Can I ask my real estate agent to only show my house to pre-qualified buyers?

Question

My house has been on the market for 30 days. We have had 2-3 showings per week and an open house. Two couples were interested, but had not even put their houses on the market. Is there any way to counter having to show my house to people who are not truly ready to buy? It's a pain to turn on all the lights, have it spotless and leave the house or not be home several times per week.

Answer 1

The problem really isn't your Realtor. It's the OTHER ones who are taking their clients out when they are not ready. Even if your agent tells the other agents not to bring the clients if they are not pre-qualified they're gonna get there anyway. Who knows? Maybe one of those buyers will be ready in a month? It has happened. You really should be showing your house to anyone who wants to look at it. Give it as much exposure as possible.

And when your house is on the market you should be having it spotless 24 hours a day for any last second showings you may have. I know its a pain in the butt however if you want to sell quickly you have to do it.

Answer 2

Open Houses bring unfiltered people. That can't be helped.

Showings by other Realtors can also be unfiltered - but your Realtor should at least ask the showing agent if the buyer is prequalified in your price range, and if not, to please do so. It can be done over the phone in 10 - 15 minutes these days. No excuses.

Otherwise, it's a waste of everybody's time - including the showing Realtor.

But remember, sometimes buyers are liars. Realtors can only go by what their prospects tell them.

It's great that your are GETTING showings - you must be doing something right! Rejoice!

Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 3

Maybe she is concerned about getting financing. Banks are wary about ending up owning a fixer-upper that some owner turned into a mess and then ran out of money. If financing isn't the problem, you should also ask about which direction the neighborhood is going. It would be a shame to fix up a house in a neighborhood that is going to end up with MS13 tags all over the place. I live in the Washington DC area and for $100,000 you are going to live in a dangerous place. Are you sure you can afford to fix up a house that needs a lot of work? Even if you do the labor, materials can cost a lot. Maybe you should do an honest spreadsheet of how much money and time you can put into a fixer-upper. Then compare the finished product to a house already done and figure out what you are "making" per hour of labor. I know people who restore old cars and they almost never get back what they invest if you count their man hours. If neither of those is a problem, you should be more forceful. She is obligated to make your offer to the seller if you insist. Maybe she is steering you to houses where she gets a better commission split?

Answer 4

Not a good idea.

When you place your home on the market you are going into business. Do you think those grocery stores like being open 24 hours and staying clean all the time?

The more restrictive you make your agent become, the more unfriendly your home will look to everyone and your home will sell slower and for less money.

I don't like to hold open houses on occupied homes and don't think it really helps to sell homes- so maybe you can cancel those-but let agents show your home as often as possible.

Answer 5

Kari-- You know nothing about selling a house. Be grateful that the realestate sales people showed the house to 12 people. The business market is going down in the housing market. Prices as well as well as people who are looking for a home. Never prejudge a prospective client to purchase your home--some people do not need to get prequalified---THEY HAVE CASH. Either stop the whine and complaining or take the house off the market. Might take two years to sell your property. If ya don't like what the real estate sale contract is charging for finding a client. Sell the house yourself and save the commision. I sold my home by owner and saved $14,000 I see you are all depressed.. What is the price-- $600,000 poor baby.....--If this house is empty...where do live??? In a second house you own??? Please

Answer 6

The fact that someone hasn't put their home on the market isn't necessarily relevant as some may not be selling or intend to get a bridge loan to carry them over. But asking that showings be limited to pre-qualified if not pre-approved buyers would be a reasonable request.

Answer 7

Hi Kari,

It is a very tough market right now. I have my own home up for sale right now and 'I' am the agent-----and it is still tough to get people through the house. I have it priced right and it is gorgeous inside, but I still don't have an offer after 15 days. Looky-loos as we call them are people looking but not buying. Unfortunately this is part of the game. Keep your home priced right and immaculate and it should sell. It can take several months though-------------if your lucky.

Answer 8

You can ask, but it is unlikely that you can enforce this. You cannot know if someone is truly ready to buy or not.

Perhaps you could designate a day or two that you will show the house, but if you make your house unavailable for showings, buyers will find something else.

Answer 9

People can be prequalified without any intent to buy. It takes merely a phone call that lasts but ten minutes. Count your blessings that you are getting showings, or would you prefer to trade places with sellers who have had the sign in their yard for six months or more, with only two showings total ?

Part of selling a home is tolerating the inconvenience which comes with showings, etc.

Answer 10

Of course you can, but I would go one step further. I would ask for an underwriter approval. Ie they have to be approved for that loan amount before they walk in the door. A pre-qualificaiton means absolutely nothing.