Home buyers: Do not disturb home seller without an agent

By: Dian Hymer / Inman News

Recently, a home seller who valued her privacy was unpleasantly surprised when she found a prospective home buyer in her backyard. The buyer was not accompanied by a real estate agent. The seller was very upset. She had listed her home for sale with a real estate agent because she didn't want to interact directly with prospective buyers.

Even after the "Do Not Disturb Occupant" sign went up, some buyers attempted to gain access to the house without an appointment. The seller kept track of these people and vowed not to sell to any of them.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: It's natural to be excited when you hear about a new listing. But, showing up at the front door unannounced is usually not the way to win a seller's heart. If the house is shown by appointment only, make sure that your agent calls the seller in advance. Adhering to reasonable home buying etiquette will go a long way to convince the sellers that you're a buyer they'd like to work with.

Buyers with small children can have difficulty finding a sitter on short notice so that they can take a look at a new listing. In most cases, it's fine to bring children with you to a property showing, although you may find it distracting. But, if you do, be sure to keep your children in tow.

One seller returned home after his home was shown and found his children's toys strewn all over the house. He called his listing agent and complained bitterly. The incident left a bad impression in the seller's mind.

Home buyers shouldn't have to keep their real estate agent in line. However, it's wise to make sure that your agent's behavior doesn't reflect poorly on you. One agent who couldn't find a sitter for his own children brought them along when he showed a listing to his client.

Another real estate agent who was showing the listing at the same time reported back to the seller's listing agent that the children ran around the house and yard unsupervised. This created a nuisance and a very unpleasant environment for showing the listing. The listing agent was livid.

In another case, an agent who was showing a hot new listing refused to let other agents and their buyers into the house. She even went so far as to tell the other agents that the listing was already sold, which was not true. This unethical behavior didn't endure the agent to the listing agent. Ruthless and unprofessional tactics usually don't gain favor with the listing agent, whose opinions can have a big influence on the seller.

Buyers are often confused when they call a real estate office and have a hard time making an appointment to see a listing. Knowing a little bit about how the real estate business works may help you the next time you find yourself in this situation.

In most real estate offices, agents take turns answering calls. So, unless you specifically ask to talk to the listing agent, you're likely to reach an agent who's covering calls in the hope of generating business.

Real estate agents usually work on commission. If you already have an agent, another agent will be less than enthusiastic about showing you a listing. There's nothing in it for him. Proper protocol would be to ask your own agent to show you the listing.

If you don't have an agent, don't be offended if the agent you talk to on the phone requires that you meet at her office rather than at a vacant property. The agent has no way to know who you are.

THE CLOSING: This is done as a security precaution.

Dian Hymer is author of "House Hunting, The Take-Along Workbook for Home Buyers" and "Starting Out, The Complete Home Buyer's Guide," Chronicle Books.

***Copyright 2005 Dian Hymer