays technology can automate this process especially for vacant properties and if the property is vacnant, instructions should not require a showing agent the need to call an office for showing instructions and appointment time. 

There can be a variety of reasons...every seller and agent should have a record of who has been in a home and when.

It is your responsibility to know IMHO who looks at the property in case there is any damage to it.  We require the showing agent make an appointment regardless.  Most do some don't.

Good morning Heather. I suppose it has to do with knowing who viewed the property and for liability in case there was ever an issue.

Make it a great week!

Get a head count and to know what is happening?

Heather Kratt - to keep track of showing and show the results to the seller - just one of the reasons I can think of.

Heather - We use Supra Lockboxes and Keys, and they record every agent who gains access to the property. We can look up the info immediately, so there is no need to call and schedule an appointment to view a vacant listing here.

Heck, we don't even have listing offices that I know of.

Sounds like other areas do not have that luxury.

Heather, it is a good idea to know who is visiting the property.

We have to have appointments for all listings whether they are vacant or occupied.

I want to know who is showing the property and who is coming and going. For the showing I know who to call for feedback when an appointment is set. If something were to happen like a gate being left open, I also know who to contact. I have land listings. I surprised one agent over the weekend that drove all the way up there to one listing in bad weather. There was a locked gate. I was accused of not mentioning this in the MLS. It is clearly stated. That agent just intended to go up there and not notify me of the showing. Ha...the locked gate got them. 

It is a very good question. I just yesterday finally was able to bring my clients into the condo that is vacant. The listing agent had to reschedule 3 times. Why to make it that difficult? 

We have SentriCards here in Honolulu, but we still are asked to call the agent when we go in. Maybe not a bad idea, find out if it's under contract, offers coming in, what to look out for, etc. even though some of this should be on the MLS.

Listing agents might want to share personal info from seller that they don't want in the MLS. They might also want to tell you someone died in house, meth lad was there, owners are in middle of divorce, kids are interfering with sale, ignore nosy neighbors who appraoch everyone that shows up, hOA dues haven't been paid in 6 months, there is mold in basement in case you or buyer is allergic, etc, etc.

Personally, I think it keeps a record for the agent showing the property.  When I make an appointment, even while out with a client.  I get a confirmation email and have a record of what I actually showed.  So it's good

As a listing agent I want to know who's going and when. It's true that lockboxes record entry, but at least where I am, it does not show up until the viewing agent updates his/her keypad. Also, I like to privide extra information to those that are viewing as one can't write everything up (or be sure it's read). 

Every showing needs to be recorded.  Centralized Showing does a great job of doing that.  Just because a house is vacant doesn't mean the buyer agents can come and go as they please.

Heather Kratt I would guess it is an accountability factor to keep track of showings.

I agree with you and don't think you should have to call and schedule an appointment.  I don't know if it's a control issue, or if they don't know how to check the electronic lockboxes.  I would rather make it as easy as possible for them to get in, so they will show it.