An owner of a Crofton home for sale stopped in the office this weekend and was complaining to me that agents weren’t showing her home and how unfair that was.  She wasn’t using a REALTOR® but instead was trying to sell it herself.  I welcomed her to the sometimes frustrating world of real estate.  She thought all she had to do was plunk a sign in the yard and droves of buyers and agents would be beating a path to her door.  Money in hand, no doubt. 

She ran smack into a strong buyers market with a current excess of inventory.  Nonetheless, she did have a nice townhouse to sell, although it was overpriced.  She “knew” what Crofton townhouses were going for in her development so she didn’t need any real estate agent to help her with pricing.  OK, no help asked, none given, no problem.

When I asked her whether she had a lockbox on the property she said no.  I then mentioned that without a lockbox, it would seem that agents and their buyers would have a difficult time getting it to see the house.  She offered that her telephone number was on the sign and all anyone had to do was call.  As we continued to talk it came out that she wouldn’t leave work to let people in but that they could make an appointment for a time when it was convenient…for her.

Wow!  Gripe about agents not showing your home but no lockbox on the property so that they can get in.  Take a bite out of the reality sandwich, it’s a buyers market and you have to make it convenient for them or they’ll just say…next.

If she doesn’t change “her” behavior than her house is going to be on the market for a very long time.  Agents don’t generally discriminate against showing FSBOs but if you want to sell your house you have to make it available to be seen.