How an Agent Should Show a Buyer a House

Summary

In this video, Adam shares his step-by-step process for preparing to show a house to clients, emphasizing the importance of making clients comfortable and efficient time management. He discusses checking for HOA fees, taxes, and showing notes, using showing time for organization and feedback, and calculating potential mortgage payments to ensure the client's interest. Adam also highlights the value of turning on all lights and opening doors to make the property look its best and allow clients to freely explore the space, ultimately aiming to guide them in making informed decisions.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The importance of turning on all the lights and opening all the doors in a property to make it look its best and to make clients feel comfortable.
• 🔍 Checking for an HOA and its maximum price limit to ensure the client's budget aligns with the property's requirements.
• 💼 Considering the impact of high taxes or special assessments on a client's comfort level with the property's financial obligations.
• 📝 The value of reading showing notes to gain insights and stay organized, as well as to provide feedback to sellers through automated questionnaires.
• 📲 Utilizing showing time to streamline the scheduling process and maintain a record of who has shown the property.
• 📱 Using a mortgage app to calculate potential monthly payments for clients, ensuring they are aware of the financial commitment before proceeding.
• 🚫 Advising against showing properties that clients cannot afford or are not interested in, to save time and resources.
• 🤔 Allowing clients to explore the property freely, without constant guidance, to give them space to consider their options and preferences.
• 🛠 Preparing in advance by checking tax rates and HOA information, but saving detailed property research for after the client has expressed interest.
• 👥 Recognizing the role of agents as comfort providers and decision-makers for anxious buyers, especially first-time homebuyers.
• 🔄 The necessity for agents to be efficient, often checking out and moving between properties quickly, and being prepared for the next showing.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video by Adam?

The purpose of the video is to demonstrate to new real estate agents the process of handling a client's request to show a house, including the steps taken to prepare for a showing.

Why is checking for an HOA important when a client sends a property for viewing?

Checking for an HOA is important because if the HOA has a maximum price limit, it could affect the client's eligibility or comfort with the property's payment, especially if it's at the limit of their budget.

What does Adam suggest doing after checking for an HOA and taxes?

After checking for an HOA and taxes, Adam suggests reviewing the showing notes, which many agents overlook, but are crucial for understanding the property and providing organized feedback to the seller.

Why does Adam use ShowingTime for scheduling showings?

Adam uses ShowingTime because it streamlines the process by automatically sending the request to the seller, keeping everything organized in one place, and automatically sending questionnaires to agents for seller feedback.

What is the significance of running numbers through a mortgage app before showing a property to a client?

Running numbers through a mortgage app helps the agent to calculate potential payments for the client, ensuring that the client is not wasting time viewing properties they cannot afford or are not comfortable paying for.

What does Adam do upon arriving at a property before the client arrives?

Adam turns on all the lights, unlocks all the doors, and opens everything up to make the property look its best and to make clients feel more comfortable and free to explore the property.

Why does Adam avoid walking with clients while they are viewing the property?

Adam avoids walking with clients to allow them to explore the property freely without feeling rushed or pressured, and to let them absorb the property's features without constant commentary.

What advice does Adam give to sellers about preparing their property for showings?

Adam advises sellers to turn on all the lights and open all the doors to make the property appear more spacious and welcoming, as not all agents may do this preparation themselves.

How does Adam handle clients who have questions about a property during the showing?

Adam has already checked the tax rate, HOA, and ensured the client can afford the home before the showing, so he can address most questions on the spot. If there are specific concerns, he will follow up with the listing agent afterward.

What is Adam's strategy for managing time efficiency during a busy day of showing properties?

Adam focuses on the properties that the clients are interested in and defers detailed research until after the clients have expressed interest. He also uses technology to set directions to the next listing while the clients are viewing the current property.

What does Adam believe is the current disservice in the real estate market among agents?

Adam believes that many agents are not properly preparing properties for showings, not following up correctly, and not making the property look good in the right light, which are essential services for which they are paid.