Showing Etiquette - David Nelson via Activerain

We have a couple places listed for sale now. The way it's set up is an interested party's Realtor gives us a call and we confirm a showing time with them. I can't say how many times we've set up showings and not heard back from a Realtor.

Did they go in? Are the lights on? Doors locked again? Did they hate it? Is it awesome? Are we crazy asking this price? The list goes on of questions that run through my mind when I don't hear back.

I read an excellent blog by David Nelson about showing etiquette  - Real estate agents are starting to lose showing etiquette and it rang true with me immediately.

I/we/home-sellers want your feedback we NEED it. It's constructive criticism that helps us make the property better and more attractive.

When I show properties to tenants I call back and get feedback. It's not solely polite I can get a lot of valuable information from them and sometimes give them information that could help close the deal (not that that's so important in a 1% vacancy market - but keep the technique for the 5%+ vacancy days)

Proactive Realtors Target Job Fairs

Realtors have started going to job fairs in hopes of assisting newcomers to Edmonton find housing. Of the 3,000 people that attended the St. John's, Nfld job fair 200 accepted immediate job offers. Even people who take camp jobs to avoid the housing crunch soon tire of the conditions and often move to a house or rental property.

"About half of the 3,000 people at the job fair were more interested in renting than buying -- for now.

But the realtors also will assist them because "after they're here for a few months, making good money, probably 30 per cent of them will buy......"Glen Good Realtor - Edmonton Journal


So what? These people are bolstering the market, they move here rent a house for a while but soon realize that they like the city or buying makes more sense financially. They support both the rental and resale markets.

The realtors who go to these events drumming up business are avoiding losing their fees to online sell-it-yourself companies. Especially now when listings on the MLS are at record lows and demands at record highs.