The 15-minute showing window
A new trend has emerged, one that is certainly a product of COVID-19 mixed with historic low inventory. The 15-minute showing window. Some of you might be well aware of this while others might not. Because of the Covid 19 showing regulations, many listing agents have begun to place a maximum showing time limit of 15 minutes. Why you might ask? Well, low inventory means even higher buyer demand, which means more interest on any given property. These listing agents are looking to maximize the number of people they can get through their listing.
There are two major issues I see with this:
1. Bound to have Overlapping Parties
One, the listing is bound to have overlapping parties. While some might abide by their given timeframe, we all know there will be others that will either take longer than 15 minutes or just not hit their exact 15-minute timeframe. One party overstepping their showing window will lead to a domino effect. This means that there will be an inevitable breach in the COIVD-19 protocols.
2. If someone is truly interested, they will want to spend more than 15 min in it
Two, if someone is truly interested in the home they will want to spend more than 15 minutes in the home. You as the listing agent will have inadvertently created a panic situation, whereby the Buyer may write an offer they don’t truly want to see through. Now you’re dealing with termination efforts on behalf of this rushed buyer. Not good for anyone.
The moral of the story, be professional and allow buyers the opportunity to fully vet the home for themselves. The minimum you should allow is a 30 minutes showing window on your listings.
Another trend we are seeing, maybe not a new one, is Buyer agents not leaving feedback! This is not a requirement, however, it is a professional courtesy. In a market as hectic as ours, buyer agents probably don’t feel the need to leave feedback, because it will sell over the weekend. Take the time to leave feedback for all of your showings, no matter the situation.
Want to learn more? Sign up for one of our training courses today!
Leave a Reply