New agent here- One of my first priorities is getting to know all the inventory in my market. When we say "preview" a listing do we mean go to open houses? drive by? look at pictures online? schedule an appointment to see it? A combination of these? Or, does it just depend on the market? If so, what do you do in YOUR market?

Thanks!

In my area agents are welcome to preview homes meaning to walk-thru without their clients. Sometimes that's a good idea if you have a buyer and you feel that you know exactly what their looking for. Saves them time.

Combination of visiting open houses and scheduling an appointment to go see it. Driving by is not really that helpful as you can't see the inside of the house.

Some agents depend totally on what the MLS shows for pictures and assume that since we have pictures online, there is no need to preview. However, that is myopic.

You need to be IN the house to get a feel for it - to get a feel for the actual space, to see if there are any smells, to see what the surrounding property looks like, to see the "view" that is claimed but not shown (I hate that, houses with "FANTASTIC VIEWS" but no pictures of the so-called views...or the "LAKEVIEW HOMES" that have a view - if you stand on the roof with a pair of binoculars in December when all the leaves are off....)

After previewing listings I am able to be more energetic and enthusiastic about the home - I sold one to my buyer who was NOT interested in it based on the MLS listing. I had to hound him to at least please come SEE it...so he finally gave in to shut me up.

Two days later, he made an offer.

Did the same thing today. MLS pictures did NOT do the house justice and my buyer trusted me because I know what she likes and needs...and we saw it - she liked it the best of all the listings we saw and wants to bring her husband back.

Previewing listings IN THE FLESH is IMPERATIVE, IMHO.

um, make an appointment and go in....?????

And yes open houses.

Set an appointment and go see it in person - I'll usually bring a camera with me too in case I think the house is really worth showing to one or more of my customers.

Don't forget the vacant houses, they don't usually require an appointment and you can get a feel for previewing and seeing houses vacant.

In my area like Real Estate Diva it means walking through the home w/o your clients. Many agents use this as well as Broker's Tour to get to know the inventory in a neighborhood.

For new agents, I would suggest taking a different section of you market each week and previewing as many vacant listings as possible. They are just easier to see logistically and there are usually enough to see that you will be able to start getting a feel for the market - construction styles, qualities, etc in each area.

As a veteran, I still do it and can't think of why I would stop...

Usually when you go, if the owner lives there, does the listing agent meet you there and the seller leaves like an open house or a showing? Or are the sellers there?

Yes I can see how vacant listings would be easier to preview in large quantities, and that's definitely a good place to start. Thanks for all your responses.

The only time (in our area) that the other agent is present is if the seller requests it. I've had nice chats with sellers when I've viewed their listings without my clients. One was really funny and I was afraid I'd get in trouble over it. We were talking and discovered we had Scandinavian roots in common, and then the seller revealed that he used to work for Weichert. And I said in mock horror: "And you listed your house with XXXXX?????"

I was kidding and we all laughed - but then I was afraid I'd get in trouble for interfering with their relationship or something...LOL

It's been quite some time since I've made an appointment to show or preview a home and found the sellers sitting there. I did go to a brokers open this week and the seller was sitting out in the back yard with his dogs. But that's an odd case.

Sellers should not be present during showings except under the most extraordinary conditions. It generally makes the buyers uneasy, as if they're intruding. Just not good karma.



Listing agents generally only meet you at the property for high-priced homes. They are there not only for security and to greet and inspect your clients, but because high-end buyers usually expect a detailed tour including all the nitty gritty details... how to work the control panel in the sauna... from what quarry the marble was obtained... etc.

Texas Broker, I am asking about when I preview a listing on my own, without a buyer. Is that what you're talking about as well?

If the house is vacant I just schedule a showing with the office and go through it.

If it is occupied I will call the agent and schedule it for a convient time for the owner. They can even stay in the property if they want, since I won't be with buyers. I do this alot when working with people relocating.

Yes. And if we are the listing agent we should advise our clients to treat 'previews' no differently than showings. The house should always be staged and ready to show and the sellers should be gone when the agent and/or buyers visit.

I preview every day. I think that knowing the market is something that makes me special and different and it definitely gives me an upper hand when talking to buyers.

Plus, I have a listing appointment tomorrow with a couple that called me back when their listing expired. They were impressed that I was the only agent that previewed their home.

I say yes, absolutely, positively preview. It is harder to sell a product you don't know. Oh, also, as someone new in this area, it really helped me learn streets, neighborhoods, and prices ranges.