If a new buyer calls and wants to meet ASAP, it's important to ask them all the right questions first. Are they working with an agent? Did they just start their home search? Are they living in the area? What's driving the need to see the house asap? Do they have a pre-approval?

And do a little research on the house. Is it a brand new listing? Been on the market forever? 

That will tell you whether there's a need to set up an "asap" showing.

And yes, if someone else agrees to show the house that person would get the commission if it's a valid buyer. 

Don't let their sense of urgency become yours. You need to take control of this ship!

Gather more information from them, get them pre-approved and ask lots of questions before you meet them at your office, THEN head out to see properties. 

SAFETY FIRST! No amount of possible commission is worth your life.

This is a fantastic new agent question and kid, I'm your broker. You're welcome. Now. Hold up.

You don't even know who these guys are. That urgency may or may not mean a damn thing. In fact, high pressure before process bothers me.

Serious consumers understand that we are professionals and that means we work by appointment.

You don't know anything about these people. How are they going to pay for this? Do they even know what they can qualify for? What exactly are they looking for. Does it exist? You need to take control of this situation.

And so what if flakes end up with another agent. That's good news for you if they are not serious. They can waste another agents time while you work with serious buyers.

As with all things in life, you need to be seeking quality before quantity. Pace yourself. You don't want them all, just the great ones.

Interesting question,  do you have a relationship with this buyer?  Are theyprequalified? Have they even talked to a lender?  Lot of stuff to find out before I leave the office,  

and yes, they might find another realtor.  

Nothing makes me move slower than being told that something needs to be done ASAP.  CONTROL your business; don't let some new potential (key word!) buyer call the shots.  Ask the right questions to qualify them and keep yourself safe.   We all have a responsibility to ourselves and public to do this right...! 

I have no clue... I've yet to meet someone I don't know at the drop of a hat. I don't meet strangers at properties. What makes you think you'll earn a commission... do you know if this person is even qualified to buy?

They should meet you at your office or a public place so you can qualify them

    If it's my listing sign, I will ask the questions that Kat Palmiotti covered (are you working with an agent, do you have pre-approval, what do you like about this house, etc.) but most likely I am going to show them that house. 

     But "right now" and "ASAP" are not in my vocabulary, unless a building is on fire or there is money blowing in the wind.  We can set a time later today, or would tomorrow be better for you?

    On the other hand, if I never met this "Buyer" and they are calling me on some other company's sign, the question becomes "why did you call me?"

A random buyer popping up out of nowhere to see a property NOW, with a greta chance they want to make an offer, sounds too good to be ture.  And you know what they say about things that seem too good to be true, they probably are.  

Anyone worth your time and effort will not expect you to drop everything on whim, particularly if you don't even know them.  

Qualifying them to purchase is the first step. And I have never gained a buyer by jumping up, running to my car, speeding down the road and showing a home on the fly. Besides, a client is not yours until documents are signed!

I would try and get as much information as I can over the phone first, have they been pre-approved for a mortgage, are they working with another agent? Why is their need seem so critical?  Do they have a home teo sell, or are they renting?  I would search the property and the history details.

Without being pre-approved and signing a buyers rep agreement I don't show anyone anything.

 A call from a unknown-to-you buyer is a possible lead. To me: See if there is a connection and then make your decision. If it's your listing, a different course of action would be recommended.

Lots of questions before you can answer this. Pre-qualified, reason for quick action, my schedule, am I comfortable with these people?

I have procedures set up for our team, safety and efficiency keep us from being poptart agents.

I work with qualified buyers only. Motivation is good but it won't count on an underwriter's review of financials, income, debt, assets, credit history, etc. If that buyer sends me their loan approval letter and proof of funds, I will show the property.  If not, I am more than happy to let someone be the janitor for that buyer, and open the door for them.  Buyer vetting is essential and a company policy. 

My immediate answer is HELL NO! But if you are going to go do not go alone Andrew Antonio . Even though I am always armed I am not going to run off without some cover to meet someone for the 1st time at unfamiliar ground.

Nothing stops you from asking the right questions before going out for an appointment.

I like to ask questions first. Are they working with another agent? Do they have anything to sell? Have they been pre qualified? if yes with who? Then why must it be today, short notice etc? There are some buyers who are in my area and see something and need to go now before they head back to where ever. I go when the answers are right and i have sold many homes that way

In my personal experience, the "meet me right now" people were tire-kickers passing through, but you never know. If you screen them properly, they could turn out to be real, but make sure to ask for the proper id's and paperwork to be signed, e.g. Buyer Agency agreement to protect yourself.

I can tell you're a noob. No mention if they are preapproved? If they can't afford it they are always in a hurry to see it.

Why do you think that every house shown receives an offer?

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This will always be your call and yours alone. When no familiarity with the caller exists I would not "jump" into the fray. Experience tells me there's only a 1 in 10 chance of this happening instantaneously. The choice is yours!

Talk to your broker if you have one at this time.

why take a chance of them calling someone else.... jump and meet them....

Real estate is seldom sold on the spot but some buyer's need to see a property when they ask & will call agents til they get one to show it to them on the spot. If you want that buyer, now or in the future- whenever he may buy something- then it's best to hop up & meet them at the listing/your office. I think you can ask the buyer a few prequalifying questions on the phone & get enough info to make the decision that much clearer.  

I would try to get some additional information first.

Andrew,

It depends.  We used to get calls like that at the end of the year in commercial real estate for tax reasons.  I would ask lots of questions before moving fast.  As big as Los Angeles is, we knew who was who, and if we did not, I could make a couple of calls....A

Quite possibly. If I am available right now, then yes- I'll go.

Ask a lot of questions before going.

Andrew, why the attempt to smear the motive of real estate agents by tacking on "...if I'm to make that commission."

Those who have been in the business for more than 5 years understand the compensation is the outcome (not goal) of commitment to higher callings of service needing the involvement of a professional.

Those same experienced agents know exactly how to manage a 'I'm at the curb and need to see it NOW" phone calls.  That response is never a 'jump to' loss of control of the situation.

Good question. 

Well, a few questions will be asked and we will see.

Yes, for sure, I'd ask questions before showings.

We've all had the guy call or says his sister is giving them a wheelbarrow of cash that could not get a bank home loan approval. Ask questions, make your time count. Sometimes the ASAP avoids the vetting out the good from the not so good prospective buyers AND sellers. You can not help them all. Work with the ones you can. 

I don't meet random strangers on the fly, it's not safe.  I set furture appointments, do my research and due diligence and they get pre-approved.

I've jumped a few times, they've never bought the house.  Yes, they can go call another agent, but they're usually calling me BECAUSE I'm the listing agent.  I've showed up in gym shorts and a sweaty t-shirt before, just let them know ahead of time "I'm coming from the gym." 

Be concerned for your safety though, sometimes these "right now" buyers can be dangerous folks.

I'm with Kat Palmiotti  you have to ask questions before meeting someone at a property.

On the Monterey Peninsula we have a lot of buyers coming (many 2nd and 3rd etc. buyers) and some have gotten in touch with me late at night to see a home the next day. One comes to mind who said they were staying at a very upscale resort for only a couple of days, were to play golf at Pebble Beach, and only had a narrow window for the viewing.  Am I going to put them through the third degree? Nope, this happens way too often. I make sure I can get into the home then "confirm" the viewing and try to get some more information from them.

JUMP

depends?  Cold call?  are they working with anyone else? are they qualified? is it your listing?    

The call goes out and then the answer. Turn-on and then UP your customer servicing. Why? Lets see what it can do and produce

Often they only go with the listing agent. In our area, people expect more price drop.

I am leery of those type buyers, and want to VET them a bit before jumping in the car.  Are they prepared to make an offer - pre-approved or proof of funds?

If they can give me some proof that theyare ready to buy and I can fit it into my day...

Andrew, if they are serious buyers, they will most likely be already preapproved for a loan, so ask that question. Also, feel free to ask them additional questions, like why do you need to buy something now, and why do you need to see the property ASAP?

I would not meet anyone I did not know without knowing more about them. If they were not preapproved for a loan, then they are not even ready to buy, so I would not just run out and meet them.

@Kat Palmiotti gave a great answer as well as did others in the same vein.

If they are a sign caller on your listing they will have no loyalty.  You must interview them for your own personal safety and always best at the brokerage.  You must also have them talk to a lender to see if they even qualify to buy the property.  You owe that to your seller to protect their interests.

For us....zero.  With a team of 44 and climbing - we can almost always handle these last minute requests...