The rise in foreclosures may not be good for the market but it has brought to the surface one product that I whole-heatedly believe in, a professional showing service.
Right now they are mainly used for REO listing agent who have a large portfolio of properties and need to outsource the task of providing lock box codes to showing agents. However, I can see it being used on ANY property that is for sale.
Basically a showing service is a third party that handles the scheduling of showing appointments. The listing agent and/or seller provide the showing service with showing instructions. Showing agents call a central number to schedule appointment for any listings the service is handling. The service logs the time the agent is going to show the property and if necessary calls the contact to confirm that the property can be shown.
Right now at least in my area, the showing agent calls the seller directly to make showing appointments. I personally find this method inefficient and slightly crossing the representation line (you are communicating with a client that you do not represent and that has retained the service of a competing agent/broker). I have heard stories (including from my own parents) of agents calling and being very rude in their insistence to show a property usually on very short notice.
Why I think a showing service is worth the nominla cost:
- The seller's phone number is never disclosed (even in MLS)
- The seller only has to memorize one caller ID number to answer for showings (many of my sellers screen their calls and do no answer numbers they don't know)
- The seller never speaks directly with a showing agent only the showing service staff.
- Most systems email the agent after the showing for feedback. If the email is not replied to, the showing service provides a log of who calld to make appointments.
- Since the agent's info is logged with he showing service. The agent does not need to leave a business card and it is another proof of access in case the elecronic lockbox does not record the key container being released (which I have had happen).
My plea and summary is that more boards and MLSs need ot implement these systems. In my area it is voluntary to use a showing service. The technology is out there to make our daily routine more efficient and this is one of those key systems to achieve that.
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